The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-02-06
ALIVELY SESSION.
The Chamber of Commerce and the
Endorsement of the Proposed Ex-
tension of the Traction COmpany'S S
Franchises.


Franchises.
The session of the Chamber OF
Commerce held Tuesday afternoon
was livelier than usual. Indeed, at
times it was in sense eruptlVe.
There was issued a call to each dl-
rector that "the proposed ordinance
granting the Shreveport Traction
Company a new franchise will be
placed before you for endorsement" "
At this meeting the president, W..
E. Glassell, was in attendance and
presided. He made plain his objec-
ton to the conditions of the pro-
posed ordinance of the Traction
Company. In this objection he was
sustaind by Mr.. f. H. GOsman, dl-
rector who suggested that the pro-
posed ordinance be submitted to a
committeefl 1t was urged that the
Chamber of Commerce should let
alone the proposition, which had a
savoring of politics. The secretary
was requested to read the ordinance
which provoked strenuous opposl-
tion. Hon. G. w. Jack, directo'
Joined in the discussion. He queri 4
why the dates of the extension G
the several franchises have not been
specified in the ordinance.
He received for answer from Di
rector A9Querbes that the Council
would fix the dates in the ordinance.
Director Bolinger alleged that Mr..
Jack was trying to split hairs. The
obiectors to the endorsement were
in hopeless minority. The endorse
ment was urged by Director Quer-
bes, and as a final the endorsement
prevailed and the meeting was ad-
journed.
As reported by the Journal those
present were w. E. Glassell, F. H.
Gosman, Sam Guy, Isaac Barron, A.
C. Steere, Sam Mason, ]. B. Atkins,
R. r. Emery, w. A. Robinson, L. M.
Howard, A. Queries, G. w. Jack, S.
H. Bolinger, L. N. Brueggerhoff, A.
J. Peavy, w. X. Henderson, NJ. A.
McCutchen, Geo. T. Atkins Jr., and
E. L. McColgin, a minority of the
directors, who can not bind the ma
jOrity not attending.
The friction arising from this
proceeding was so tense that Presi-
dent Glassell had announced his in
tention of resigning, but he has
been persuaded by his friends to re-
main as the head of this organiza-
ton, and he has yielded to their
wishes.
1t is being heralded that the prop
osition of the Traction Company has
been endorsed by the State Fair and
Merchants Association, the Chamber
of Commerce, the Shreveport Golf
and Country Club and the Real Es-
tate Exchange, and the Country
Club. but as aforesaid by minority
of their membership, which is not
binding.
The specific objection to the en-
dorsement is that it is not in the
province of the Chamber of Com
merce to commit its members to the
support of an enterprise which is
owned and operated for the profit
Of individuals. With equal pro-
priety any private enterprise or any
corporation could urge an endorse
ment of any of their propositions by
the Chamber of Commerce, of the
State Fair Association, the Mer-
chants Association or other organi-
cations.
In brief, as viewed by the Cau-
casian, the functions of the Cham
Der of Commerce are to promote the
commercial interests of the city ant
the manufacturing and the agricul-
tural advancement and the develop
ment of this section of the State, tt
encourage business men of othel
sections to visit and make invest
ments in this city and the territor!
adjacent, and not to endorse thu
proposed ordinances of private o.
corporate enterprises the purpos
of which are to influence the com.
munity to their approval.