The age-herald., 1901-06-21
BUSINESS MEN
 IN CONVENTION Alabama Industrial and Con- merciaI Association Convenes THE CRETARYS REPORT
Municipal Ownership of Public Utili ties Discussed By Secretary Gill bert, Who Cites Glasgow as
 an Example-other Papers.

Age-Herald Bureau, Clancey's Hotel Montgomery, June 2O.-(Special 1.-The Alabama Commercial and Industrial As sociation convened in annual session in Montgomery today. The attendance is small but representative. Delegations from Huntsville, Wetumpka, Gadsden Tuscaloosa. Decatur. New Decatur, Shef- field, Greenville, Selma and Montgomery were presenut.
 The sessions of the convention were held in the rooms of the Commercial and Industrial Association. The first session was called to order at noon by President Shepherd, and prayer was offered by Rev. Ned l.. Anderson.
 Mayor Joseph welcomed the delegates to the city, and as president of the local association, Alex Rice also spoke words of welcome. The report of the president was received.
 The report of Secretary Gilbert was a feature of the morning session.
 The delegates were much impressed with 1t and some of them called it the effort of a statesman. At it's close Judge Lull of Wetumpka inquired what ar engagements had been made for it's preser- vation. It was an important document and 1t should be given wide circulation. Over half the delegates came forward to extend their congratulations to MT. Gill bert
 In the first part of his report the secre- tary dealt briefly with the detail work of the organization. The main and strik- ing faatnreS of if however thp dis cussion of municipal ownership of pub lie franchises.
 It was the production of a studous and thoughtful man of affairs. There was little of the marks of the theorist in it as 1t was the logical argument of a bus mess man. Part of his remarks on this subject are as follows:
 The sentiment of controlling the so- called natural monopolies Is spreading rapidly. Whereas now these monopolies are a severe tax upon the people, they might be made to work great relief so as to pay all the expenses of running a city, thereby abolishing municipal tax ation and at the sacme time reducing the charges for their own services. The city of Glasgow as Is well known. furn- ishes practical example of this idea
 To take some intelligent action along this line would be to perform a valuable
  would strongly recommend the adoption of petition to the constitutional conven- ton requesting that the idea of limiting the life of franchises to a definite an6 reasonable number of years, and making such franchises returnable for taxation as real property be incorporated into tho law of the commonwealth. It might bt well to provide in our bylaws for an other standing committee upon ''Munici pal Governments, who would have charge of this work, and secure informa ton relating thereto for the consideration and enlightenment of the various com mercial bodies, and for publication, iron time to time, in the press of the State.
 The men who make up the active mem bership of commercial clubs are altruist. of the purest type Concerned with theil own private interests sometimes vast ant expressing, they nevertheless devote botf time and energy to matters affecting th' public welfare, and continually sacrifice personal gain and emolument in their eff forts to improve the conditions touching the general community. It is an honol to be associated with such men in sucf work. and privilege to claim their atten ton in an address, as paper for a re port With no other compensation thar the consciousness of a duty well per lolihcds WAti iio tiiOu5ht OA 6dih dpui from that enjoyed by all alike, you ar, unsefishly laboring for the advancement of Alabama for the material progress O. a state we all love and honor. and for the greater prosperity of generations yet tC come.
 At the evening session several valuabl, papers were read one of the ablest being by J. Kassenan of Tennessee upon ttht "Reclaiming Of Waste Earn J.nnds. The ques+'"~
 wing was discussed, and a valuabl, paper on .,
 powers was submitted by H. C. Jones oi Montgomery.
 Municipal Ownership of Public Utili ties was the subject of an able paper by J. B. Weakley of Florence.