memorial, the finest tribute we could pay to our own genius-a memorial that would stand as an object lesson for all ages, of the power to create and the power to trade and the power to associate and compete commercially with the best nations on earth. [Applause.]

You, as members of this National Board of Trade, know that we are scant competitors with England and with Germany in the Latin-American countries. You know that the Japanese are gradually entering the west coast of South America. You know how small we are as competitors in the great Orient. Have we gone about this business of expanding American trade and making American genius known in a practical way? I submit to you as a practical suggestion, which you as representatives of trade interests may well consider, the establishment, in celebration of the completion of this world's work under American auspices, of a memorial that will be dedicated to commerce and industry and that will afford for the youth of this country an opportunity for all time to come. [Applause.]

The TOASTMASTER.-Now, gentlemen, we had a most instructive and enjoyable evening. It has been a great pleasure to have had the ladies with us, and I know that they feel that they enjoy these discussions as much as we do. It is now in order to bid you an affectionate good-by for one year only.

Resolutions adopted by the National Board of Trade at its Forty-first Annual Meeting:

NATIONAL BANKRUPTCY ACT.

Your committee to whom were referred suggestions from the Italian Chamber of Commerce, of New York, in regard to sundry matters pertaining to the present National Bankruptcy Law, respectfully recommend to the National Bankruptcy Committee of the House of Representatives that better protection to the honest debtor and also the creditor be made, and that inequalities in the present law be so remedied that the discharge of dishonest and fraudulent bankrupts, who have designedly concealed their assets, be strictly guarded against, as your committee is of opinion that the present law is too liberal in this feature and is also accelerated by the Bulk Sales Law, the law being too favorable at present to this class.

NATIONAL PURE FOOD AND DRUG ACT.

Your committee assigned to the consideration of subject LXV, National Pure Fool and Drug Act, respectfully reports that it considers the National act a great step forward in establishing new standards for the protection of the business community and the public.

Experience, however, has shown defects in the language of the act, and the system of administration has produced too much litigation, too many prosecutions, and some conflicting decisions. At the same time the permission to label goods in special ways, such as compound, often defeats the purpose of the act.

Your committee recommends that the Congress should in the near future reconstruct this act, profiting by experience already gained, and hopes for a model law that can be copied by the various States, so as to secure uniformity.

The business interests of the country have co-operated to a great extent in assisting the officers of the National Government charged with enforcing this act, and future legislation should be so constructed that while preventing imitations being offered for sale, it will not hamper the legitimate trade of the country.

TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF EGISTO MARIANI. WHEREAS, We learned with regret of the death of Mr. Egisto Mariani, who was a conspicuous participant in the National Board of

Trade, rendering his valuable co-operation to the interests of this organization; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Mariani, who was the vice-president of the Italian Chamber of Commerce at New York, was an upright business man and an honor to America, his adopted country;

Resolved, That the National Board of Trade offers its condolence and sympathy for the loss sustained by his family and the Chamber of Commerce; and

Resolved further, That a copy of these resolutions be sent to his wife and to the president of the Italian Chamber of Commerce of New York.

TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF HENRY R. WHITMORE.

WHEREAS, Mr. Henry R. Whitmore, of St. Louis, whose death occurred on the 15th instant, was for some years and until failing health intervened, one of the active members of this Board, and was, more especially, deeply interested in the advancement of the National irrigation and forestry policy so successfully advocated by this Board;

Resolved, That the National Board of Trade offers its sympathy to the family of Mr. Whitmore in their bereavement; and it is further

Resolved, That the National Board of Trade feels that this record should be spread upon the minutes and a copy of same ordered sent to his family.

TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF HON. JOEL COOK.

The Philadelphia Board of Trade, by the death of Hon. Joel Cook, lost an able, conscientious President, who for many years guided its welfare and interest in a manner that carried not only its highest appreciation, but in addition commendation for his untiring and unselfish work in its behalf.

His public services always for and in the interest of his State and country, and reflected the greatest credit upon him as a man and citizen. His active co-operation and advice in the National Board of Trade merited and has their warm approval. The Philadelphia Board of Trade feel that this modest record of his career should be engraven upon the records of the National Board of Trade at its first meeting since his death, and that a copy should be sent to his family by the Secretary of the National Board of Trade.

TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF HON. W. W. FOULKROD. WHEREAS, Since the last meeting of the National Board of Trade we have lost by death one of our most valued members, the Hon. W.

W. Foulkrod, member of Congress from the City of Philadelphia, and at one time president of the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce; and WHEREAS, Mr. Foulkrod took an active part in the developments and the work of the National Board of Trade; it is therefore

Resolved, That the National Board of Trade offers its sympathy to his family and to the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, and it is further

Resolved, That the National Board of Trade feels that this record should be spread upon the minutes and a copy of same ordered sent to his family.

DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR SERVICE.

The importance and value to our commercial interests of an efficient and well-equipped Consular Department is yearly becoming more and more pronounced, and we strongly urge upon Congress the necessity of passing such additional legislation as will keep this service at the highest possible standard of usefulness.

We consider political influence should be entirely eliminated in securing the necessary employees for this branch of Government work.

We endorse the recommendations passed last year advocating the opening of special classes in our leading universities for the careful education of young men desiring to enter the diplomatic and consular service, the graduates to be safeguarded by receiving a diploma entitling them to register their names at the State Department, and the Government securing, by examination, a fair percentage of the men required for the services named from such list; names to be taken in the order of rgistration.

Resolved, That the National Board of Trade approve the general principles for the improvement of the diplomatic and consular service as stated in H. R. Bill 31,170.

FORESTRY, IRRIGATION AND CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES.

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, soil, coal, phosphate, oil and natural gas, so that they shall be administered as a sacred trust for all the people, but in a manner to insure their full present utilization with a maximum of efficiency and a minimum of waste.

Resolved, That the title to the several million acres of public petroleum and phosphate lands should remain in the National Gov

ernment and that their development should be encouraged under a leasing system which should allow for the fullest possible utilization of these natural resources commensurate with a minimum waste in production.

Resolved, That title to the coal lands of Alaska should remain in the National Government and that their development under a leasing system, with short-term leases, should be encouraged in every way possible by extension of the most liberal terms to operators, both large and small, to insure the development of transportation which will supply the Territory itself with cheap fuel and also the West Coast of the United States.

Resolved, That title to the coal rights of the coal lands of the United States should remain in the National Government and that their coal development should proceed under a leasing system with short-term leases. Congress is urged to enact appropriate legislation.

Resolved, That the fine showing made by the Reclamation Service since the passage of the National Irrigation Law in 1902 whereby water, heretofore wasted, has been made available for 900,000 acres and 14,000 farm homes have been created from the desert, is deserving of high commendation, and further

Resolved, That the work of the Geological Survey in classifying and valuing the public coal lands, thereby securing to the irrigation fund a largely increased return for these lands as well as the other work of this bureau and of the administration in conservatively administering the public domain and investigating its mineral resources, meets with the hearty approbation of the National Board of Trade.

Resolved, That the National Board of Trade takes cognizance of this splendid and heroic work done by the men of the Forest Service, as well as those of many States in fighting forest fires during the past season, and urges upon Congress and upon State Legislatures adequate appropriations to provide for future protection of our forests. We commend the excellent work done in the establishment of National and State forest nurseries and in forest planting and urge their rapid extension.

The preservation of the great forested mountain watersheds of the United States and the reforestation of denuded areas are vital to the maintenance of our inland waterways, not only to insure transportation, but to preserve and perpetuate the water powers upon which millions of dollars in manufacturing enterprises now depend, therefore be it

Resolved, That the National Board of Trade heartily commends the policy of creating National forests as a general practice and