Evening star., 1915-01-13

pnotographerS, newspaper men ant
others state that this Is the most prac
tical service rendered by any organizl
tion in the city.
"As for the convention phase. owe,
and over again 1t has been reiterated
to the business men Of the city tina
conventions bring money. and that ar
investment Of one-tenth Of CEN
brings to the city a visitor or delegate
who leaves "a.
Our experience with the convention
business has demonstrated this beyond
a shadow of a doubt, and it is regretted
that the committee charged with the
duty of collecting a fund has had sc
much difficulty. Less than $4,000 has
been pledged. In 1910. our then treas
urer, A. Lisner. assisted by few mem.
bers. raised in thirty days nearly $40.
900. The chamber has had to pay from
its own income in the past year several
hundreds of dollars, which have only
been recently returned to it from the
small fund pledged and collected
Joint Committee Formed.
at is interesting to note at this point
that the convention work heretofore
carried on by the conventions COM
mittee of the Chamber of Commerce is
now conducted by a joint committee
representing the three trade bodies Of
the city. It can be said for this new
committee that it has handled matters
in businesslike way and those who
follow the work are hopeful of practi-
cal results when sufficient fund is
raised to enable the committee to send
representatives to conventions and to
carry on the active work needed to
bring them to Washington"
Mr.. GUIDE spoke of the work of the
house, audit and membership commit
tees and made mention of the efforts
of the committee on law and legisla-
tion to bring about the enactment of
better laws governing the sale of fire.
arms in the District.
Favors Representation in Congress.
Concerning the work on the special
suffrage committee and its report ad-
vocating a constitutional amendment
giving the District representation in
both Houses of Congress and in the
electoral college, which was adopted
by the chamber. Mr.. Guide said:
Representation in the House. Senate
and electoral college need not be a
dream to those who have the best in
terests of the community at heart.
However much citizens of the District
may disagree on the necessary requis-
ties for a voter in the capital, ] be-
lieve there is but one opinion as to
the need for able, intelligent and hon
est representatives,, equipped by study
of and residence in the District, to
speak on the floor of Congress for us
ALL"
After telling of the creation of a
committee on militia during the year
Mr.. Guide said:
"The mention of this action of the
chamber brings at once to mind one of
the most important needs Of the Ma
tional Capital, and it appeals strongly
to me that the efforts which for years
have been made by the 1oard of Trade
and Chamber of Commerce for a new
armory in the District should be given
an impetus by the fearful spectacle
now being enacted in Europe. The
training given our young men in the
militia is most beneficial, and while
voice the hope that it may never be
utilized in actual warfare, yet from
personal experience and observation ]
am convinced that the physical train
ing and discipline derived from enlist
ment in military organic alton does
much toward making better citizens
and is worth all it costs. i ask that
the committee on militia consider this
subject promptly.