The age-herald., 1899-03-04
REGULAR MEETING
 COMMERCIAL CLUB Mckinley Again Invited to Visit
 Birmingham. WARRIOR CANAL MATTER Referred to Special Committee-R. N Rhodes Criticised Action of the
 Club in Meddling With
 Telephone Charges.
WARRIOR CANAL MATTER

first street, and business of importance was transacted.
 The meeting of the board of directors was called to order at 3:S0 o'clock by President Steiner, with Secretary Gibson, who has returned from his legislative du- ties, at the desk.
 Gibson Matter Behind Closed Doors
 Under the head of miscellaneous business the board went into executive session, and while the executive proceedings were not given out for publication it is supposed that the question of the alleged dissatisfaction emong certain members at the action of Secretary Gibson in connection with the legislature was taken up. It was learned that the board refused to take any action in the premises in the absence of specific charges.
 Warrior Canal Question
 When the doors were again opened J. A. VanHoose asked the privilege of the floor to explain certain matters which he said were of vital importance. MT. VanHoose stated that he had gotten up from sick bed to attend the meeting, and briefly ex- plained his plans. There were two things he said which he thought the Commercial club should take up and bend all it's en- ergy towards accomplishing-to secure some of the large eastern cotton factories and to lay plans towards securing an ap- propriation of congress to build the War rior canal.
 The possibility that the iron industries of the district might be absorbed by tne Federal Steel company and shut down and opened at the will of men whose interests were in other sections of the country was pointed out as a reason why an effo.t should be made to secure cotton mills, and in this connection MT. VanHoose suggested that the president be made salaried offi- cer to take the place of the industrial agent and that he go to Boston and in- augurate an active campaign of five or six months towards interesting the manu- lecturers of that section in the Birming- ham district
 The Warrior canal, he said, had been favorably passed upon by United States engineers and the plan reported as feasi- ble, and if some organized effort was made he believed that an appropriation could be secured from the next congress. The suggestions were referred to the club meet ing which would follow.
 On motion the following new members were elected: W. w. Coghill, P. H. Lnne- han, James Hood, J. A. L. Minor l. R. Hochstadter, Kenneth Robertson, w. H. Tharpe, Charles F. Scofield H. Abel, R. H. Richardson, A. McGivery, w. E. DeGroat and J. S. Gillespie.
 The meeting of the club followed.
 President Steiner made his monthly re- port, giving an interesting review Of the work accomplished by the club during the past thirty days. The feature of the report which aroused discussion was that part referring to the telephone question, as fo- lows:
 Herewith I beg to hand you my report for the month of February. The principal achievement of the Commercial club dur ing the month, was the amicable adjust ment and the contract with the Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph company, by which the rates now in existence will stand without increase, for four years. By that means I am reliably informed that we have saved the telephone subscribers of Blr- mingham anywhere from $l6,OOO to S2o,ooO annually. The contract entered into in be- half of the Commercial club and others with the company, is hereby attached. am under many obligations for the success fin this matter, particularly to Dr. Wyatt Hefin Hon. F. H. Cabiniss, B. M. Allen, Sig. Steiner, our legislators and others. l have become personally reSponsiDle TOT some of the expense in connection with this, and would recommend that the club pass resolution, instructing the president to make a small collection of $1 or $2 from the telephone subscribers, to pay the necessary oxnense had in connection herewith"
 Moium al Blu ider
 Dhodoe took tha hoor tO crit ,cize that start of the report referring to the telephone contract" and stated in his opinion it was one of the monumental hlunders which had been made by the club, preventing, as he said, the extension of the telephone service into the suburbs as was intended.
 MT Steiner replied to the criticism, that he had nothing to take back on that score.
 On motion of T. H. Motion, the secretary was instructed to see the telephone sub scribers and to collect $1 from each to de- fray the expense which had been incurred in getting through the measure.
 An appropriation of $25 additional was granted to the entertainment committee to defray the expenses of entertaining the northwestern editors.
 letter from Congressman Bankhead was read expressing his appreciation of the action of the club in adopting a resolu- tion of thanks to him In connection with his efforts in behalf of the Warrior river appropriations in the river and harbors committee.
 Mr. Van Hoose's suggestins were taken up and on motion were referred to com mittee of five to be appointed by the presi- dent. Sterling A. Woods was of the opin- ion that standing committee on the War rior canal should be created to take up the matter, but withdrew his motion at the request of MT. Van Hoose.
 w. J. Wheeler by request introduced a resolution in regard to the taking of the next census, which was referred to the proper committee.
 Mckinley Again Invited
 resolution to renew the former invita- tion to President Mckinley to stop in Birmingham on his way to New Orleans