Mr. TUCKER.-I may say that this report has been submitted to an Auditing Committee, who have examined the same and have reported it as having been found correct.

On motion the report of the Treasurer was received and approved.

DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR SERVICE.

The PRESIDENT.-At this juncture the Chair desires to read and submit a letter received by him this morning from Mr. Knox, the Secretary of State :

MY DEAR MR. LA LANNE:—

January 16, 1911.

I am sending you a copy of a bill, introduced in the House of Representatives by the Honorable Frank O. Lowden, for the improvement of the diplomatic and consular service. It is proposed by this bill to enact into law, in accordance with the President's recommendation to Congress, the essential principles of the existing executive orders regulating promotions in the diplomatic and consular service, and to provide for ascertaining, by an impartial examination into, the qualifications of candidates for appointment to those services. A measure of the kind proposed by Mr. Lowden is a step now needed to perfect and make permanent the improvements already brought about in the foreign service and to lay the foundation for still further progress.

I feel quite sure that you will agree with the general principles of the bill, and I should be very glad of any help that you may give in bringing it to the attention of the people of the country. Yours sincerely,

MR. FRANK D. LA LANNE,

President National Board of Trade.

P. C. KNOX.

This letter from Mr. Knox is to us a very grateful recognition of his recognition of the importance of the influence of the National Board of Trade, and this is not the first instance in which the Secretary of State has asked our organization to help along, as well as it may, his work in this and other directions. Several years ago Secretary Root, at the suggestion of your President, increased from $2,500 to $4,000 the salary of the incumbent of one of the important diplomatic posts where your President had found that official

doing work out of all proportion to his salary. That is one example of the influence of the National Board of Trade. To receive such letters as this is very gratifying, particularly while our convention is in session.

Mr. Wood, of Philadelphia.-It occurs to me that it would be well, and I therefore move, that the Secretary, in acknowledging the receipt of the letter from Mr. Knox, should thank him for the same and assure him of our desire to co-operate with him.

The motion was agreed to.

On motion of Mr. DOUGLAS, of New York, the above letter from Secretary Knox was referred to the Committee on Diplomatic and Consular Relations.

ENLARGEMENT OF THE SCOPE OF THE
NATIONAL BOARD OF TRADE.

The PRESIDENT.-The Secretary will read a resolution adopted unanimously yesterday at a meeting of the council. The council, as you know, is the body from which we get all our power.

The Secretary read as follows:—

WHEREAS, The Boston Chamber of Commerce has presented for the Official Programme certain proposed amendments to the Constitution of the National Board of Trade, having for their purpose the enlargement of the scope of the National Board, and the increase of its influence; therefore

Resolved, That the first business before the convention shall be the appointment by the President of a committee, not exceeding eleven members, fully representative of all sections of the country, to consider the proposed amendments and for the purpose of devising ways and mears for the promotion of the aims and purposes of this organization and to make a greater National organization, which will bring into harmonious co-operation the commercial and business associations of the whole country.

Resolved, further, That the committee be requested to report as soon as convenient, and, if possible, at the opening session of the convention on Thursday, January 19th, or, if necessary, to a special

meeting of the council to be called for that purpose by the President.

The resolutions were received and approved.

The PRESIDENT.-The Chair will appoint that committee at once, and in doing so will state that he has named the committee in alphabetical order, because otherwise it might be thought that the first-named member of the committee would be the choice of the President for the Chairman of the committee. The President of this Board thinks, however, that each committee should itself select its own Chairman from its own membership of distinguished men.

The Committee will be composed of the following delegates :

A. T. ANDERSON, Cleveland; CHARLES ENGLAND, Baltimore; EDWARD A. FILENE, Boston; JOHN H. FAHEY, Boston; F. L. HITCHCOCK, Scranton; W. B. LiveZey, Newport News; GEORGE H. MAXWELL, Chicago; A. M. READ, Washington, D. C.; GEORGE F. STONE, Chicago; JOHN P. TRUESDELL, New York; WILLIAM R. TUCKER, Philadelphia.

OFFICIAL PROGRAMME.

The Board proceeded to the consideration of the Official Programme, which was as follows:

I. AMERICAN MERCHANT MARINE.

NEW YORK PRODUCE EXCHANGE.

The leading nations of the world are eagerly seeking commercial supremacy on the ocean with the same energy and determination they are striving to upbuild their industrial and manufacturing interests on the land.

Foreign governments fully realize that fast mail lines and a large commercial fleet are absolutely essential for the proper protection of their merchants seeking markets abroad.

The American Government alone seems indifferent to our National requirements and our merchant marine has been allowed to pass away until we have practically no ships left in the ocean carrying trade.

We have repeatedly knocked at the doors of Congress demanding relief, but no action has been taken.

We again renew our request and ask for prompt legislation which will change this unfortunate situation, so dangerous to our prosperity, and enable us to again take a proper place among maritime powers to which we are entitled by reason of our great population and the magnitude of our foreign commerce.

II. AMERICAN MERCHANT MARINE.

PHILADELPHIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

WHEREAS, The commercial and industrial necessity for a material increase of American shipping in foreign trade becomes more apparent each year; and

WHEREAS, An adequate merchant marine is of inestimable value, both in time of war and in time of peace; therefore be it

Resolved, That we again urge upon Congress the consideration and the passage of such legislation as will promote the growth of an American merchant marine built in American shipyards, commensurate with the needs of our foreign commerce, and which will give to all American citizens equal opportunities for building, owning and operating ships to compete for the carrying trade of the world.

III. MERCHANT MARINE.

PHILADELPHIA COMMERCIAL MUSEUM.

Resolved, That the National Board of Trade reaffirms its appeal to Congress for whatever assistance it can render toward the upbuilding and operation of an American merchant marine, so that American citizens need no longer suffer the humiliation of seeing the products of their agriculture and industry carried in increasing volume to the ends of the earth and for the profit of alien vessel owners.

IV. AMERICAN MERCHANT MARINE.

SCRANTON BOARD OF TRADE.

Resolved, That the National Board of Trade reaffirms its former utterances in favor of the rehabilitation of our merchant marine. It urges upon the Congress the imperative necessity of passing such a bill as will insure the early establishing of lines of ocean steamers under the American flag to all parts of the world, as a means of promoting American trade and commerce in time of peace and as adjunct to our navy in time of war. To this end, following the example of other maritime nations, it believes in mail carrying sub

sidies to such extent as will insure their establishment and continu

ance.

V. AMERICAN MERCHANT MARINE.

WASHINGTON BOARD OF TRADE.

The Washington Board of Trade reaffirms its action heretofore expressed relative to the American merchant marine.

It recommends that the National Board of Trade urges upon Congress the passage of an act to encourage and develop our merchant marine in order that all commerce with our Eastern possessions and also our rapidly increasing export trade may be carried under the American flag, in vessels manned and owned by our people and as auxiliary to our navy in time of war.

VI. CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES.

PHILADELPHIA COMMERCIAL MUSEUM.

Resolved, That the National Board of Trade reaffirms its appeal to the patriotic sentiment of all the people in all the States to use their personal influence and efforts on behalf of all National and State legislation that will help conserve the natural resources, forests, waterways, soils and minerals, so that they shall be administered as a sacred trust for all the people; under which, while the needs of future generations shall be safeguarded, those of the present shall receive all the consideration to which they are entitled.

VII. FOREST RESERVES.

PHILADELPHIA COMMERCIAL MUSEUM.

Resolved, That the National Board of Trade earnestly urges the present passage of the bill now pending in Congress for the creation of the Appalachian and White Mountain Forest Reserves.

VIII. FORESTRY.

SCRANTON BOARD OF TRADE.

WHEREAS, The preservation of the great mountain water sheds of the eastern mountains of the United States, as well as of the other water sheds, demands the preservation of our forests, and the reforestation of the denuded areas is vital, not only to the safety of the country, but to the preservation of the water powers upon which millions of dollars in manufacturing enterprises now depend; therefore be it