The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-20
ON NEW FOOTING
GEORGIA HISTORICAL's NEW CON-
STITUTION AND BL-LAwS.
CONTRACT WITH CITY SIGNED
DUES ADVANCED AND MEMBER
SHIP LIMITED TO ONE HUNDRED.

| The Dues Increased from $5 to $25
and Must BE Paid by April 10.
Society Directed President Mercer
to Sign Contract With City Pro-
Niding for Free Library-Members
of Board of Control and New on
GERS to BE Elected Later.
At the adjourned annual meeting Of
! the Georgia Historical Society, held
| last night in the society's hall, the
president was authorized to sign the
contract with the city providing for
a free library for white citizens. This
| act on his part constitutes the last Off
cial action necessary to successfully
| conclude the negotiations which have
| for some time been pending between
the city authorities and the society,"
the elimination of which results in
| the establishment of the proposed free
| library.
The constitution and bylaws of the
society were so changed as to con-
form with certain provisions made in
the contract with the city, though moth
ing was done to refract upon the pro-
visions of the trust created by the
will of the society's benefactor. The
most important changes in the constl-
tuition were those providing for the
| enhancement of the dues of the active
members of the society from s. to $25,
and of the life members from 800 to
$780, and the limitation of the active
| membership to 100 members.
The secretary was instructed to IN
form the members of the society at once
of the changes in the constitution and
bylaws. embodying the action of the
society in increasing the dues, and to
notify them that they would be given
until April Is to pay the dues, as fixed
by the amendment of the constitution.
The payment of the annual dues of IS
has not been enforced this year; in fact
the payment was purposely suspended,
that the society might be in a position
to collect the newly designated amount,
SIS.
A Smaller Membership.
1t is expected that the increasing of
the dues will result in a diminution in
membership, and while the society will
regret to lose many worthy members,
the action taken was the only course
left open to them, and was only deter
mined upon after mature consideration
Of the conditions which confronted the
society The Limitation of the number
of active members will not apply I'M
til the present membership is reduced
by death, resignation, etc, until which
time no vacancy will be filled. Before
the ratification of the new constitution
and bylaws, three active members
were elected. These were Messrs. j..
Z. Hoist, Beirne Gordon and A. L..
Alexander.
President Mercer presided at the
meeting. The officers for the ensuing
year were not elected. The election
will take place so soon as the member
ship of the society under the increased
dues is ascertained. This will proba-
bly, be at the next meeting of the So
ciety, the annual meeting not having
been concluded last night, but rather
a recess taken subject to the call of
the president. The present officers and
| committees Will, of course hold over,
| until their successors have been elect
ed and qualified.
Anent the Free Library.
The new bylaw, providing for the
| appointment of five persons to serve
| in conjunction with five others named
| by the Mayor, on the Board of Control
of the free library, directs that the
| president shall appoint from the Board
| of Curators of the society Commit
tee on Library to consist of five per-
sons who shall be the persons desig-
mated by the society as its appointees
| on the public library board. These
shall be appointed for differing terms
just as are the city's appointees, in
| manner as heretofore published in the
| Morning News.
The contract with the city was read
to the meeting by Capt. Cunningham
after which Mr.. Baldwin read a reso-
| luton, similar to the one passed by
Council approving the contract, and
authorizing the president in the name
and behalf of the society to sign it.
The motion to adopt the resolution
which was made by Judge Barrow and
\ unanimously carried, constituted the
| last official act of the members of the
society in the elimination of one Of
the most radical and important steps
ever taken by the society.
The salient Features.
The salient features of the contract
| between the city and the society have
been given in the Morning News
There were no changes of great import
in the bylaws of the society, though
| several important changes were made
in the constitution. The revised con-
stitution and bylaws were read by
Mr.. Baldwin, and after some little dis
unanimously adopted.
Besides the changes in the constitu-
ton already named, it was provided
that the officers of the society shall in
the future consist of a president, two
vice presidents, corresponding seCre-
tary, recording secretary, treasurer
and librarian, but instead of having
seven curators, there will hereafter be
twelve, all of the officers, except the
treasurer, recording secretary and Ii.
brarian being members of the Board OF
Curators. The three officers excepted
may be elected from outside members
Quarterly Meetings Hereafter.
Another important change provide.
for the holding of quarterly, instead o.
monthly meetings. The Board of Con.
troll of the free library taking so grea'
an amount of work from the shoulder,
of the society, it was thought tina
there would be no need of meeting.
more often than once in three months
These meetings will be held on the firs
days of May, August and November
and on Feb. u, the day at present des
ignated as the day for the annual meet
ing of the society.
ship the amended constitution provide!
that the vote of four-fifths of thos,
present is necessary to elect, as agains
two-thirds in the old bylaws.
Section 16 of the new constitution
provides that any proposed change IL
the constitution shall be announced a
the previous meeting, or by notices
mailed to the members at least on,
week before the meeting, at which tn,
change proposed is TO be made.