The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1914-01-21
Commercial Club Holds
Interesting Session.

Mr.. J. j. Greenleaf was the first speaker
of the evening, and during his talk gave
report of the railroad rate investigat
| ing committee, of which he is mem ber
Rev. e. B. Barnes gave splendid talL
on Cooperation" Ten command
ments of catalogue houses" an article
published in the last issue of The
Climax, was read by the secretary. DR.
@ ii. Vaught spoke of the tobacco in
dustry and the Pattie A. Clay Infirmary,
and was followed by Prof Keith, who
spoke of the relative value of the Nor,
NAL School to the city of Richmond and
Madison county. Rev. b. q Horton
spoke on What a new conner saw that
Richmond needed" Hon B. j. Clay
made nice talk on the need of sewer
age and good streets in Richmond. The
CONNIE. cial Club, being cognizant of the
great work being accomplished by the
Eastern Normal School, of this city,
rendered the services of its members in
rendering any service possible at Frank
fort during the session of the Legisla-
lure. Next meeting of the Club will be
held Tuesday, February 3.
At the conclusion of these talks re-
freshments were served. Then Presi-
dent Chas. Higgins appointed a com
mittee to plan and organize definite steps
for proceeding to take up the matter of
obtaining for Richmond a reduction in
freight rates.
Agitation OF this question was start
ed some months ago, when the following
com mittee-C. F. Higgins, J. W. Hamil-
ton, w. E. Blanton, G. ID. Simmons, j.
j. Greenleaf and others-was appointed
to investigate and report to the Club the
situation as to the comparison of our
freight rates with those of surrounding
towns. That committee, in addition to
careful personal investigation of the
question, employed Mr.. j. II. Ramsey,
a noted freight rate expert, to make
them report. The talk made at the
meeting of the Club by JUICE Greenleaf
was in the nature of the report OF this
com mittee, which included Mr. Ram
sey's report.
The committee reported that Win.
chester, Paris, Lexington, Nicholasville,
Frankfort and practically every other
town in Kentucky has lower freight
rates on shipments of all kinds of mer-
chandise, coal, live stock and other COM
modities coming from Louisville, Gin.
cinnati and New York than Richmond
has. The result of this is that not only
our merchants, both retail and whole
sale, but every consumer in the COUNTY
| necessarily pays more for the necessities
of life than those in our surrounding
| towns. The committee which was ap.
pointed by President Higgins at the last
meeting is composed of Messrs. Higgins,
j. w. Hamilton, Greenleaf, Stivers, w
E. Blinto1, G. ID. Simmons, Allen Ear
ing and G. w. Goodloe. Its purpose is
to ascertain the cost OF presenting to the
| Interstate Commerce Commission and tc
the Kentucky Railroad Commission a
complaint similar to that which other
towns all over the country have recently
made and been successful, and to devise
means for raising an amount sufficient
to carry the fight through.
1t is estimated by those familiar with
| tho Sif that oh
son county would save from $40, to
| $50, 600 per year if the Commercial Club
could succeed in having the rates to and
from Richmond put upon the same basis
| which Winchester aud other neighbor,
ing towns enjoy. The fight would be
| based upon that part of the act of Con
gress to regulate interstate commerce,
| which in definite and positive terms says
| that 1T shall be unlawful for any COM
mon carrier to make or give any undue
or unreasonable preference or advantage
to any particular locality in any respect
whatsoever; or to subject any particular
locality to any undue or unreasonable
prejudice or disadvantage in any respect
whatsoever"
The members of the com mittee have
agreed to leave nothing Undone in the
way of getting this movement started
In proof of their earnestness in the M at
ter they had meeting Saturday night
which lasted several hours and at which
the first steps were taken towards organ
izing and preparation. The committee
has adopted resolutions to meet every
Saturday night hereafter, and the mem.
bers are determined to carry the fight
through to Fl nish.
1t is their purpose ID prepare and dis.
tribute among the m srchants of this city
and all others who may be interested. a
pamphlet which will show the facts
and figures upon which their work is
based and what they expect to accom-.
plsh. By this method it is expected
that every business man IN Richmond
| will be familiar with the question by
the time the Commercial Club has it
next meeting, which will be at the City
Hall on Feb. 3rd, so that at that tim'
definite plans of action may be agreed
upon.
| 1t is planned to have Mr.. Ramsey, the
rate expert above. referred TO, attend thi.
meeting and show our people why h,
thinks that we should 0e able to oblair
these rate reductions.
School Fund to be Distributed
| Promptly.