River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1906-03-08
MEMS CLUB MEETING.
A Most Enjoyable Occasion
With Banquet, Essays
And Speeches.

notice of which was given two
weeks ago. It is club without a
constitution, bylaws or rules. 1t
is to live without dues or contribu-
lions and is to be free from those
dangerous things known as debts.
Dress Suits are tabooed; early
hours are to be the rules; short
speeches the entertainment as to
literary matters and good dinners
for the inner man.
Under this rather comprehensive
| statement of it's ends and objects
| the Mems Club to the number of 80
met last Thursday evening at the
spacious parlors of the M. E.
church where bounteous supper
was served by the Ladies Aid of
that society. And it was good and
a plenty of it. The service was
that which can only be given by a
well organized corps of ladies.
Everything was neat and attrac-
tive. An abundance of electric
globes made the room bright and
cheerful and from the first it was
seen that the right spirit prevailed
and after the supper, which all en-
joyed, all were ready to listen to the
informal speeches which followed.
The first subject taken up was
"Our Taxes, should they be reduc-
ed" The discussion was commenc-
ed by a brief address by Judge
Weld, the main ideas expressed be-
ing that our taxes in the city are
not especially burdensome, that the
demand of the citizens is. rather for
more municipal improvements than
less, that the larger part of our tax
es are for school purposes and that
it is very doubtful if any one desires
to see less salaries paid to teach
ers, less improvement in the way
of school houses, grounds, etc.
The speaker then called attention
to the question of purchasing the
power plants, following the general
line of thought already brought out
by the JOURNAL in previous issue.
Mayor White followed with a few
remarks demonstrating that the
percentage of tax raised by the city
for thirteen years has not increased
and that the increase in the valua-
ton of the property has fully kept
pace with the amount of taxes re-
quired for public expenditure.
Other speakers spoke in the same
general line and if one may judge
from what was said there did not
seem to be any general desire to
cripple the authorizes of the city
by reduction of taxes where re-
quired for municipal improvements.
The next topic taken up was
Roads leading into this city; can
they be improved"
The first speaker was DIR. Ashley,
whose paper was practically series
of don'ts and in very happy man
ner showed the evils which are
common but which should be
avoided. After him came DR.. Gen
dron whotfrom the first showed by
his manner that he was very deeply
interested in the road question and
that he had taken much pains to
give paper which would bring out
| discussion on this important SUBJ
ject. From the first the subject
appealed more than any other topic
of the evening to the business men
present and the paper of DR.. Gen
dron was listened to with much
interest. In very happy and
half humorous way the Doctor
showed what had been and is now
being done in other localities, the
defects of the prevailing system
and the advantages that may be
gained by intelligent work upon the
highways. His report of the good
work done by so simple a tool as
the King harrow was an encourage
ment to those who desire improve
ment in the, line of access to the
city.
Upon the conclusion of the Doc
tors paper, the matter was open
for discussion and several speakers
followed, all evincing a deep inter-
est in the good work. In fact the
discussion was kept up until the
hour of closing came unexpectedly
to all and on motion it was voted to
defer the third topic which had
been assigned until meeting of be
Club to be held in four weeks.
! The spirit shown throughout the
evening proved that there is much
value in getting the people of the
city together and in the discussion
of matters of civic interest.
The next meeting of the Club is