Little Falls herald., 1914-03-20
HELD ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING.
Continued from Page l.)

be grown, are especially adapted Ia
growing apples of superior quality. |
Heretofore the New England states
have received all apples from Oregon
and other western states. The traffic
conditions in many of the larger cities
have also been materially improved
by the Commercial clubs and Minnea-
polls to-day employs 10 men at cost
of $4,000 annually to look after this
particular thing.
Industries which propose to come
into a city should be assured that the
taxes will not be squandered-this,a ac-
cording to the speaker, can be looked
after by the Commercial club, whose
duty it is to look after matters which
are of vital Importance to a commun:
ity.
The Commercial clubs are beginning
to realize the value Of good govern.
ment, said the speaker. The city of
Galveston in Texas, he said, is run the
same as a private business enterprise.
In cities where the officials are lax
the Commercial club has taken up
such matters as the placing of garbage
cans at the intersection Of streets,
getting the business men to gather the
dirt which accumulates on the walks
in front Of their places Of business in
stead Of sweeping it out into the
streets. The clubs also help to pro-
mote fire prevention by sending out
circulars telling the people Of danger
Gus conditions which they should not
allow to exist. The Minneapolis Com
mercial club has done much in this re-
spect, the speaker said.
Social conditions are an important
factor in town. The housing Of peo-
pie who are employed in factories and
mills should be looked after. In in
| vestigating these conditions in Min
| neapolis it was found that 1000. of
the families were housed in rooms
which had no windows.
In his closing remarks the speaker
stated that the Commercial clubs have
been greatly responsible for the adop-
| ton of a safe and sane Fourth Of
July, for municipal markets, and for
the welfare Of children. Organizations
of this kind are most significant sign
of municipal welfare, betterment and
improvement, and have a great fu.
ture before them.
N. n. Bergheim was called upon for
a talk. He said that this is a time
when politics is not politics but
business. To this end he thought that
socialist, prohibitionist, a suffra-
gette and possibly democrat should
be invited to the next get-together
lunch. The local club has been in
! existence for the past ten years and
the benefits which the city has de-
rived from it during that time have
! been many, indeed It would take a
! whole evening to tell them, he said.
The purpose of getting a larger mem.
| bership, is not solely for the money
which would be derived from the dues,
but for the benefit of the city socially,
industrially and politically. l.
Little Falls should be the principal
market for produce Of Morrison coun.
ty, and for this reason better trans.
portation facilities are needed. The
,, taxation are also inadquate. This
condition, according to Mr.. Bergheim,
could be bettered by getting an
equal assessment. The assessments
should be made from the actual valua-
tion Of the property, and not made
from valuations recorded in the as
sessment books ten years ago. Those
who are directly affected by the high
rate of taxation should take up the
matter in a scientific and businesslike
way, and in this way it would be
possible to get a reduction of from
20 to 35 per cent.
Mr.. Bergheim also discussed the
commission form of government, be-
lieving that the city could accomplish
much more under this form than under
the present system. +
VI w. E. Penfeld related number of
stories which showed how a CONNER
cial club should work. He also read
a poem entitled Step off to the side
and watch yourself 90 by,' which
took very we'll with the guests.
T. G. Gordon, Of the Water Power
company, said that his idea was that
a Commercial club greatly resembles
a secret society, in that it makes the
social end Of work prominent for the
benefit Of those to whom the ritualis-
tic work becomes monotonous. He
told of having visited number of
small towns and villages in Florida
and that in each and every one Of
these places the Commercial clubs
were the seat of civic activity. He
also referred to the dues Of a Com
mercia1 club as being very insignifi-
| C80C, anu CudC "AAL - "dAtcU u tuc
members is support and criticism.
City Attorney A. H. Vernon spoke
on cooperation as being big factor
in the upbuilding Of city. He urged
the business men to take keener in
terest in things Of importance to the
city and that when they get an idea
which they think would be Of some
value, to bring it up at a CONNER
cial club meeting for discussion.
Mr.. Vernon referred to the eastman
tariff bill as being very injurious to
the growth and prosperity Of northern
minnesota, especially in the sparsely
settled portions, in its present form.
Mr.. Vernon in his closing remarks
urged the business men to come out
and strive for q better Commercial
club and for a better city.
| This talk was the last one on the
program and although it was well nigh
midnight before the speaking was
over, those present seemed to; be we'll
satisfied that the meeting was one Of