The age-herald., 1899-01-07

the reply, thought that the Florence people hag ignored Dr. Belamy's correspondence entirely.
 President Steiner took the floor and roundly scored the Florence letter, stating that in his opinion it was a bluff to scare Birmingham off the track. He had been told that the whole matter originated from Dr. Powers, president of the state uni- versity, who formerly resided at Florence. Dr. Powers, he was told advocated and ad- vised the Florence people to make the fight in an effort to save the plant. President Steiner was of the opinion that the Com mercial club had done nothing for which it was due Florence any apology and until instructed otherwise by the club he would continue the negotiations. - Sig Steiner was inclined to think that per- haps 1t was a mistake to harbor the ill feel ing of the people of Florence and of North Alabama by this movement He stated that he had been opposed to the movement and gave 1t as his opinion that pr. Bellamy would not move from Florence unless he received a subsidy He moved that all fur ther efforts towards securing the plant be dropped. The chair ruled that the motion was out of order as motion to receive the report of the committee was still before the house.
 A vote was then taken on MT. Kettigs motion which prevailed.
 Sig Steiner then renewed his motion to drop any further negotiations with the wagon works, which precipitated an ani- mated discussion. MT. Dearborn was. of the opinion that the payment of any monetary consideration be refused but thought that a free site should be offered MT, Steiner accepted this suggestion and embodied it in his motion.
 MT. Malone raised the point of order that MT. Steiners motion was out of order be- cause the Commercial club had made no offer to the wagon works people, The chair ruled that the point was well taken, and on motion of MT. Malone the whole matter was tabled.
 MT. Steiner announced that he would offer another resolution and while he was putting it in writing, on motion of MT. Malone a committee of seven, consisting of w. H. Kettig, M. V. Joseph, Sterling A. Wood, w. J. Miner, T. H. Motion and J. A. Roun- tree was appointed to assist MT. Tomlinson ir securing the passage of the bill exempt ing manufacturing plants from taxation.
 No Monetary Consideration
 Mr. Steiner then offered his resolution to the effect that it is the sense of the Com- mercial club that it is needless and unwise to pay any subsidy to the Florence wagon works to induce it's removal to this city. The resolution was seconded by J. K Me Donald and w. M Newton, and MT. Me Donald asked the privilege of explaining his position, stating that he wished to go on record against the granting or giving of subsidies, which he considered unnecessary.
 MT. Miller, the commercial agent. asked the privilege of the floor and explained that several members of the original com mttee who had the matter in charge were absent and stated that it would be an injustice to them to adopt the resolution. He further stated that an agent from Montgomery was at the present time in Florence negotiating for the removal of the plant to that city, and that the indus trial agent of the Illinois Central railroad was also trying to locate the plant along his line.
 Several strong speeches were made against any action being taken, and on motion of J. M. Caldwell, the matter was referred back to the original committee in charge to take such action as was thought proper to be referred to special meeting of the club.
 Mr. Mcdonald, by request, submitted for consideration several pamphlets touching upon the purposes of the National Associa- tion of Manufacturers of the United States, an organization In which he, thought Birmingham sshould be represented.
 A Resolution favoring an increase of the ri odn
 After the Florence matter had been dis posed of the meeting adjourned.