Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-01-10
BUSINESS MEN MET
Elected Officers and Beard Talk
 From ReiiriUg President.

7 held in the rooms of the association last night and officers were elected
 as follows:
 , President-Robert P. Lewis. : First vice-president George : Camp.
 Second ce-president-P R. Cum mings.
 Treasurer-John c. Sherwood. Secretary-Lawrence L. Lewis.
 Auditors-H. c. Post and William
 J. Pape.
 Directors for two years-Ralph N.
 Blakeslee, H. w. Langley, H. S. Seel-
 ey, Dr E. J. Abbott, George w. Kim
 ball, Paul D. Hamilton, Charles A.
 Jackson and Dr w. O. Beecher.
 State director-W s. Jones.
 A committee consisting of R. P.
 Lewis and Berlin w. Tinker superin-
 tendent of the public schools, was ap-
 pointed to represent the association
 on the Anti-Tuberculosis league. The
 manufacturers committee, through
 its chairman, R. P. Lewis, reported
 that the committee had attended to
 considerable correspondence relative
 to the investment of capital and now
 had on file a list of available factory
 sites The store closing committee,
 through Chairman w. C. Langley, re- ported that it seemed advisable to
 adopt the following holiday schedule
 for 1907-S: New Years, July 4, La-
 Dor day and Christmas, closed all
 day; Fast day, Memorial day and
 Thanksgiving, close one half day,
 and to close Tuesdays through the
 summer months.
 The report of Treasurer J. c. Sher-
 wood showed balance of $1,157.51I in the treasury.
 The retiring president, R. N.
 Blakeslee, spoke on the work of the
 past year in part as follows: Il felt at first that we had not done much but the routine business for the year, but after consulting our secre- tary and his minutes I seemed to be able to find quite little that we have accomplished.
 You will remember that we had a banquet at The Elton, that I believe mas never been eQualed, certainly never surpassed by any former affair of its kind. We had for our speakers at that time Judge William J. Gains of the New York supreme court and Erwin J. Wardman, editor of the New York Press.
 The committee in charge of this | banquet was reappointed for the req son that its work was so satisfactory, and l think that I am safe in assur- i Ing the members that if they do as well this year as last they stand a good chance of holding their 'iobs' i indefinitely. They have pledged themselves to surpass their efforts of 1 last year.
 We also took prominent part in forwarding the efforts of the Water- bury Oratorio society in giving the May festival. Special train service and rates were secured. The mer- chants decorated their stores and ad- vert!sed extensively, offering fares. one way for all purchase of s1O or over. The association appropriated S100 for advertising purposes. It was not expected that the efforts of the merchants would show any great profit to themselves at that particular time, but if the festival could be madea success it would result in ,fes- tlVals being given in the future. and 1t would seem that similar efforts made in advertising that were made at that time could not help but mean good results to the merchants of this city
 "The association appeared before the railroad committee at Hartford in regard to the demurrage bill. bill that was intended to reduce the time that is allowed for the unloading of cars from ninety-six to forty-eightl . hours. think that it is fair to as- sume that we had our part in defeat ing that bill.
 We also appeared there in regard { to the telephone bill. and while the efforts of our directors were at first by some of the local members. it proved that their position exactly with the position I taken by the special committee ap- pointed by the state association.
 "The committee on railroad freight ! and passenger service feel that it has ] a good deal with the ! -ailroad in getting concessions that he association feels it is entitled to. c Dur publicity committee. consisting ,f William NJ. Lathrop of the Repub- a ican, Rowland F. Andrews of the T American and Berlin W. Tinker, sup ? of schools. has reported yoOd progress in the scheme for ad- a 'ertising Waterbury and its advant- a Iges as a manufacturing. up-to-date C 'ity. O
 We held a meeting endeavoring ? O push forward the completion of he ThOmaston trolley. We all have 2 lOped that 1t would be completed but | am afraid that We did not accom- T ,lish much at that meeting.
 We held an outing at Forest park D hat was. perhaps, disappointing to a cred to a great extent. I am sure q hat all the members who attended s lad a very enjoyable time. s
 "The manufacturing committee has !, cen busy. although if has not been V ble to show any special results The q members have carried on an exten- il i've correspondence with various in- & iyiduals and concerns looking for n esirable locations and have worked (, ard. st
 ''It seems to me that a great deal h lOre could be accomplished with our a ublic service corporations if wel ,i hould have a special committee. n lade up of the most capable. broad n linded men connected with our as- ss men who would go tO the m OttOm Of all subjects that come up ', nd would be perfectly fair and un- v, iased in their opinions. after having \, IaHe thnrnngh ErrestIgafInn Tale V