The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-20
MERCHANTS FAVOR
ADVANCE IN RATES
Indorse Petition of Railroads for
5 Per Cent Increase in
Freight Tariff.
NORMAN AGAIN PRESIDENT
Retail Association Urges City to
Continue Smooth Paving
in Broad Street.

The Retail Merchants Association, at
its annual meeting last night IN the
Jefferson Hotel with only three dis
senting votes. adopted resolution
asking the Interstate Commerce Com
mission to allow the per cent in
crease in freight rates now being urged
by the railways of the United States.
The introduction OF the paper led to
some discussion, but when put TO the
vote only three out of nearly 200 mem
bcrs Of the association opposed it,
The resolution reads as follows:
"RcsolVcil, by the Retail Nerchants'
Associations er Richmond. In meeting
assemblies TINT Il Is the belief Of this
association that the request of the
railways for n 8 per cent increase in
freight rates il Just. nnd that the In
tcrStutc Commerce Commission ~ here
by pctitionrd 10 grant it,
Opponents of the notion contended
that the association was not qualified
to express an opinion on question of
such magnitude, but its advocates, led
by Samuel Cohen. were firm in the plea
for action. on the ground that the
prosperity of the country depends
largely upon the prosperity of the
railroads, whose rates have been con-
sistently lowered during years when
wages and expenses were advancing.
Norman Ite-Elerted President.
By unanimous vote. tho association
e-clected Charles T. Norman presi-
dent. IL. Carl Boschen was unani-
mously elected first vice president, and
>. e. Levitt second Vice president.
Isaac Kaufman was re-clccted trea-
surer without opposition. The follow
ing i've men were added to the board
or directors: !. O. Miller Samuel
Cohen. G. +. Kohlcr. i. a. I.add and S
:. Rosendorf
The reports OF the officers showed "A
healthy growth and activity On the
request of President Norman Isaac
hauima gave a short explanation Of
the position of the Virginia rittos I'm
regard TO the freight rate reduction
now being sought by North Carolina.
~. kautinaus statement that the Nir-
gInia cities are not opposing lust
demand on the part of North Carolina
nut arc asking only IA proportiouate re-
nuct'on IN The rates from Virginia to
the North Carolina cities. met with
INC approval of the association
Demand Smooth Paving.
The association renewed last night
It's fight for the continuation OF smooth
paving, west on Broad street and for
| ornamental electric lights on Main
Street and seventh. Eighth and Ninth
''reets resolution, asking the Nd
mlnstrative Board TO authorize asDhaIt
paving from Third TO Jefferson Streets
was adopted unanimously 4 second
| section of the same resolution carried
the demand for ornamental lights on
Main street, between Fifth and Sew
! entecnth. and on Seventh. Eighth and
/ Ninth Streets, between Broad and Main
Streets.
movement looking toward the
formation OF II permanent Join COM
| mitteo OF the various civic and COM
merciai bodies to handle all questions
! touching municipal reform, and Rich
inond's prosperity was started By the
/ adoption OF resolution on'ered by
General Charles j. Anderson This
standing committee. which is to care
| Tor such problems as the regional bank
and the Carolina ratio question, will he
made up of representatives from the
Chamber OF Commerce, the Retail Mer-
chants Association, the business Mems
Club. the Travellers Protective Asso-
citation, the United Commercial Travel
ers and the Rotary Club The directors
fof the association are authorized to
make ovcrtures along this line TO tho
other organizations at once.
Samuel Cohen. president of the State
Retail Merchants Association, con-
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