The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-25
WILL DEPEND ON THE RATES.
Whether savannah VIII Have n Gala
Week In April.

Week In APRIL
The meeting of Post A of the Travellers
Protective Association, held yesterday
morning at the Screven house, did not, as
was expected, decide conclusively whether
the occasion of the state convention of the
association, which is to be held here next
May, should also be made a gala week 1t
was decided, however, that the convention
begin Monday, April II. The convention
proper will last only three days, but it is
hoped there Will be a gala week lasting
from the opening day of the convention
There were not as many of the drum
mers at the meeting as had been expected
Only about twenty-five were present. The
railroads running into Savannah were rep
resented, the meeting being largely for
the consideration of the practicability of
holding the gala week, which is regarded
as contingent upon the rates given by the
railroads. Mr.. ]. c. Halle, general pas
senger agent of the Central; Mr. H. C. Nc
Fadden, assistant general passenger agent
of the Plant system; Mr.. I. M. Fleming,
division freight and passenger agent of
the Florida Central and Peninsular rail-
in the general passenger department of
the Georgia and Alabama were present
upon the invitation of the drummers
The difficulty about the granting of rates
seems to rest with the Florida lines Just
at the time it is proposed to have the gala
week, there is always a great deal of
winter tourist business and travel of the
Florida hotel help from that state to the
north. 1t is thought that to put on an ex-
ceptionally low rate from Florida to Sa-
vannah would demoralize the business
completely. Such rate at that time is
regarded as likely to prove very injurious
to the roads. 1t is said that the lines
would be glad to advocate a reduced rate,
but not one as low as that desired by the
drummers.
The representatives of the Savannah
lines have not the power to name the rates
that will be given for the gala week, in
the event it is held. They would be rec
commended to the conference committee of
the Southeastern Passenger Association,
and the recommendation would be almost
equivalent to their adoption. There is no
reason, it is said, why the roads may not
give the rate desired, which is one cent
mile, from all territory in Georgia, Ala
bama and South Carolina. The passenger
men told the drummers that there would
probably be no difficulty about their being
given that rate from those points, there
being no such considerations, as in the
Florida question, to prevent the confer
ence committee from adopting the recon-
mendations of the lines interested.
The drummers are particularly anxious
to have rates apply from Florida points
in the same way as from those of Geor-
gia, Alabama and South Carolina They
think that there is every prospect Of their
getting large number of people from the
Land of Flowers. They have already re-
ceived great many assurances that they
would get many visitors from points
throughout the state, in the event the rail-
road fare Is not made too large. The fate
of gala week, whether or not it is to be
attempted, hangs largely upon the answer
of the railroads upon the request for low
rates from Florida. 1t is said the passen-
ger officials will be ready to report to the
drunmers at a meeting to be held next
Friday If this report Is satisfactory,
there is every reason to presume that the
travelling men will decide 10 try to give
Savannah the most successful gala week
that has ever been had.
Whether or not the gala week is made a
feature of the convention, the latter will
be held Committees will be in charge of
the work incident to its being held here
The chairmen of these committees were
appointed yesterday by President Loven-
stein. OF the committee on entertainment
Mr. Max Krauss will be the chairman
He as well as the other chairmen, will
select his own fellow workers on the COM
mittee. Mr.. r. L. Wylly will be at the
head of the reception committee; Mr.
Clarence Lilienthal of the finance commit
tee; Mr.. D. L. Sternberger of that on
badges and decorations; Mr.. A. w. Solo
mons of that on printing, and Mr.. c. E.
Vinson of the committee on arrangements.
The meeting at which all the discussions
were held and business was transacted
lasted for four hours. The drummers are
all very deeply interested in the gala
week, and they hope the railroads will
acquiesce in the rate requested. The mer-
chants of the city are nearly all, likewise,
DESTROYS of holding the gala week.