The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-23


 itations by any means, but rather is entering upon what should be the most fruitful period of it's existence. The growth of our city is bringing us a great CT opportunity and I see no valid req son why the Commercial club should not develop into a Chamber of Commerce at no distant day covering a much broader and more extensive field, housed in it's own building. perhaps and ranking with any in the country.
 There are many matters affecting the city at large with which it's citizens can rot cope as individuals. I conceive the club to be a gigantic business organiza- tion, the object of which is to perform for the city those duties and functions which the individual citizen cannot well perform single-handed. With Greater Bir- mingham we need and must have a great CT Commercial club.
 Hence 1t shall be my endeavor to bring under a common head all the com mercial and allied organizations. with separate divisions for their special lines of work when necessary. It is my deep conviction that by means of this kind an organization can be built up that shall be mountain of strength and a foun- tain of good.
 Matters Needing Revision.
 tWhile I do not mean at this time to take up in detail the discussion of the work that lies before us, there are enc or two matters directly affecting our organization that feel should be brought to your attention now, and will ask yoar indulgence a few minutes longer on this account
 Tn looking over the organization of the club I find that the bylaws pro- vide that every member of the club shall be appointed upon at least one standing committee. While this prob ably was a wise provision during the early period and struggles of the club, 1t Is no longer so, and many of our committees are now unwieldy and in- effective because of their size. I would recommend that a resolution be passed at this meeting providing that the members of the respective standing committees select from their number executive committees, to consist of five l or seven individuals, which shall dis 1 charge the detail work of each stand ing committee. This, I feel, would greatly facilitate the work which in many cases has undoubtedly suffered by reason of a lack of individual re- sponsibility, everybody's business there by becoming nobody's business. This seems especially important when we consider that the club is largely de- pendent upon its committees for the expeditions and proper handling of matters coming before it for consid- eration. The success or failure of our projects depends to very great sx- tent upon effective work being done by our standing committees.
 While on this subject wouli recommend further that action of The club should rarely be taken before the subject matter has been carefully coa- sidered by committee, there being usually little opportunity of viewing a proposition In all of its bearings at a general meeting. and In consequence action taken without reference to a committee being usually with undue haste and frequently ill-advised. T.
 Your secretary suggests that our club should be more cautious with it's indorsements This, I am confident is u NiSe Su6SeStiOn, the 1nQOrSement of the club should stand for something, and should be given only after mature delfberation. Otherwise, we cannot ex- pect our Endorsement to carry the weight that 1t should. and giving it In haphazard manner will soon bring us into disrepute.
 T quote further from a recommenda- tion made by your secretary as fol- lows:
 to ly of the material growth of Birminx- ham, the Commercial club sh hould be q factor in making the city the best place in the world to live. Birming. ham has an opportunity for civic de- velopment and beauty that few other cities enjoy. It is new. It is in he formative state. The foundations for improvement should be laid now. The Commercial club should lead in makirsc the city beautiful. An expert the est there is to be had, should be employed to visit Birmingham and Jefferson county and, after thorough investiea- tion, outline a sch eme of public im- provement. As it is, we are develop ing largely by whim and caprice. Some one suggests great highway, another suggests tunnel through Red noun tain, another suggests a new park somewhere, all of them worthy in themselves, but made absolutely with out thought of other Improvements. What Is needed is comprehensiye and complete plan of civic and county improvement, covering period or many years. involving probably the outlay of millions of dollars If this plan were adopted nothing would be wasted in the way of improvement. Everything accomplished would tend .o final harmonious creation that would be the admiration of all men. and which would make Birmingham beyond all other cities the most desired for the making of homes.'
 T agree in this view, and wou;d recommend the appointment of a com mittee to look into the feasibility or this suggestion and see what practical results can be obtained.
 "A word as to the question of revenues. If the club is to succeed and to take the position it deserves to occupy, it will be necessary to have a greater revenue than it has had heretofore. In organizations of this character a graded or classified mem bership frequently prevails. under which the larger corporations and firms con- tribute more than individuals I recom- mend that the board of directors be au- thorized to take this matter up. with a view to classifying the membership and providing for a greater revenue, there by placing the club on financial footing that will enable 1t to undertake things that have not been practicable heretofore -->>>~~~>~-~~~~~~~---~--