The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-09-24
MEMBERS STAND BY
GOVERNING BOARD
After Full and Free Discus
sion, Increase in Dues
IS Ratified.
CRITICISM FRANKLY MET
Organization Is Praised as
One of Best in United
States.
FRANKLY MET

Critics OF the Commercial club mana &C.
mcnt discussed at length the government
and management OF the Commercial clut
at a meeting OF the membership OF the
Commercial club last evening The meet
ing was the first general membership
meeting Of the club that has been held In
eight years
The meeting was called by the board
or governors to give the members the
opportunity TO discuss the recent in
crease In dues imposed by the board OF
governors. The annual dues were in
creased from $40 TO $50. There was some
objection to this increase by some OF the
members and In addition 20 the complaint
IS TO the increase Of the dues there were
some objections made as to the conduct
OF the clubs affairs in other respects,
After these objections were made to the
board OF governors the membership meet =
Ing was called.
Lengthy Discussion.
For nearly four hours the members OF
me club discussed in detail the obiec-
uons made nnd various other matters in
Volving the welfare of the club. At times
inc discussion was somewhat heated. but
al the conclusion of the meeting only the
best OF feeling was manifested Finally
tho members OF the club BY q vote that
was practically unanimous ratified the
crcasing the dues with the condition
that when tho present floating indebted :
ness OF the club was paid off the dues
should be reduced To $40 per annum,
presided al the meeting and in the alb
sence OF Secretary Joseph r Cainc,
George W. Goddard acted rs secretary.
President Johnson opened the meeting by
explaining the financial condition of the
club lie said that the $3.50 600 bond is
sue had been placed. but that the ercc-
ton OF the new building and the furnish
Ing of 1t had exceeded The original osti-
mates by $50. 000. This amount, he said.
had been carried as floating indcbt cdness
and II was necessary 10 care for il. With
n View TO paying off this indebtedness
the board of governors had decided TO
Increase the dues
George NJ. Cannon raised tho question
as to whether or not the board OF gov
ernors had authority To Increase the dues.
Reference was made to the constitution
and the authority OF tho board OF gov
ernors TO increase the dues was ac-
copied,
President Johnson said that the mem
bership OF the club at present was 1865
about 100 more than a the time the new
club was opened.
Richmond Criticises.
r. G. Richmond who acted as spokes-
man for those who were disposed to
club, said that there was nothing per-
sonal In the criticism and that 1t was
made In no spirit OF insurgency, lie
charged. among other things, that the
u
Criticism was made OF
tho heavy expenses Of the club The
secretary and other employees, he said,
were receiving salaries that were too
large.
Mr. Richmond urged n change in the
system OF handling the business Of the
club from the committee system 10 one
Of mass meetings Of the membership. He
called attention TO the fact tina, although
the bylaws provided for monthly mem
bership meetings, none had been held
in years.
In behalf OF tho board of governors w
w. Armstrong replied 10 Mr. Richmond
lie denied that the increase in dues was
taxation without representation" The
of the board Of governors, he
said, were elected by the membership
and were. directly responsible TO the
With reference 10 the salary OF the
Mr. Armstrong said that Jo-
;eph E. Caine. at $500 a month. repre-
ness men of the state OF Utah with
to the other employees Mr.
Armstrong said that the work had great
y increased, but the salaries were low
sr than heretofore. He spoke OF some
If the difficulties in the complete re-
arrangement of the management OF the
'lub Incident TO the change OF quarters
n the present club the mana cement was
similar to that of q. big hotel
Not Losing Much.
The complete financial reports Of the
'lub for August were rend. They showed
hat the net loss In the operation OF the
'lub for August was $57.39 This was
he dullest month Of the year.
w. J. Haloran. chairman of the
inancc committee. explained that the
BOARD Of governors had borrowed $40 600
rom the banks OF the city on The credit
II the club and pledged the club TO take
Ip these notes at the rate of $500 per
Month as a result Of the increase In dues
John Dern moved that tho action of
he board of governors be ratified D.
:. Dunbar added the proviso that the
ucs be reduced in eighteen months after
he notes were taken up. Several amend
ncnts and substitutes were offered and
elected. Finally the membe rship bv
practically unanimous vote. adopted
he motion Of Mr.. Dcrn as amended by |
ir Dunbar.
Governor William Spry made the clos |
ne talk. in which he spoke Of attending
meeting OF commercial executives from
il over tho United States few days |
go In Chicago. At that meeting the |
alt Lake Commercial club was spoken
as one OF the biggest and most pro-
rcssiye organizations in the entire
ountry,