Birmingham state herald., 1895-11-22
THE COMMERCIAL CLUB Held a Very Important and
 Interesting Meeting. THE MEMBERS TO DIRECT In Future Instead of Directors--No Class Legislation, Only BiFmingham's
 interest Considered.
THE MEMBERS TO DIRECT

The board of directors of the Con1mer- cial club held most important meeting at the rooms of the club last night and transacted some business that bears very strongly upon the future welfare of Birmingham. Some weeks ago Pres ident Rhodes rendered his resignation on account of pressure of private busl- ness The work of the secretary being largely engaged with the exposition It left more work on the president than ms private affairs permitted him give but he has now consented to withdraw his resignation since the directors so desire, and agree, by their action taken last night to give him the fullest possible CO., operation in making the club more use yful to the city. In view of this condition the directors appointed special com mittee to take the general condition of the club under consideration. and that committee has performed it's work, and the report submitted below gives evidence of great care and thought and speaks in such a tone as must commend thelr work to the community at large as much as 1t did to their fellow members. who unanimously adopted 1t. The following is the report:
 Birmingham. Ala. Nov. 21, 1895. To the Board of Directors:
 Your committee to whom was assigned the work of Investigating the general condition of the club. and make such rec concentrations as that investigation, to- gether with the welfare of the club, might seem to warrant, would say we have held three separate meetings and have carefully examined the status of the club, and given such consideration to the matters intrusted to us as their importance demanded.
 We are plea sed to report that the phys ical condition of the club isT in reasona- bly good shape, and in our judgment only requires the manifestation of a little more interest on the part of the direct ors and members. with such changes in policy as are herein outlined. to place the club in even a better condition than ever before.
 The books of the secretary are neatly and accurately kept; the showing of the receipts and disbursements, together with the standing of the members, <ve all concisely and clearly shown, and from these we find the following:
 There are in good standing on the books of the club 216 members which, with the sum received from office rent. should make the present months receipts $2S6, while the expense are about $252 or a possible deficit of only SIG.
 There are 123 names on the books of members who have been dropped for non-payment of dues and withdrawn, a large portion of whom your committee believes can be restored to the club if properly approached for that purpose. while there are numbers of other citi- zens who can be induced to become mem- bers with a little effort by the club to se- cure them.
 In the opinion of the committee it is not advisable to advance the dues or re- organize the club on limited member ship basis at this time the mission of the club having been so far outlined for the benefit of all it seems to us best to still adhere to that policy and seek to unite and educate all into broader and more loyal spirit for the upbulding of Bir- mingham. This your committee believes can best be accomplished at this time through a popular rather than a re- stricted membership basis.
 To aid in creating renewed interest in the club and place it where its import ance and value to the city entities it to be established, we would submit the fol- lowing recommendations:
 1. That the president be requested to withdraw his resignation and serve un- til the end of the term for which he was elected; that the directors pledge him such cooperation in advancing the well fare of the club as will render his du- ties as light and pleasant as they should
 
 and to his fellow members.
 2. That we express the fullest confidence Tn the zeal enthusiasm, ability and integ- rity of the secretary, and to secure the widest possible returns from his labors, that he be given such encoura cement and support on the part of the directors and members, as his duties and position entilte him to receive from the hands of those he seeks to serve.
 3. That the directors meet the last Fri day in each month at 8 o'clock D. m. {: that they transact no business except of a financial character, and that all busi- mess of the club shall be transacted in open meetings of that body; that the finance committee report to the directors at their stated meetings on the receipts and disbursements of the preceding month.
 4. That the club meet on the first Fri day in each month at o'clock D. m; that the secretary report to the club at each meeting the number of members who have paid dues for the previous month the number who have been dropped for non-payment of dues and the number