CHAPTER XIII

FRESH LIFE IN THE CHAMBER

ADDITIONAL MEMBERS ELECTED- -GROWTH IN PROTECTION

SENTIMENT

1840-1849

EARLY in 1840 a systematic effort was made to put new life into the Chamber and increase its activities. A special committee, which had been appointed to "consider what steps should be taken to extend the usefulness of this corporation," made a report which was regarded as of so much importance that a special meeting was called to consider it. The Mayor offered the City Hall for the meeting and it was held there, after ten days' notice, on March 17. It was agreed unanimously that the following programme should be put into effect as soon as possible:

Elect a large number of new members.

Procure offices of suitable size and a central position for the accommodation of the Library of the Chamber and for the daily meeting of such members as may choose to resort there, it being recommended that every one appear there once a day.

Appoint a clerk with a moderate salary to give his constant attendance between 9 A. M. and 9 P. M.; keep a record daily of the time of high water, course of the wind, foreign arrivals at the port, and such other information as it may seem of importance to have; keep files of newspapers from different parts of the Union, one at least from each State, with such public documents and important laws as may be received; the clerk to serve also as librarian or assistant librarian.

An annual amount, not exceeding ten dollars, be paid to

the Treasurer by each member, in addition to the initiation fee, such payment to entitle the member, besides the use of office and library, to the privilege of submitting cases for arbitration to the standing committee free of charge, which privileges were to cease on failure to pay the award. Privileges of the office could be extended to persons not members under such regulations as the Chamber might from time to time direct.

Amend the by-laws so as to read: "No persons can be admitted members of this corporation but merchants, and others whose avocations are connected with the trade and commerce of the country, who are American citizens or have given notice of intention to become so, or continue members if not residents in the city of New York or regularly transacting business there."

The effort to enlarge the membership of the Chamber seems to have been reasonably successful, but there was little apparent increase immediately in the Chamber's activities. During the year 1841 very little business of importance was transacted. A long memorial was sent to Congress in favor of a National Bank, but in general only minor matters were considered. A statement of the Chamber's financial condition, made in August, 1841, showed $1,182.54 in cash; I share in the Bank of New York; 10 shares in the Mer- chants' Exchange, and 16 shares (old) Eagle Fire Insurance Co.

When the question of imposing discriminating tariffs on foreign importations was before Congress in 1842, discussion of the subject revealed a distinct growth in protection sentiment in the Chamber. Eighteen years earlier, in January, 1824, when the tariff bill of which Clay was the champion was on its passage through Congress, the Chamber had agreed upon a memorial strongly in support of a tariff for revenue only and earnestly opposed to any tariff for protection. In April, 1842, a memorial was presented to the Chamber in

which the existence and prosperity of home industry were declared to be the fundamental basis of all commerce and trade, and the attitude of the Chamber was defined as follows:

The doctrine of "free trade" meets the entire concurrence of this Chamber, and wherever it can be met with, should be enhanced, but if not mutually practised by nations in their intercourse with us, is seen to demonstrate the sad consequences which seem too self evident to need an illustration.

It is the opinion of this Chamber, that in no other way, as a preliminary measure, can this nation be restored to its former high stand-the debts of the states liquidated by the prospered condition of their citizens to pay the same-and the national honor and character sustained-than by a resort to a discriminating tariff of duty on foreign imports.

This memorial was printed and circulated widely, but when it came before the Chamber for action, consideration was indefinitely postponed by a vote of thirty-six to thirty, showing the Chamber to be nearly evenly divided. Various resolutions, in opposition to the discriminating tariff measure, were introduced and all met the same fate.

At the meeting on February 15, 1843, this minute was recorded: "A reporter being present from one of the public newspapers, a motion was made by Mr. Blunt that no person be allowed to be present at this meeting except by special permission of the presiding officer." The motion was carried unanimously and the President decided that the reporter should withdraw. Six years later, in August, 1849, an application was made on behalf of a reporter of The Journal of Commerce for permission to attend the meetings of the Chamber and report them, and this was granted with the proviso that he should submit his reports for revision to the President or Secretary and should furnish slips to other newspapers. From this time the meetings of the Chamber seem to have been reported regularly in the newspapers.

In October, 1843, the dues of members, in addition to

the admission fee, were reduced from ten dollars to one dollar.

Various memorials were sent to Congress during this period, including one advocating the appointment of consular agents to China for the encouragement of commercial intercourse; one against a duty on railroad iron; one in favor of the establishment of a Hydrographic Department in the National Observatory at Washington; and several urging the removal of obstructions in the Hell Gate Channel.

In May, 1849, the membership of the Chamber was recorded officially as two hundred and five, with all dues paid. With so large a membership the general interest appears to have been slight, for at the same time the number necessary for a quorum was reduced from thirteen to nine.

CHAPTER XIV

NEW QUARTERS AND BROADER ACTIVITIES

SUPPRESSION OF PRIVATEERING SOUGHT-MEETINGS IN CLINTON HALL-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT

1851-1858

DURING the period between 1851 and 1853 the attention of the Chamber was confined quite steadily to matters relating to trade and commerce, both of the city and the country at large. Repeated action of various kinds was taken in regard to warehousing, pilots, harbor improvements, and similar subjects, and a memorial was sent to the Legislature in favor of the adoption of an amendment to the Constitution which would enable the State to borrow enough money to complete the Erie Canal. In April, 1853, a report of the Treasurer showed that there were two hundred and fifteen members of the Chamber, and there had been collected in dues for the past three years six hundred and twenty-five dollars.

An earnest effort was made in January, 1854, to extend further the usefulness of the Chamber by securing more commodious quarters and enlarging its activities as a body of citizens devoted to the welfare and progress of the city and nation. A committee, which had been appointed for the purpose, made an elaborate report on January 6, which showed that the society continued steadfast in the spirit of the founders. A few passages are worth quoting in evidence of this fact:

This city in its vast amplitudes is growing up to such gigantic importance as to draw upon us the attention of the entire commercial world, justifying their right to expect from us the establish