The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-05-10

effort we could secure as many or more new members every month in the year. T am glad to report that our mem bership is a little larger this year than at my last report. The last conven- tion we had G32 and today we have 6ss while the gain is small am glad to report that 1t is an increase. This can not bc satisfactory to our mem- bers and 1 hope the delegates present will go back to their homes with new life and double the membership of their posts before the next annual conven- ticn. Tho Alabama Division has been very fortunate in not losing a single member by accidental death or other wise the past year. All just claims for accidents have been promptly paid and not only Alabama Division Is in bet ter shape financially and as to numbers and membership but our association as whole has more members and more money in the treasury than 1t has ever has since the organization.
 Now let us all try and enthuse the other members who are not present at this convention and all talk T. P. A. siasm and get our friends to join the Association. am thankful to the State and National officers and the individual members of the Alabama Division for assistance given me- during the past year and hope the next twelve months will be the most successful for our as- sociation and that each and every mem Der will enjoy health. happiness and prosperity.
 Respectfully submitted.
 ''E. L. Higdon,
 Secretary Alabama Division"
 Railroad Committee.
 Chairman R. Cunningham of the Railroad Committee then submitted his annual report. which was as follows: ITO the President and Delegates to the
 nF ho ID
 Montgomery. Ala:
 "Gentlemen.-In submitting this an- nual report from your Railroad Com mittee. it is gratifying to say that your chairman has learned of compar- atively few minor complaints against the railroads during the past year and to note increasing competition caused by the building of new and nu- merous roads, and the consequent i'm provement in schedules, passenger car equipments. in the way of chair cars etc, as well as their ready recognition of our demand for reduced rates which for the benefit of delegates to our na- tional convention next month--allow me to say-are on the certificate plan. | on sale Sth, 9th and 10th of June 1t full fare to Buffalo, and one-third fare returning-not later than June 20th | which rate may possibly be reduced to one fare for the round trip as l am endeavoring to obtain.
 The great freight rate problem now being discussed in Congress and agi tated from centre to circumference of our entire country, could be settled by the universal adoption of inter- changeable mileage, thus reducing the expenses of selling goods, and benefit ing the shipper approximately as much as an Illegal rebate to certain shippers to the exclusion of others and thus benefit all alike, and removing all dis criminations
 Most of the roads have already adopted interchangeable mileage. and every available effort is being made to bring them all into line.
 It Is gratifying also to know that our Association has gained in the last year over 2,000 members, of which Ala bama furnished about so. I hear.
 With cotton selling at so per cent over cost of production; timber and turpentine the highest price ever known: pig iron at Sl4 per ton; boun- tiful fruit and early vegetable crop se- cure there's life in the old land yet.
 "R. Cunningham, Chairman Railroad Committee, Ala
 bama Division, Travellers Pro.ec-
 tive Association.
 The reoprt of MT. Cunningham was adopted in full by a unanimous vote of the convention.
 Next in order came the report of I w Weiss of Mobile. chairman or The Committee on Legislation. MT. weiss was brief He said that during the past year, there had been no ses-