The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-12-18
Continued from Page s, Sec. Three

counts to policemen, politicians. min
| listers, dressmakers and others. These
discounts became SO excessive that
they cut heavily into profit. No one
| was really gaining anything by it.
The board reorganized the whole dis
count business, cut out those who
we're grating and established free
aud fair competition. Only ministers
get discounts now.
1t would be difficult to find a phase
| Of public life or service In Cleveland
to which the chamber has not given
a helping hand. Take the admins
tration of the city finances. The
! chamber has its own force OF audi
tors constantly at work in the city
controllers office. Thus it not only
keeps tab on how the municipal reve-
nue. is expended but 1t knows. when
1t makes demand for improvements
like grade crossing or sewers, the city
cannot say: We have no money for
it,"
When the legislature passed a civil
service law for cities of the first class
the mayor refused to enforce it. The
chamber protested and the mayor
stood firm. for 1t took too much pa
tronage out Of his reach. Thereupon
the chamber Instituted mandamus
proceedings and the result is that TO-
day the city clerks hold their jobs
by reason of efficiency and not be-
cause of party put" The mayor now
seeks the advice and cooperation OF
the chamber.
1t only remains to speak OF one
more chamber activity, movement
whic.. has given the organization its
widest fame and which has d dis
tinct impress on the character Of the
American city generally. | mean the
Group Plan, which is the basis of the
civic center now planned in forty
different American communities, rang
ing from Grand Rapids to Greater
lGreenville.
The City Beautiful.
II developed out of the fact that
the city was strategically fortunate
in it's misfortune-in that all its pub
lie buildings needed renewal at the
same time The chamber saw here
a chance to make a City Beautiful
that is, to have group OF uniform
public structures. While this was
being discussed the United States
Federal Building was begun, and its
architect, Mr.. Arnold W. Drummer, to-
gether with Mr. Daniel II. Burnham
and Mr.. John NJ. Carrere, were ap-
pointed a board of supervisors for
public buildings. This board has
worked out the public group plan
which the city adopted with the aid
and encouragement of the Chamber
of Commerce. The Federal Building
is completed, the County Courthouse
is nearly finished, and ground has
been broken for the City Hall. Near
ly all the land for the Mall has been
secured by the city. and the consum-
nation of the plan is assured.
The advantages to a community of
such a plan are many. In the first
place, the Identification Of vicinity
increases the value Of all the ada
cent property, and thus the money
spent is q good investment. Then,
too, such grouping brings all the city,
county and federal officials in close
touch and expedites public business.
1t creates love of the beautiful
that finds expression in private ar
chltecture, such as Office buildings
and residences; and. as has happened
IN the specific case Of Cleveland, II
gives the city very helpful publicity.
4 many sided benefit is bestowed.
There could be no better tribute
|
Der OF Commerce than a chance ex-
preston that got from man I met
in the street there and whom I asked
about it. He said: II don't know
what the city would do without it,
Now it was natural to find live
wire commercial bodies in the Middle
West, for the communities there are
comparatively new and the pioneer
instinct IN q certain seeSe survives.
You would not expect to discover
It In New England Yet. turn for a
moment to Boston. In the very era
die Of American conservatism there
Is A galvanic Chamber Of Commerce
that IS alert, keen and progressive
No work achieved by this chamber
Is more significant than the reform
IN public school instruction. For
years the state board Of education had
proceeded along conventional lines,
Ignoring the growing demand for COM
nercial training in the schools. The
chamber, realizing the need Of 4 more
practical kind Of instruction, succeed
ed IN having a state industrial com.
missioner named, who is ESTABLISHING
trade institutions which will be free
70 the youth Of the commonwealth.
Thus the young men and women will
re EQUIPPED to enter business as soon
as they leave school
What Boston is Doing.
In Boston the chamber has given
a big impetus to the right business
training of the boy and girl. The re-
tail trade board, which Is one Of the
committees Of the chamber. had sup
ported for years a school of sales
manship for beginners IN the depart
nent stores. They sent the heads of
their departments to give lectures
there. Subsequently the board sue
ceeded IN having this school made a
part OK the public educational system
and has made of it what the Ger
mans call a continuation school--thd {
is. an institution where the boy or
girl who must go TO work can con-
tinue his or her studies without los
ing pay. There are two courses-one
in preparatory salesmanship and one
n advanced craftsmanship. There are
classes for wholesale and retail clerks
who are permitted to leave their store
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