The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-09
SOME OPPOSITION
To BIC BIRMINGHAM
Commercial Club to Send Dele
cation to Capital
is SAFE IN THE HOUSE
Other Matters of Importance Are
Taken Up at Regular Club Meeting.
Mr.. Smyer Explains Fea-
lures of the Bill.

Most of the regular monthly session o.
the Commercial club of Birmingham yes
terday afternoon was taken up in
general discussion of the Greater Biz
mngham bill now before the Alabama
legislature
e j. Smyer, chairman Of the special
committee that has had the matter OF
drafting the bin in hand made report
of what had been accomplished, and also
reported the result of a trip of the COM
mittee to Montgomery, where the merits
of the measure were presented to the
committee on municipal corporation of
the house.
He reported that though the delegation
found universal opposition to the bill
upon their arrival at the capital, they
were able to secure the unanimous sup
port of the house committee when the
features of the measure were fully ex-
planned
The principal opposition was based on
the tax exemption clause, but when the
full meaning of this feature of the meas
ure was explained it is said That every
member of the committee recognized the
equity of the terms and promised support.
Mr.. Smyer said that the bill would meet
some opposition in the senate, and asked
that the club lend some assistance in lay
ing the facts in the proper light before
the committee of the senate and also with
the Jefferson delegation.
Chairmay Smyer was authorized by the
club to enlarge his committee and return
to Montgomery to carry ON the work to
secure the final passage of the bill.
Meeting In Detail.
The meeting was called to order at
O'Clock Yesterday afternoon by President
Robert Jemison, Jr. The reading of the
minutes of the last meeting was dispensed
with and Secretary J. b. Babb made his
report for the month of January
President Jemison made a brief review
of the work that has been accomplished
by the club during the past month. He
reviewed the good results of the Southern
Cotton convention, the entertainment of
the retail grocers from Cincinnati the
work of the advertising and archaeological
school committees and other matters of
importance
He stated that the membership of the
club had been materially increased since
the beginning of the year, and that the
revenues had consequently been increased,
which would enable the organization to
do more effective work He said that
more than SEQ in dues had been col
lected during the past month more than
during any previous month. President
Jemison stated that the special commit
tee on reorganization of the club had
begun work and would possibly have an
important report TO make at the next
regular meeting. lie said that one of the
things being considered by the commit
tee is the construction of a building for
the club. And he expressed his confidence
in the ability of the club to accomplish
this in the very near future.
Reports of Committees.
Secretary Babb reported for Chairman
c. w. Ufford of the advertising commit
tee.
This committee has held one or two
meetings and has laid plans for extensive
advertising, one of which is to issue a
monthly club bulletin for general dis
tributon
Hill Ferguson, chairman of the member
ship committee reported that the special
efforts for the securing of new members
since hp of bp no -
good results He reported that while no
special effort had been put forth by the
committee for the past few weeks, many
new members had come in response to the
work done about a month ago, when a
special committee canVassed the city for
applications.
e. j. Smyer. chairman of the Greater
Birmingham committee. reported on the
work that had been accomplished since
the last meeting and went into detail
as to the present status of the bill that
had been introduced in the legislature,
laying great stress on the Importance
of active work ON the part of the MEM
bers of the club in securing it's final pas
sage. He said that a favorable report on
the bill had been secured in the COM
mittee on municipal corporations of the
house but that some work was necessary
to secure the support of the senate conf
mittea
Mr. Smyer explained the features of the
bill that had been found to be objection
able TO some of the members of the legis-
lAiture and also explained some of the
advantages to be derived from the pas
sage of the bill
The matter was also discussed by Frank
Nelson, Jr, 7. II. Motion, Maj. +. Y.
Andersont J. b. Gibson, Postmaster j. r.
Carter, Robert Jemison and others.
on motion of r. H. Motion, Chairman
Smyer was authorized to appoint addi-
tional members of his committee to go