Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1911-07-14
COMMERCIAL CLUB
HAS BUSY SESSION

A proposition originating Mon
day that the Commercial club seek 10
buy or lease the freight depot from
the Southern Pacific company, and
use it as headquarters and for an ex-
hibit building, thus settling the pres
ent trouble between the company and
the city council was subject oil dis
cussion at the meeting last night OF
the Commercial cIuD, in regular
monthly session. The matter pro-
duced much discussion and the ques"
tlon developed into double subject,
one being how could the present con-
troversy be settled, the other, advisa-
billty of moving the club quarters TO
the building, provided it could be
bought or leased.
Samuel H. Baker thought 1t a
good proposal "even If we lose"
Jack Williams, owner Of the build
ing where the club now has head
quarters, said to move to the pro-
posed site would break up the club
and precipitate fight between the
two sides of the town, though he had,
he said, no especial desire to keep the
club where 1t is, as the rent, $50 a
month, was mere bagatelle compar-
ed to what the rooms were worth.
r. L. Coe referred to the fight once
before with the company when the
depot occupied part of Sixth street,
and declared a committee of citizens
went to Portland and settled the mat
ter quickly. He wanted the same
done now in conjunction with the
council.
DR.. Flanagan spoke to the point,
declaring that the trouble should be
settled amicably, that the railroad Of
ficials would respond to a wave Of
an olive branch. The physician stat
ed that while Grants Pass had not got
its due, yet a temperate policy now
would win when any other policy
would prove hurtful to the town, and
he did not agree with Mr.. Williams
that moving the club quarters would
break up the club. AS to placating
the Southern Pacific, the doctor said
he was not in favor of Grants Pass
i surrendering its rights, but there
should be found some way out of the
present difficulty without resorting
to expensive and long-drawn-out lit
igation which would leave the loser
sore.
Mr.. Coe wanted peace with honor
w. H. Patillo arose to say that il
Grants Pass had fought the Southern
Pacific more in the past, that Grant;
Pass would today have had her rights
respected.
Mr.. Coe moved that President Sa
bin appoint committee of five mem
bers to wait on the city council an(
offer its services in an effort tt
make a peaceful settlement with tn,
company, The motion was adopted
The committee has not yet been ap
pointed, but will probably be don,
this evening.
Regarding the use of the Southern
Pacific freight depot by the CONNER
cial' club as an exhibit building an,
headquarters 1t was proposed that tn
structure be remodeled In wa,
which would fit it for such purpose.
AT the city hall this morning It wa
stated that no permit could be issue,
to alter the building, that it was a vic
latlon of the fire ordinance and not
matter of discretion with the council
. allowing a permit to remodel.
A resident stated that the counci
might whip the devil around th
stump but a city official replied tina
no evasion of the law would be con
, sidered.
The club discussed the band an
its support, 1t was the unanimou
opinion that the musical organizatlo
was one of the finest advertisement
possible for Grants Pass and the lin
est band in southern Oregon. On nc
tion OF A, H. Parsons It was voted I