Evening star., 1938-12-25
Trade Bodies See Much Progress in 1893
Toward Obtaining Vote for D. c.
Tax and Relief Problems Ahead
Business Conditions
Here Held to Be
Improving
By JOHN H. Cassidy. Jr.

BY JOHN H. Cassidy. Jr.
Great progress in the fight for
national representation for the Dis
trict of Columbia was cited by Off
cials of Washington's leading trade
organizations yesterday as one OF
the outstanding high lights of civic
activity during 1888.
Looking back over the activities
of an unusually busy year, Francis
G. Addison, jr., president of the
Board of Trade, declared the cause
of national representation undoubt-
edly was greatly advanced by the
discussions held before the House
Judiciary Committee. Expressing
hope that hearings will be held by
the Senate in the new year, the
board president pledged that the
trade organization will continue
its effort for representation in
Congress and the electoral college,
Other important matters in which
the board will take hand next
year are revision of the District S
tax structure, the special report on
the investigation of public relief
and reorganization of the municipal
government
Dinner February 4.
At The top of its social calendar
for 1889 the Board of Trade lists
its big golden jubilee dinner on
February at the Mayflower Hotel.
Briefly reviewing business activity
during the last year, Edward D.
Shaw, secretary of the Merchants
and Manufacturers Association,
pointed out that, while business in
many lines of trade and industry
showed a marked decline during the
first half of the year, conditions
have improved greatly during the
last few months in Washington.
Retail trade. as reported to the
Federal Reserve Board by local de-
partment stores, showed only a very
slight decline. The first II months
of the year showed a decrease of
only / 8-10 per cent as compared to
a per cent average decline for the
whole country.
Mr.. Shaw pointed out that the
number of employees in the Federal
Government in the District reached
an all-time peak of 1888 in Oc-
tober. The present personnel, he
said, is 73 per cent above that of
51a years ago. Expansion of Gov
ernment activities, with its accom-
panying increased employment, has
had a direct effect on local busi-
ness and has resulted in large de-
mand for apartments and private
homes, which in turn has stimu-
lated not only the building industry,
but almost every other type of busi-
ness in the city. he said.
City's Attraction Grows.
He declared Washington is play
ing a more important part in ma
tional and international affairs and
because of this is attracting an
ever-increasing number of the
country's finest citizens. With all
of it's beautiful Government and
private buildings, parks and recre-
ational facilities, Washington is be-
coming more and more Mecca of
thousands of visitors, Mr.. Shaw
said.
He listed as the outstanding ac-
tivities of the Merchants and Manu-
facturers' Association during 1888:
Keeping business men informed on
tax and legislative measures; ad-
vocacy of parking meters. pedestrian
control and staggering working
hours; cooperation in the post Of
fees shop early, mail early cam
paign; continued efforts for an
auditorium. a stadium and a new
National Guard armory; urging an
amendment to the Districts Unem-
ployment Compensation Act to give
the Unemployment Compensation
Board authority to set the tax rate
and continuing efforts to cooperate
with the Board of Education in ex-
panding vocational training in the
District schools.
Several new trade federations
Joined the merchants and manu-
facturers' group during the year.
These included retail florists, whole
sale grocers, wholesale meat, sea-
food and poultry dealers and air.
conditioning equipment dealers.
The year 1888 saw the completion
of the new Chain Bridge, which has
been one of the major projects of
the Bridges Committee of the Board
of Trade. Under leadership of
George c. Shinn, the committee
took charge of all arrangements in
connection with the dedication of
the span. The committee also
neared completion of another prof.
ect in which it has taken an in
terest for many years when Congress
appropriated funds to begin con-
struction of the new Pennsylvania
Avenue Bridge, now under way.
Welfare Institution Studied.
The Charities and Corrections
Committee, under Craftsmanship of
John F. Victory, embarked on a
program of inspection of District
welfare institutions, including the
Jail, Lorton Reformatory, National
Training School for Girls, Receiving
Home for Children and the Indus
trial Home School. A special COM
mittee was appointed to investigate
relief and will continue its study
after the report by Burdette G.
Lewis, special relief investigator.
The Committee on Law and Leg
tslation enjoyed one Of its most
active years. Several Investigations
were started during the year, one
of the chief ones being a study of
the proposed separate civil service
system for municipal employees. The
committee also studied the advis-
ability of providing a medical ex-
aminer in place of the present
coroner system, but no recommen-
dations have been made.
Under the leadership of Theodore
I. Coe, the Municipal Art Committee
also had an active year, awarding
certificates to architects and build
ers for excellence in design of struc-
tllres erected during the preceding