The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-12-02

whole. To this proposition practi- | cally everybody assented. Last year the club paid for the ball, an expen- allure of $500. Russell P. Cate spoke against the
 proposed increase. He was followed by Attorney John C.. Chamberlain.
 who made very important address.
 Mir. Chamberlain said that he had
 been a member of the, club since it
 was first founded and that the ques- tion now faced by the club is an ex- tremel~ serious one. He said that to
 his personal 1wledge there were at least 75 me srs of the club who
 would -es'0n if the dues were raised.
 MT. Chamberlain said that the club couldn't afford to lose these members, l point.
 Mir. Chamberlain moved that action on the proposed increase should be deferred until a later meeting. to give
 the members ample time to think it
 over.
 Albert W. Smith declared that it had been figured out that the club could l afford to lose one-quarter of it's mem- bership, and that with the dues in-
 creased, the club would still be the gainer by $500 a year. despite the res ignations. Furthermore. he declared
 that this $500 would really be equiv | alent to $1,200. as the clubs expenses
 would be reduced by the cut in mem bership.
 Arthur M. Wheeler declared that
 whether or not the club could afford | to lose the members from a financial
 point of view. 1t couldn't afford it from the social standpoint. A body of members resigning under such cir
 cumstances would afford a very bad
 moral effect and the ex-members opposed to the Seaside Club. and re- straining others from joining the club. Wilbur A. Smith and E. W. Fair child, members of the board of gov- ernors then explained the reasons which induced that body to recommend a raise in the dues. MT. Smith called attention to the fact that repairs on the club house have been reduced to the minimum ab- solutely demanded by safety; that the furniture is shabby. that the entertain u,epts have been cut down; that the es' days have been reduced from to two: that if the club is to be
 SE on its present financial status, it VIII be necessary to close one of the big billiard rooms. to curtail the pop ular Saturday night lunches. cut them out all together for three months in the year. and retrench in many other ways. MT. Smith called attention to the fact that the expenses of the club for 1910-11 will be about S11S60. and this without making many needed re- pairs and improvements and after keeping expenditures down to Q mini mum.
 After MT. Smiths address it was voted. with some opposition, to defer action on the increase of dues. and it was then voted by a big majority that the secretary shall canvass all the members by mail. and get their opin- ion in writing, asking whether or not they will resign if the dues are raised. and what they think should be done to meet the situation.
 While none of the speakers last night openly broached the question of restaurant and bar. several of the speakers hinted at it. and it is believed that when the secretary canvasses the members by mail. a strong sentiment will he expressed in favor of these in novations.
 Many of the younger members of the club declare that they are un- willing to pay s32 a year for the pres ent privileges of the club. which aside from the Saturday night luncheons and occa sional entertainments. are prac- tically restricted to pool and billiards The club has probably the finest bil- Hard room in the State. and is unique in the fact that there is no place in the club house where members may obtain drinks or meals