Evening star., 1914-02-11
Growth of National Chamber
of Commerce Is Shown by
Annual Report of Directors

The report of the board of directors
of the Chamber of Commerce of the
United States was presented today at
the opening session Of the convention of
the organization at the New Willard
Hotel
Seven meetings of the board have been
held during the past year. four In Wash
ington and one each in San Francisco,
Detroit and Rochester. The report
states. in part:
THE policy of the board in holding
meetings in different parts of the coun-
try so as to come into closer touch
with the constituent members of the
chamber, to make them feel that the
national chamber is created for their
service. and understand the methods
well indicated by the table Of meetings
of the board at the beginning Of this
report.
This policy the present board deems
1t of the highest importance to continue.
Not only has it proved of great con-
structive value In securing suggestions
for new activities and broader service
for the chamber. but also 1t has tended
to clear away misconceptions and in
crease the interest and enthusiasm for
this national federation of commercial
bodies and its possibilities for useful
ness in upbuilding the commercial in
couraging that spirit of commercial
patriotism which should become source
of pride to the American people.
Organization Plan Changed.
THE board has abandoned its purpose
of establishing a considerable number of
district Offices throughout the country in
favor of the more effective and econom-
icA plan for keeping in touch with Or
ganfzation and Individual members and
learning of their needs Of service through
field secretaries, operating from a central
office and constantly returning. thus keep
ing in touch with the latest developments.
1t has been found absolutely essential,
however. to maintain the Chicago office
and to establish other offices in New York
and San Francisco. The Dallas office,
established last spring, was discontinued
June 30.
The board Of directors, realizing that
the chamber would die a-borning should
II attempt to operate during the period of
organization solely on the income received
from annual dues. undertook the raising
OF an organization fund of 100000 to sup
port the chamber until the time when its
regular sources of revenue would be ade-
quate to carry on properly the work
which naturally would fall to a great ma
tional. commercial organization. AT the
close of 1913 $53 363 25 had been raised
on this organization fund. The results
of operations to date have proved the
business of the estimate of the amount
necessary for an organization fund.
Financial Outlook Good.
Had the balance of this 100000 been
raised-as 1t will be raised during the
year 1914-not only would the chamber
have closed the year entirely free from
debt, but also there would have been
sufficient balance to take care of the diff
ference between the revenue from dues
and the cost of operation at the end of
the year 1914, after which date the reve-
nue. from regular sources Is expected to
be sufficient to support the work. The
deficit December 81 amounted to S1O,-
o42.S6.
The report shows an organization mem
bership today of o16, composed of nearly
10000 individuals, representing forty
seven states, the District of Columbia,
Hawaii, the Philippines, Porto Rico, and
including the American chambers Of COM
merce in Paris, and the Levant. This
compares with 80 organizations. repre-
senting forty-two states, last year. Only
New Mexico and Alaska remain unrep-
resented