The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-11
RIBBON TO RETAILERS COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL
 COMMITTEE Was First to Gather for Business. Discuss Impediments to the
 Local Retail Busi-
 ness.

pr.sident Alex Rice last Sunday an nounced the standing committees or tno Commercial and Industrial Associa'ioA for the new year.
 The first committee to meet ana orsah- ize the work for the year takes tne piue ribbon and this year the credit TOT nrompt and energetic action beiohss 'o the committee on Retail Trade.
 This committee is made up ehtireiy VI retail men who are generally the ieaoe,s in activity in every community, ana thus case they are among the ci'y "'o'' resentative citizens.
 In resnonse to a call issued by Chair man F. Meertief, the committee assem- bIed yesterday afternoon at O'CLOCK Tn the rooms of the Association to exchange views and experiences, to counsel to- getber over the present and to adopt a plan of action for the future. Chairnlah Meertief called attention to the fact that ii WIS not only to consider plans TOT increasing the retail trade Of the city' that the committee was called 10 meet, but also to remove any impediments that might exist to the detriment or the ousi- ness now.
 After a general discussion, President Rice called attention to the universal complaint among the merchants occas- toned by frequent delays in the receipt of express packages. Many of the mer- chants particularly the dry goods houses do large express business each week, and time is d vital element in the trans action. It developed that most or the delay was occasioned by the Adams Ex- press Company refusing to turn it's busi- ness over to the Southern Express Com pany at Washington, but instead send ing 1t around via Cincinnati Some or the merchants said they were meeting the situation by ordering their business in New York given to the United States Express Company and routing 1t via Washincton in care of the Southern. The wayle, question was discussed thor oughIy. including the rates at present charged for the service. On motion or J. H. Higgins the matter was placed In charge2'af .a subcommittee to handle. consisting Of -. c. Cobbs, $. J. Goetter and E tfeertief. The e mmittee is to in- vestigate and report to the whole com mittee at an early date.
 The question of all the houses in the retail d strict closing at o'clock during the heated term, was then taken up and 1t was evident from the start that. the movement was d popular one with all the merchants. They all feel that they will be glad to let their clerks and employ es off an hour earlier fin the summer months after the heat and tedum of the day. If all close at that hour. no one will be the loser thereby. as the shopping will then be done during the morning hours principally. A special subcommittee was instructed to take the matter in hand and see the other merchants. The com mittee is composed of J. M. Hicks, A. J. Kaufman, C. C. Cobbs. J. P. Bullock and T. F. Harrison.
 The next subject taken up was the question of trade excursions to Mont gomery during the summer months. Several plans were suggested, among them one followed by the merchants of Nashville. After discussion in detail. this subject was also referred to a sub committee consisting of E. c. Norton. Ike Loeb and S. J. Goetter. This com mittee will confer with the passenger agents of some of the railroads here and report back. later. Other members of the committee, who were present and participating actively .n the discussions. were w. W. Haygood, Hugh Gallagher and Thomas Howe.
 As soon as Messrs Cobbs, Hicks and Norton, chairmen of the subcommittee, are ready to report, Chairman Meertief will again assemble the entire committeo together for final action upon all these matters.