The Goldfield news. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1904-1911, 1907-07-20


A meeting of thu Chamber of Commerce was called for Thursday night of
this week, for the purpose. as the printed postal notice set forth. of consider
ing the advsabdlty of taking immediate action in regard to the incorporation
Commerce something W. $780, we believe, and as a result IF the great interest
the call. OF these not more than IS per cent were qualified to at upon tn popo'
sidon, others either lot being tai payers or lot having voted at the preceding
.Ms nrs s. - = mamie calmly announced after all other business had been
disposed Of, that tn matter Of h advisabiity of incorporating would not be
taken up by that meeting at ALL as that question had been decided by the Cham
h action taken at tina. time, that is to circulate the necessary petitions. Al
though the merits of the question we're lot before tn house for discussion, ac
cording to the president of the body still he heard ron three or four members
who argued the question Of incorporation in the Affirmative, in eloquent and
fervid speech: ut of those who were heard in favor of Incorporation, outside Of
perhaps n Individual Tot a single n was legally qualified o sign a petition
in the premises. and therefore If right had n place in the discussion.
The foregoing facts are narrated for the purpose of giving the public to un
derstand that the Chamber If Commerce, in the matter Of incorporation, does not
gives opportunity to voace individual expression. It has been reiterated BY
those in omcdal place that the Chamber Of Commerce was only the mousnpises
oft the people, and that its omcers were the mouthpiece o. the Chamber and
that in ordering petitions to be circulated asking for incorporation. they wer
CON- owmsrs :. nov Constituted does Tot represent he community of aoldheld on
the incorporation matter or pn other in fact. The few people h attend
the meetings are in n sense a representative body Of the seatm mining n 6si
ress interests of aoldheld, an the officers of the organization represent nothing
nut themselves or thu special inteestsw with which they nay be identified; for
there is scarcely n officer who was elected by tine Membership OF .ne onam0sr
but succeeded to his omcil place through appointment # the president or tw0 or
bership, mol was the secretary. The directorate is a selfpapetuatng body, in a
sense. 1t creates and fills its W vacancies, and elects president in a case OF =
AGAR ant without the confirmation of the Chamber But this is not enough
~ :, LAVE which sduce the number necessary to a quorum of the directorate
to three, insteado of eve as before, and a quorumo of the Chamber ITSELF to 25
members, all on the plea that it is impossible to get a full attendance at meetings
This, it would ssenli is a self accusation N the part o. tn directors The institu
tion with 800 members ms BIZ in a maibund condition, not t. be able K get
more than three directors at a meeting or 81 members. Perhaps it might be as
yell for the officers to sit ID and reflect. Know myself is a good motto to OBJ
serve. 1t might be that this Chamber of Commerce business is getting to be too
presidents W choosing and reduced practically to three men, controlling ~
representing the entire Chamber, and ostenably, so far a. the outside public
knows to the contrary, the entire people If Goldfeld. Whether 1t is a true indict
or not there is much tall that w OF three men nay undertaken TO make
II Chamber of Commerce an adjunct Of their own, and tina feeling prevailing
a it does accounts, no doubt. for the lack of general interest displayed In the
organization. And the action forced upon the little meeting OF tn Chamber
Thursday night in reducing the quorum, will only accenuate tn behef r@ateo
above. To centraizet the power an responsibility Of thu bodyi in three people
is not only undemocraic, but a power thus vested might become dangerous IN
h hands of designing ant INSCRIPTIONS men,.
We submit that the Chamber of Commerce as now organized and conducted
is not a representative organization, its officers not the choice of he body by
and the few who attend not competent % speak for tn entire commu
nifty. Therefore, any expression of the Chamber of Commerce OF nc matter OF
incorporation, or n other matter, in fact, need not be aiken seriously. 1t Is
only h expression OF a few individuals, some of whom 1t is generally believed,
have their m to works out, and ave taken contrlo OF the organization, as
ameans to thte emf
In view of he fact that petitions are about to be circulated asking fr in
corporation, it is well to be advised as to thu procedure laid dow by thu legisa-
ture in he premises. Citizens Of a community do not vote upon incorporation
Petitions are circulated for signature, asking that the town V incorporated. II
a majority of tar paying voters that is. if the majority Of taxpayers who voted
At the lastel election, sign the petition praying for incorporation. the district judge
upon determining that he petition is sufficient under the statute, so tndhes to
the secrNaryo of state, an an election # city officers is called If the requisite
number do not sign the petition, then the petition fails and the matter is at n
n Taxpayng ehctorss should be advised hat they be not LEI into a trap
when these etiious are circulated.