Birmingham age-herald., 1895-05-04
THE COMMERCIAL CLUB Holds Its Last Session for the
 Present Fiscal Year. GEN. R. D. JOHNSTON TALKS On the Subject of Discrimination in Freight Rates-Says It Has Proven Stumbling
 Block and Wants It Rectifed

The Commercial club met yesterday afternoon with a good attendance. Pres ident Moore was in the chair and Secre- tary Thompson at his desk.
 President Moore stated that the meet ing was the last regular one that would be held prior to the election of officers for the coming year, and that the con- stitution provided that the names of candidates to be voted on should be post ed at least one week prior to the elec- ton.
 Upon motion made by MT, T. L. Me Gowan, a committee was appointed to name these officers, and also that every member feeling an interest in the mat ter make out list of twelve for vice presidents and directors, together with such names as may be suggested for president, secretary and treasurer, ana to hand the same to the committee be- fore Monday next. The president ap- pointed the following committee to at- tend to the matters: T. l.. McGowan, k. D. Johnston and w. C. Shackelford.
 On motion of MT. J. Morgan Smith 1t was the sense of the meeting that these names should be placed on the list, either as directors or vice-presidents, for the coming year.
 On motion of Gen. Rufus N. Rhodes of the Daily News 1t was the sense or the meeting to prepare an informal lunch at the annual meeting that the secretary be appointed committee of one to arrange for the same, and that the committee on social features select not less than five members who shall deliver short addresses at the meet ing.
 Regarding the work of the club for the coming year Gen. R. D. Johnston made the following remarks
 The greatest difficulty that now con- fronts this club in securing the loca- tion of industries in the city is the rail- roads. Whenever there is an inquiry from any industrial plant looking to- wards a location in the city, one of the first questions asked is what are your freight rates?" To name the rates from Birmingham to the adjoining ter ritory and states is absolutely to close correspondence, and right now while I think about 1t, there is a letter upon the secretary's desk from a manufac- turer In Pennsylvania who really wants to come to Birmingham for the pur- pose of manufacturing shovels and other mining tools It calls for the freight rates to Chattanooga, Mobile, Mont gomery and Memphis. The answer to these lines of railways cannot be made without disclosing the fact that he can ship his goods from any point in Penn SylVania right to our doors cheaper than we can from Birmingham, though the distances be four times as great or more.
 II is perfectly manifest to me that un- less the club purSueS a more aggressive policsl towards the railroads it can never accomplish anything, and the press of the city must come to its aid. It will re- quire united effort on the part of all our people to accomplish anything in this line. The truth of the matter is that the ct ant nYsin in this city have combined together so that no road can give Birmingham fair rate without war on it being made by all of the lines. They have parcelled out the state among themselves like sover- eign lords and no competing line can en- ter the territory without bitter war. l desire the club to make a square and open fight for justice to this city, and to declare that the policy will be to keep up the fight united until we are dealt with fairly. It is time that the people of the city come together as one man and stand by the road that is willing to do justice to us.
 What gave us the reduced sugar rate? Was it not the fact that the Queen and Crescent railroad determined that we should be treated fairly?
 We must go personally to merchants and get them to rou their freight over the line that is disposed to do us just and right l know our merchants are
 
 and can see where the advantage lies They will make no compact for personal gains that will conflict with the good of the city. She will and shall be a great city, even if we have to fight railroads for years to get justice and equality for her.
 General Rhodes said speaking for the press of the city, that he could assure the club all the necessary aid in this matter
 J. Morgan Smith, F. Y. Anderson Sec retary Thompson and J. Beitman all made short talks on the line of the inn portance of taking a more active inter- est in the building up of industries for Birmingham through more favorable freight rates for the coming year. MT. w. C.. Estes, MT. W. R. Sawyer--of the Alexander-Sawyer company and others expressed themselves as willing to fa- vor with shipments hereafter only such roads as show willingness to do the fair thing for Birmingham.
 On motion of J. Beitman this matter was referred to the transportation com mittee and the secretary and instructed to see the railroads and report at the next meeting regarding this matter
 President Moore named the following as the inspectors of the election, as pro- vided for in the constitution of the club: Dan Rogan, w. R. Sawyer and Charles Roy.
 In this connection President Moore said it was due the nominating commit tee for him to say that he would not be a candidate for reelection, much as he appreciated the honor of the position, but he thought there should be rota- tion in the office of president and so could not serve for another term.
 The club tEen adjourned.