The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-27
CONTINUED from Pace rive,

CONTINUED from Pace Five)
-~--~~~-~-----~--------
stand that must at the same time fully
realize the responsibilities of the position.
I am perfectly willing to shoulder these
responsibilities but will necessarily rail
without the cooperation and support of
the membership of this organization. In
other words. | stand ready to do one
mans part, but no one man or one set of
men can accomplish the results that
ought TO be accomplished in the ensuing
year without the hearty co-oepration,
sympathy and support of the entire mem
bership. and especially of the trustees,
directors and committeeman Please do
not fall into the error, therefore, of con-
cldding that when you assumed the re-
sponsibility of choosing a president, your
work was done and your responsibility
ceased.
The spirit of cooperation and cordial,
harmonious pulling together will not only
help the Birmingham Chamber of COM
merce, and also help all of the other
commercial bodies in the greater city.
but viii help to create a public sentiment
favorable to a spirit of civic pride. and
constructive endeavor. We cannot
achieve results without such a public sem
timent. l do not mean to say that this
sentiment is entirely lacking at present
but I do feel that it is not as fully de-
veloped as it should he or as it can be-
IL we will all resolve TO concentrate our
efforts and influence in that channel. and
| when I say all. do not mean tire men,
| bership of this organization only, but
the entire citizenship cf greater Birming
| ham.
Much Accomplished Past Year
| The Chamber of Commerce during the
| past year, under my able predecessor 5
| ad,,,iy .fctt. lnaG nCcDrnnliS shed wonder
ful results, and l believe that you will
all agree with mo that this town is under
| a debt of gratitude ~ Mr.. Harding for
his untiring and unselfish devotion to the
| work he las had in hand as president
of this chamber, and on account OF the
! marvellous results he has accomplished.
| He has established high standard of ac-
complishuents, and fully realize that a
1 heavy task is before me in undertaking
| to maintain this standard.
| "The work of the Chamber of Com
meree is essentially one of acting on con-
! clusions and recommendations advanced
| by the several standing and special COM
nittces, which are part CT the organiza-
| tion | consider one OF the most I'M
portant acts of the officers and directors
of this Chamber is the selection OF
| strong committees, ard with the advice
| ard counsel of the ether officers and the
| confirmation of the directors, 1t is my de-
| sire 10 tGOdle COillilllltNS NiaN NA'i he'iN-
an active part in the conduct of the bust
| ness of the chamber. on account OF the
| importance of this matter, l desire to de-
| vote some time and thought 20 the Sc
| leetions 20 be made, ara with your per-
| mission, will name no committees at TINS
| meeting, but will request that existing
committees hold over pending the selee-
| ton of new committees.
| Report on Auditorium
| Now. ia regard to the auditorium, you
are all familiar with the history of the
movement. and know that the people oil
| Birmingham on two different occasions
1 by large majorities in each Instance.
voted in favor of a municipal audito-
| RUM in each election. according to my
memeory, the vote being more than three
| to one In it's favor. Soon after the last
| election held last fall, the city ofhelals
| submitted to a firm of lawyers IN New
| York the whcle question of BOND issue
| for an auditorium and asked for an oplh-
ION as to the validity OF the proposed
| bonds. Judge Dillon OF this law firm, al
| Ter some months delay. reported to the
! city that he was unable or unWilnns 10
render an opinion until the supreme
court OF this state had passed on d
| close question involved. che as L unuef-
! stood relating to the right or power OF
| the city to issue bonds for the purpose
| of building an auditorium. 1t appears
| that the bond act of 1903 is INDEFINITE
! Oh this subject and while the SAID act
! specifically conveys the right to issue
| bonds for various public buldlns, par
| ticularizing by name certain buildings, II
| does not In specific terms mention an
auditorium but does cover buildings in
| general of a public nature by the en-
| nloynent of the tern, land other public
| buildings" The question, therefore, as
understand 1t, is whether or not IN the
| meaning Of this statute an auditorium
| can properly come under the head or a
rublic. building. 1t is generally believed
| that the supreme court would so declare.
II a public municipal auditorium, built
| for the public use, out 81 public funds,
is not a public building. it is little
difficult to determine Just what kind OF
| a building It is
Conventions
Report of committee ON conventions
| Due to our continued lack of hotel and
auditorium accommodations, your COM
mittee on conventions has not sought the
| large gatherings.
There have been some 10 meetings IN
Birmingham during the year of this re-
port The attendance to some of these
| was largely in the hundreds and in a
! few cases over 1000 We assisted when
| our help was desired.
Now that we have two new hotels
| nearing completion ana our NOltiS ldNt
spoken in such emphatic tones in favor
| of an auditorium we feel presently II
will be on its financial feet and then soo,
| ready for use, and our city In position
| to entertain conventions or the larger
| class and thereby take the place to which
our population and business standing ell
| titles us.
Your committee, assisted by the gem
eral secretary, has been getting informa-
ton looking to organizing regular bu-
| reau to secure conventions. which will
require assured funds ready available.
Respectfully submitted. Henry Hiden,
chairman; George c. Oliver, w. NJ. Glenn
ents, r. T. Brooke, d. f. Turnbull."
| Library
! t"Report of Library committee: On April
J S, 1918, the city commissioners passed an
ordinance providing for the transfer of
the library from the school board to
B an independent library board, created by
/ the ordinance. This was done in rec
| ognition of the fact that the pubic libra
ry is an institution of sufficient imporu-
ance to requiae the attention of one board
all the time. The action was taken with
the consent of the school board.
Following the enactment of this ordi-
nance. the Birmingham library board
was appointed, consisting of J. w. Dom
nelly. president; ID. M Lewis. vice pres
i1apt. Dr n Parlxe Prof