The age-herald., 1899-08-05
REGULAR MEETING
 COMMERCIAL CLUB Eleven New Members Added to the Roll. ENSLEY REPRESENT TATIVES President Anderson Renders an Inter- esting Report on Efforts to Ge.
 France to Take Off the Tariff
 on American Iror
.ENSLEY REPRESENT TATIVES

NIuD was neld yesterday afternoon and SeY- eral important matters were up for discus sion. Eleven new members were added to the roll, including four from Ensley who will act as a committee to represent the interests of the club in that thriving suburb
 The meeting of the board of directors was called to order by President F. Y. An derson and the reports of the secretary were read and approved. Secretary Gibson reported that parties had been in the city negotiating for the location of a glass factory paper box factory, and nail mill He also referred to his visit to the Bessemer Commercial Club and noted an invitation to visit the Pratt City Club on next Monday evening. He also reported that d carpet cleaning company, which was recently established in the city, had cleaned and relad the carpet in the main room of the club headquarters free of charge, for which a vote of thanks were extended thcm.
 The following names were proposed for membership. and on motion were elected: Webb Crawford, Jacob Fies, J. B. Morson P G. Bowman, E. J. McCrossin, G. Hodg- son, J. E. Davis, Major J. M. Thomson, N. B. Gay. Dr. T. L. Sugg and Frank Wood ruff the last four named constituting the Ensley committee.
 The club meeting was called to order at 4:30 o'clock and much business despatched.
 rresiGent Anderson's I've. o.t
 President Anderson submitted the follow ing report, which was accompanied by a correspondence regarding certain donations of lands in connection with the people who are negotiating for the Baxter Stove Works:
 ITO the Members of the Commercial Club.-Before the next monthly meeting of the Commercial Club the celebration of labor day will take place. As the develop ment of this industrial region rests largely on the cooperation of the man who tolls for his daily bread. and as, under the natural order of affairs, it is seldom they have an opportunity to congregate for pleasure and social enjoyment trust this club will appoint committee to cooperate with the labor organizations and help make the coming labor day celebration success
 Tariff Reduction
 Some time ago this club took occasion to petition the government to use its good offices in having removed the one dollar a tOIl ldTlil l6NiSu pJ lliC fiChNH 6O'SiiiihN on all importation of American iron. In the course of correspondence by the secre- tary of the Commercial club, a reply was received from agent of the French gov ernment, in which 1t was stated that the proposition looking to the abatement of said tariff was favorably received and the matter would be given attention. As our government has lately signed a reciproci- ty treaty with France, it is possible that this tariff has been abated. I suggest, however, the advisability of having the club find this out for itself, for if it has succeeded in abolishing this unjust dis crimination against our iron it will enable the ironmasters of the district to do large business with the French people.
 New Plants
 "As will be seen from the attached cor respondence from parties in Atlanta, there is every prospect of having one of our dis carded plants remodeled and put in active operation, thus giving employment to quite a number of skilled operatives. I particu- larly call attention to this matter, for it is a source of great pleasure to me to see our discarded plants resuscitated and put in active, and it is hoped, successful op- eration. To me this state of affairs is a stronger indication of our prosperity than the location even of new plants. l am in- formed that the gentlemen who propose to take hold of this old plant and practically remodel it have ample capital to make what they undertake a success"
 Grievance Committee
 In the absence of Chairman Graves of ria reported that the committee had settled amcaby the differences between the brick manufacturers and certain contractors re- garding the use of convict made brick, but that subsequent grievance had arisen concerning the employment of union labor, which was under consideration.
 Chairman Ross C. Smith of the commit tee on railroad development made an en- couraging report, in which he stated that he had extended an invitation to President Russell of the Mobile and Ohio railroad to address the club, and that he had received a letter in reply in which MT. Russell re- gretted that urgent business prevented him from accepting the invitation at the pres ent time, but that he would try and come later.
 MT. Smith also referred to certain rail- road extensions in north Alabama, which he thought would greatly benefit Birming- ham
 Chairman Rountree of the state fair committee reported the magnificent suc- cess with which the state fair movement had been met, and briefly outlined what had been done in the premises.
 An invitation to attend the Confederate Veterans County reunion at East Lake was accepted, with the thanks of the club.
 Labor Day Celebration
 On motion certain suggestions of the president in a former report, regarding county roads, was referred to the proper committee.
 On motion of B. Steiner a committee of five, to cooperate with and assist the Trade Council in its Labor Day celebration, was appointed as follows: John W. Tom nnson. Joseph Beitman. W. J. Pearce, Sam