Evening journal., 1913-02-13

WASHINGTON, ID. c.. Feb. 49,
lnaugurating their protest against
the elimination of Wilmington as a
distinct port OF entry. the Delaware
members of Congress Senators
Henry A. DUPONT and Harry A. Rich
ardson and Representative William
II. Heald-called on President Taft
and Secretary of the Treasury Frank
lin MacNeagh yesterday afternoon.
On their visit to Mr. MacVoagh they
were accompanied by William ID. Null
len of Wilmington, chairman of the
special committee of the Chamber OF
Commerce of that city, which is MAX
ing hard fight to prevent the con-
solidation of the Wilmington customs
district with that of Philadelphia. Mr..
Mullen is in Washington attending
the meeting of the Board of Directors
of the Chamber of Commerce of the
United States, and the Delaware Con-
gressmen thought il an excellent op-
pOrtunity TO have Mr. Mullen as a
business man of the Delaware metrop-
Oils, explain clearly to the Secretary
of the Treasury why the business,
manufacturin gand shipping inter-
ests of Wilmington are opposed to
the consolidation.
Although the visit to neither Pres
ident TAFT nor Secretary MacVeagh
brought forth promises one way or
the other concerning the proposed
consolidation, the members of the
Delaware delegation i'm Congress feel
encouraged over the situation The
visit 10 the two officials in whose
hands any change IN the customs SER
vice lies vii not by any means end
the effort on the part of the Della
ware Congressman to prevent tho
consolidation which, as Elr. Mullen ex-
planned to Secretary MacVeagh, means
not only causing a serious inconven-
ience and a hardship on the business
interests of Wilmington. but means.
rs well, the loss OF prestige which :.
ma stakcn the business and CONNER
cial interests of Wilmington years to
acquire throughout the world
The interview with President Taft,
which Mr. Mullen did not attend be-
cause the engagement had been made
for only the three members Of Con-
gress from Delaware, lasted only a
short time because the President had
arranged to attend a banquet in Phil
adelphia last night. and il was nearing
train time when the Delawareans ar
rived at the White House. Mr.. Taft
listened attentively to the protest and
though making no promises whatever,
regarding what he expects to do i'm the
matter. promised to take into con-
sideration' the representations of the
Delaware Congressman before arriy-
ing at a final decision.
The real fight against the proposed
merger was made before Secretary
MacVeagh. as the matter is in the
hands of that official for execution. He
was very cordial in his treatment Of
the Delawareans, and was especially
glad to again meet Mr.. Mullen. whom
he knows personally What took place
during the visit TO Secretary Mac
Veagh, which lasted more than an
hour. is probably better told in the
words OF Mr. Mullen, who took the
responsibility of explaining to the
treasury official, the universal protest
which has arisen I'm Delaware, and es-
pecially in Wilmington, against any
change.
Mr.. Mullen Encouraged.
- - VI aAA 4 NJ 1911 " AANNN Nn4
the Secretary of the Treasury gave us
a very satisfactory interview" de-
clared Mr.. Mullen last night. in
fact, he was unusually kind and gave
us every opportunity to present our
case from every standpoint told
him the business, manufacturing, ship
ping and commercial interests i'm Will
mington are loath to give up the pres
ent arrangement and return to the
old system of getting goods through
New York and Philadelphia eX-
planned that it means much delay and
that the question Of time in getting our
goods released is a very important one.
The people generally have protested
against it. ] told him, and as one of
the thirteen original states. we don't
want to be eliminated and tied to
someone else, whose whole line of
commercial activity may be somewhat
different from ours.
Mr.. MacVeagh replied that he had
no thought of disturbing amy exist
ing relations between us and the
rest of the world, but that the inten-
tion is to give us through larger
cities better information concerning
character Of imports, such as smaller
cities cannot obtain.
81 replied that the interests in Will
mington are perfectly satisfied with
the present arrangement and that to
make the consolidation that is pro-
posed would have a tendency to take
away the initiatice-that is that il