The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-09
Steps Taken Looking to Crea- ton of Greater Birming-
 ham By Next Year
MISS GREENE ASKS FOR
 ENDORSEMENT OF LIBRARY
Bowron Reports on Progress of Com mittee Which Is Looking After Freight Rates-other Com
 mittee Reports.

occasion being the first regular monthly
 meeting for the year 1909. The features
 were the adopting of resolutions look
 ing toward the actual creating of Greater Birmingham before the taking of the next census and placing the club on
 record as being opposed to any reduction
 greater than z5 per cent in the tariff on
 iron, coal and lumber
 l A fair crowd filled the hall when Pres 1 ident John l.. Kaul rapped for order at
 o'clock, and for nearly two hours 1 rapid order of business was carried on. 1 The matter of probably more vital local 1 interest than any other was in regard l to Greater Birmingham, which was the last thing to be taken up.
 | Jere c. King, author of the King Greater 1 Birmingham act, made a short talk in
 which Inc set forth the fact that owing | to the fragrant manner in which the sen
 ate journal had been kept this act was hopelessy dead. He urged that the club
 take steps toward the holding of a mass meeting at which the people could peti- 1 tion Governor Conner to include the sub l ject of Greater Birmingham in a call
 for an extra session of the legislature, which it was believed will be held in
 the coming spring.
 This suggestion by MT. King was in l l ferred to the legislative committee by President Raul for action. MT. King was | added to the committee. Former City At | torney Ed Smith Is chairman of the com
 mittee. The mass meeting will prob ably be held during the next three or ] four weeks.
 Tariff on Iron. The question of the tariff on iron which l has caused such stir recently among the iron operators in Birmingham, by | the evident intention of Congress to place | iron on the free list, was brought up by w. P. G. Harding and followed with a talk by Guy R. Johnson. MT Johnson expressed dissatisfaction at the active part taken by Congressman Oscar Un- derwood in the questioning of the iron and steel officials in the hearing before the ways and means committee. Mr. Johnson's talk was more especial 1 ly along the line of the cost of making pig iron and of the damage to be done ! to the Birmingham district If 1t should | be placed on the free list. We have been sleeping" said he. This whole dis 1 trict depends on coal and iron. We only | consume one-half of the production and | most of this is in pipe. We have an average freight rate of s4 to points on the seaboard and the tariff is $4. We Ihave also had mistaken idea. We have been saying that we could make pig Iron cheaper here than any other place in the world As a matter of fact several districts in Germany make pig iron for as low as $7.50 per ton. We cant touch that here. Our average is $l0." I. w. Mcqueen and others also made short talks and at their conclusion the following resolution was introduced and adopted
 "Resolved That the Commercial club of Birmingham, Ala, goes on record as opposing any reduction in the present tar iff of more than 25 per cent on pig iron. coal and lumber, and that the off, cers and members of this club are urged to take the matter up actively with our Alabama representatives and senators will the view of obtaining their aid in carrying out the above resolution. Endorsement for Library. An interesting talk was made by Miss Green. who was recently elected secretary of the Birmingham Free Public Library association. asking for the cooperation of the club in securing free library for Birmingham. The absolute need Of such an institution for Birmingham was dwelt upon by her.
 Several interesting reports were made by the chairman of the various commit
 tees. James Bowron, chairman of the
 
 meeting held with the Merchants and
 Manufacturers association, which has re-
 oentlv been organized here for the pur-
 nose of exchanging information, collect
 ing overcharges on expense bilis ana cor
 respondence relative to the ratification or
 undersirable freight rates. The associa- ton was reported to be in good shape. competent man has been secured to handle the affairs, while $6000 of the necessary
 fot tIa rrV n of the work
 Other Committee Reports.
 resolution introduced by George B.
 word chairman of the committee on city and county affairs, was adopted inviting
 MT Allen of the bureau Of municipal re-
 search of New York to address a meet
 ing of the club should he make tour
 of the south tea renorted assistance was being given in
 tba nreparation for the entertainment Of tba iavmen's convention to be held here soon.
 The report of John l.. Parker, relating the different receptions, barbecues and
 banouets which had been given in honor
 of visitors and the entrance or new raii-
 roads into Birmingham was read by Sec
 retary J. B. Babb.
 James bOWTOE dloo SuOhiit'Si e~ ASP>-~
 from the public policy committee, indors-
 ing the work of the Railroad association
 of New York, which was adopted.
 President John l.. Kaul and number
 of others told of the trip to Augusta by the delegation sent to invite President elect Taft to visit Birmingham. Col. T. c. Bush told of the work of the Rivers and IIarbors congress in Wash ,npton and laid stress upon the import ance of this movement.
 R H. Cobb of Anniston was introduced bv Frank Nelson, Jr., and asked for tba indorsement of the club upon pro- iect bv him to conserve the waters of the Coosa river accounts of which have ap- neared in previous issues of The Age Herald. He stated that he had the ap- nroval of not only the Alabama senators h,,t of the engineering department of the national government. The matter was re- ferred to a committee with instructions to investigate and report at the next meet ing.
 Secretary Babb read letter from Sem
 ator Joseph F. Johnston, suggesting that
 a banquet be rendered A. K., Mcclure
 upon his visit to Birmingham in the near
 future The motion was unanimously
 adopted.
 The following new members were elect
 ed J. F. Slater, P. l.. Penruddocke. J.
 W. Evens, M. J. D. Cooper, R. G. Me- Carty, H. s. Sloan, J. B. Schaeffer, H. Naff, V. J. Drefenderfer, W. E. Ewart r< IT