The property herein described shall not be delivered until this original bill of lading, properly indorsed, has been surrendered and canceled, or, in case of partial delivery, a statement thereof has been indorsed hereon.

Any stipulation or indorsement on this bill of lading that it is not negotiable shall be void and of no effect.

Inspection will be permitted under this bill of lading, unless otherwise indorsed hereon, which indorsement shall be made at the time of issue by the agent, if requested by the shipper. Any alteration, addition or erasure, fraudulent or otherwise, in this bill of lading, which shall be made without the indorsement thereof hereon, signed by the agent of the carrier issuing this bill of lading, shall be without effect, and this bill of lading shall be enforcible according to its original tenor.

(Insert description of articles, weights, rates and routes, and car numbers and initials, if in carloads.)

OFFICIAL STAMP.

.Agent.

II. RIVER AND HARBOR IMPROVEMENT.

WHEREAS, The existing conditions of our business interests, due largely to the inability of our limited transportation facilities to properly handle and economically transport the large freight movement of the country, calls for some speedy and permanent relief, and as it has been freely admitted by many of our commercial bodies and manufacturing interests that the only practical and permanent relief must come through the improvement of our rivers and harbors and internal waterways; therefore be it

Resolved, That the National Board of Trade urges upon Congress the necessity of regular appropriations of not less than $50,000,000 per annum for inland waterway improvements; these appropriations to be applied in such manner as to permit of progressive, continuous and permanent work being done upon such projects as may be deemed necessary for the proper development of the transportation interests of the country by

water.

Resolved, That a policy of co-operation between the National Government, the States, municipalities or corporations, looking to the speedy development of urgent local improvements is heartily indorsed by this body and is respectfully commended to the consideration of Congress.

III. DRAWBACK LAW.

WHEREAS, There is no question whatever that the present drawback system is antiquated and can be improved and greatly extended for the upbuilding and increase of our export business; therefore be it

Resolved, That we indorse last year's recommendation that this subject shall be referred to a commission of experts to report, or that Congress shall pass a suitable drawback law for the benefit of our manufacturers.

IV. CUSTOMS ADMINISTRATIVE ACT.

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury should be authorized to instruct in his discretion collectors of customs duties and internal revenues to accept in payment of duties and revenues, in time of money stringency, or other events, certified checks on National banks, thus avoiding the acuminating of a crisis, due to financial panic, and the increase of premium on currency, as just happened.

V. AMERICAN MERCHANT MARINE.

The National Board of Trade believes that the greatest commercial question, involving the interests of the entire country, is the re-creation of the merchant marine, and it deplores that no action has been taken by Congress.

The carrying trade of the United States is practically monopolized by aliens, who have established their lines from its ports to all parts of the world.

This Board strongly urges the immediate establishment of American mail and freight lines to South and Central America, Australasia, South Africa, China, India and Japan, and to our dependencies.

The Board further advocates that proper encouragement should be given to creating an American-built sail and steamer tonnage, so necessary to the extension and protection of the commercial growth of the country.

An adequate merchant marine is of inestimable value in time of peace and absolutely essential in time of war; therefore be it

Resolved, That in our judgment the commercial interests of the country require prompt legislation, such as will result in the re-establishment of an American merchant marine.

VI. INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION.

WHEREAS, The substitution of arbitration for war as a means for settlement of international disputes is consistent with relations of dignity between civilized nations, and is demanded for avoidance of wastages of

the results of productive human effort, and by every rational consideration based on features of humanity and morality; therefore

Resolved, That the efforts which have been made and are being made in this and other countries for securing arbitration arrangements for settlement of international disputes are hereby recognized as in the highest degree promotive of civilization and of the world's welfare, and that the continuance of such efforts is commended for the good of the present and later generations of mankind.

Resolved, That the actions of the Hague Peace Conference in making possible the organization of an “International Peace Court" is calculated to advance civilization, promote the welfare of humanity and establish the reign of "Peace on earth, good will toward men,” and we ask that the State Department of this country do all that it can consistently to promote the organization and successful operation of such court.

Resolved, That the ratification of treaties with other governments by the United States, which contemplates the adjustment of differences, so far as possible, by arbitration, is a matter of high importance to the interests of international commerce and humanity.

Resolved, That all who have in charge the training of children and the preparation of books for their guidance should make use of such means for emphasizing the desirability of peace with its many and easily recognized blessings, rather than the costly barbarity of war.

VII. IMMIGRATION.

Resolved, That the National Board of Trade is strongly opposed to any and all legislation intended to discriminate against Japan or her citizens, but on the contrary it is believed that every effort should be made to cultivate and promote the most intimate commercial relations between the two countries, and that all privileges now enjoyed by the most favored nations should continue to be extended to the Japanese.

Resolved, That we deprecate all unnecessary harshness in the administration of the laws, rules and regulations governing the admission of the exempt classes of Chinamen into the United States, and believe that all Chinese travelers, merchants, traders and students should be admitted upon the presentation of passports issued by American officials in China.

Resolved, That in order to prevent the undue concentration of immigrants to some parts of our country and to encourage their better distribution in sections where conditions may be more favorable, the United States Government shall furnish to incoming immigrants, at the port of entry, and also, so far as may be found practicable before their departure from their own country, trustworthy information, printed in the language of the country of the immigrants, regarding the resources and the conditions of life which confront the followers of different occupations in various States and territories.

Resolved, That we recommend to Congress that it furnish sufficient means to the Commissioner-General of Immigration to improve the facilities for handling immigration at the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific ports in order especially to promote the better distribution of immigrants over the entire country.

VIII. PLACING CENSUS BUREAU UNDER CIVIL

SERVICE LAW.

WHEREAS, The time for the thirteenth decennial census of the United States will soon arrive and the Congress of the United States is likely, at its present session, to consider legislation fixing the manner in which the employees of the Census Bureau shall be selected; and

WHEREAS, The President of the United States, the Civil Service Commission of the United States, the Honorable Carroll D. Wright and Honorable Robert P. Porter, former Directors of the Census, have strongly urged that the efficiency of the official force would be enhanced and the cost of the census decreased by placing the Census Bureau under civil service law, the same as other branches of the executive departmen; and

WHEREAS, The National Board of Trade believes that the selection of census employees by other methods, in the tenth, eleventh and twelfth census imposed an unnecesary burden of expense upon the taxpayers of the country, which the enforcement of the competitive merit-test would prevent; now, therefore be it

Resolved, That the National Board of Trade strongly urges that the force to be employed in taking the thirteenth census, except supervisors and enumerators, whenever it is impracticable to satisfactorily apply said methods to these classes of employees, be selected under the civil service law and regulations.

IX.

RECLASSIFICATION OF MAIL MATTER. WHEREAS, The Postmaster-General having stated that from methods inaugurated, for the first time in the history of the Post-office Department, it will be possible to figure intelligently the actual cost to the Government of handling the mails and give definite results at the end of the calendar year in regard to relative costs of the different classes of mail matter and the expense to the Post-office Department of the franking privileges and of the free service rendered to the other departments;

Resolved, That the National Board of Trade strongly advocates a revision of postal rates that the gross injustice my be eliminated of a large portion of our citizens being compelled to pay an enormous profit on the service rendered them to make good the large loss caused by gratuitous service to a fortunate minority.

Resolved, That through intelligent and just revision one-cent letter postage should be made possible without loss to the Government, and should be adopted without further delay.

X. NATIONAL CURRENCY.

Resolved, That the National Board of Trade recommends that all existing restrictions upon the issue and retirement of national bank circulation under the law of July 12, 1882, Section 9, be repealed.

XI. EMERGENCY CURRENCY.

Resolved, That the National Board of Trade favors the issue of a properly safeguarded national bank emergency currency without the deposit of any bonds under rules and regulations to be established by the Comptroller of the Currency, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury. Such emergency currency to be guaranteed by the Government and taxed at a rate which will make its issuance dracticable, and yet be sufficiently high to insure its rapid retirement as soon as the emergency conditions shall have subsided.

XII. POSTAL SAVINGS BANK.

WHEREAS, It is generally believed that a large volume of currency is hoarded and consequently kept out of the natural channels of trade and exchange by many in this country who have not learned to utilize banking facilities, or who are remote from banking and savings institutions; and

WHEREAS, The Postmaster-General has formulated a plan to encourage the deposit of such currency in postal savings banks, at a rate of interest not to exceed two per cent., and the redeposit of such currency, at a slightly higher rate, in authorized Government depositories in the same localities, thereby insuring the healthful circulation of said currency;

Resolved, That the National Board of Trade recommends to Congress the enactment of such legislation as will provide for the establishment of postal savings banks in accordance with the plan outlined by the Postmaster-General in his last annual report.

XIII. PERMANENT TARIFF COMMISSION.

WHEREAS, The changed conditions, both at home and abroad, have indicated the necessity for a reclassification of many of the items in the present tariff list and the possible creation of new classification in certain directions;

Resolved, That it is the sense of the National Board of Trade that Congress should enact laws revising the tariff as expeditiously as possible; further be it