The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-02-27
ADOPTED A. PLAN
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF sA-
VANNAH AN ASSURED FACT.
CHARTER TO BE SECURED.
COMMITTEES APPOINTED TO GET
MEMBERS AND RECOMMEND
OFFICERS.

Receive Committees Report I'm
usually Large and Most EnthuSl-
astic Over the PlaR-Was Adopted
and sixteen of Those Present
signed Membership Lists-COmmit-
tee of Thirty To be Appointed to
Secure other Members - Enthusi-
astic Addresses Made Before
Meeting Closed Was Adjourned
The plan for the Chamber of Com
merce of Savannah was adopted at a
mass meeting of citizens, at the City
Exchange, last night and probably the
largest, most harmonious and most
patriotic gathering ever held in Sa-
vannah for a similar purpose. The
meeting was attended by probably $50
people and with scarcely an exception
everyone pledged himself to member
ship.
The meeting was called to order by
Mr. Leopold Adler. He was elected
chairman and Mr.. Sig Gardner secre-
tary. The chairman explained why
the meeting was called and the secre-
tary read the minutes of the meeting
of Feb. 49, The report of the commit
tee of twelve appointed at that meet
ing to prepare a plan for the chamber
of commerce was then read.
Plan OF Organization.
Your committee beg leave to re-
port as follows: We would recon-
mend the organization OF an associa-
ton of business men, representing all
classes of trade, industry and pro-
fessional life, as well as of citizens
generally who may be interested in the
upbuilding of Savannah, under the
title of the Chamber of Commerce of
Savannah.
THE objects of the said Chamber Of
Commerce shall be to foster and pro-
mote an active and enterprising COM
rnerce and trade, and assist industrial
enterprises, to watch over, protect and
advance the interests of business men
generally, and otherwise advance the
W elfare of Savannah and of Chatham
county.
General meetings of the members of
said Chamber of Commerce shall be
called to consider all matters tending
TO promote our trade interests, to en-
large it's industrial life or attract TO
it the attention of capitalists seeking
investment
Information shall be gathered by
the organization for dissemination, so
as to place Savannah and it's advant-
ages properly before the world.
Any person in good standing may
be admitted to membership by vote
of the directors.
THE annual dues shall be so.
"A committee shall be appointed to
solicit members, and membership lists
shall be prepared for use at a meet
ing to be held on Thursday night
Feb. 96.
Dues Caused Discussion.
Mr. A. b. Moore promptly moved the
adoption of the report and his motion
was seconded by Mr.. S. X. Platshek,
but before the question was put Mr..
Roy c. Foster suggested that the
membership fees be made higher than
SO. Other organizations of this kind,
he stated, have found that with dues
no higher than this it is often neces-
sary to secure subscriptions from out
side sources to do certain work with.
Col. j. II. Estill stated on behalf of
the committee that drafted the plan
that all these things had been taken
in consideration and it was felt by
the committee that as the Chamber of
Commerce was chiefly an industrial
association and would not be under
the expense of telegraph tolls and
such other expenses, needing but
secretary, stationery and literature it
was felt that the amount recommend
ed for dues would be sufficient to meet
its requirements and that in his opin-
ion to increase the dues would be to
keep many worthy people out of the
organization.
MIR. Frank c. Rattey said the Cham
Der of Commerce should not be con-
sidered an ornamental affair that eth
er a distinct business object should be
kept in view in organizing 1t or else
the matter had better be left entirely
alone. 1t ought to have a home and
a manager he said, a manager who is
a aggressive and energetic and one like
that would have to be we'll paid. If
he can not be paid from the dues of
the institution, he said, then public
subscriptions would have to be resort
ed to and these are always bad.
Mr.. Adler explained that the expect
ed membership even at the dues rec
commended would meet these require
members should be secured and the
amoul& of dues settled later, but to
this Col. Estill offered an objection.
1t is best to fix the matter at once,
he said. Mr.. Stovall, also a member
OF the committee which drafted the
plan, said that all these questions had
been thoroughly gone into by the COM
mittee and though the plan was but
a. recommendation, he hoped it would
be adopted. I'VE would rather have
500 members at $40 apiece" he said,
than 100 members at $50 apiece.
The question was called for, but up
on suggestion of Mr.. r. +. Youmans il
was decided to vote upon the recon-
mendations of the plan seratum. This
was done and each provision was
adopted without further discussion
Col. Estill then moved that the plan
be adopted as a whole and this also
was done.
The membership lists were then
submitted for their signatures and
were signed by 116 individuals and
firms. this in addition to a large num-
Der of other members that had already
been secured.
To Apply for Charter.
Upon motion of Col. Estill the chair
man was empowered to appoint a COM
mittee of nine to apply for a charter
for the Chamber of Commerce and to
draft bylaws, and to appoint a sec
ond committee of ten to recommend
officers. A motion made by MIR. Dor
sett also instructed him to appoint a
committee or thirty to secure MEM
bers. These Mr.. Adler WIN appoint
al his leisure
By this time the canvass of the