The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-01-30
TOURGE SELMA'S CLAIM
MASS MEETING IN INTEREST OF
 FEDERAL BUILDING.
A Committe Will Go to Washington to Secure Favorable Report from Committee on MT.
 Bowie's Measure.
Advertiser Bureau,

Advertiser Bureau,
 "a. Selma, Jan. g.
 A mass meeting of the citizens of Selma was held in the Hook and Ladder rooms yesterday afternoon at 1 o'clock, in re- sponse to a call issued by Mayor A L.. Mcleod. Mayor Mcleod was made chair man of the meeting and stated it's object, which was to assist Congressman Bowie and Senators Morgan and Pettus in get ting favorable report on the bill now pending in Congress, giving Selma pub lie building. On motion of Hon. Henry F. Reese, Mir. R. E. l.. Mel was made secretary of the meeting.
 President of the Council V. B. Atkins was called for and he made a patriotic speech. and gave many good reasons why our city should have a public building. He urged that some good citizen be ap- pointed to accompany the committee ap- pointed by the City Council, to aid that committee in laying the importance of Selma, its population, commerce, etc., before the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds.
 When MT. Atkins had concluded his speech, MT. R. E. l.. Mel introduced the following preamble and resolutions, which were unanimously adopted:
 Whereas, There is pending before the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds of the Senate and House of Rep- resentatives in Washington, bills pro- viding for the erection of public build- ing at Selma; and,
 Whereas, The great need of such a building in Selma is apparent, this city being one fourth in importance in the State of Alabama and possessed of a large population who daily have business with the postoffice and other federal de- partments; and,
 Whereas. The Committees on Public Buildings and Grounds of many previous Congresses have favorably reported meas ures providing for public building in Selma, thereby evidencing the just claim of this city to such a building; therefore be 1t
 Resolved. That the citizens of Selma, in mass meeting assembled, hereby earn estiy petition the present Congress to pass the bills introduced by Senator Pet- tus and Representative Bowie, providing for the erection of a public building in Selma.
 Be it further resolved. That these res- olutions be presented to the Senators and Representatives in Congress through Senator Pettus and Representative Bowie, and the thanks of the citizens of Selma are hereby extended to them for the ef- fort they are making on behalf of this city"
 After the adoption of the above, Mir. H. F. Reese addressed the meeting and urged the importance of immediate ac-y tion in upholding the hands of our SenaL tors and Congressman in securing the public building for Selma. He moved that MT. Chambliss Keith be requested to accompany the committee of the City Council to Washington, to aid in laying Selma's claims before the committee that will act on the matter on Friday next, and which will decide then whether Selma Is to have a public building now or whether we will have to wait for some subsequent meeting of Congress to pass favorably on the question.
 finance committee, consisting of Capt. Lloyd M. Hooper. H. F. Reese and George F. Wise, was then appointed to collect a sufficient sum of money from the citizens of Selma to defray Mir. Chambliss Keith's expenses to Washing ton.
 Col. F. M. Abbott and Col W. R. Nei- son then made strong speeches to the meeting, urging the importance of a pub lie building for Selma and told in lam guage forcible and eloquent why this city should push this bill through at this session of Congress, after which the meeting adjourned.
 The finance committee went to work this morning to raise money to pay Mr.. Keith's way to Washington.