The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-28
AUDITORIUM PLANS AND BOND ISSUES ARE |NDORSED Chamber of Commerce Fa- vOrs Schools, Auditoriums
 and Freight Bureau PRESIDENT BUSH
 REVIEWS ACTIVITIES Many Committees Make Report h. cluding That On the Reunion.
 Members Urged to Make
 Contributions to Fund

The Chamber of Commerce, at a rous- ing meeting held last night, officially ln- dorsed the proposed bond issue of $2,ON,- GOO for the schools of Birmingham. The report on the Warrior river was not com plete on account of the illness of Engi- neer Crossland, and the reunion work was reported to be in fine shape, with the execution of the matter of finances. It was announced that more money was needed, but it was stated that this was in sight, and no trouble WIS anticipated on this score.
 H. Key Milner, secretary of the audi torium committee, announced that plans and specifications were ready and that this matter would be reported to the city commission this afternoon. MT. Milner outlined his plans, which were the same as stated in The Age-Herald yesterday. The plans called for the use of the Roden hotel property, with an auditorium to seat more than 5000. The city hall and jail were to be housed in the same building. MT. MiIner explained that the plans pro yided for changing the auditorium into seating capacity of 3500 for grand opera and other meetings which would not re- ol1ire such large seating capacity. The chamber unanimously indorsed the Ro- den hotel auditorium proposition and went on record as favoring the plan as outlined by MT. Iilner.
 W, H. Kettig, chairman of the military training camp committee reported to the meeting last night. Colonel Kettig told of the sentiment which had been created -i% oF rd Of United States army, and he urged the united cooperation of the people of the city in working for this plan, which seemed to offer the best solution of mill itary preparedness. Colonel Kettig urged that all corporations and firms encour- age their employees to join the militia He suggested that the firms having men in the militia allow their employees to go to the encampment and that their sala- ries be paid during the time they were away Colonel Kettig suggested that the same plan be adopted for men employed by the various corporations while they attended the military training camp at Chattanooga this summer. The Chamber Of Commerce went on record as heartily favoring the training camps and as en- coura ging the National Guard.
 The S2,O0O, GOO bond issue for school pur- poses was advocated by Commissioner Hornady J. B. Gibson pr. E. P. Ho- gan and others. The necessity for such a bond issue was pointed out and strong arguments were advanced in favor of the issue.
 The matter of the freight traffic bureau was also discussed President Bush pre- sided at the meeting and outlined the purposes of the gathering, and told of activities of the chamber.
 J. J. Jackson, one of the best known rate experts in the district, in speaking of the tariff bureau and the need of rate adjustment, said, in part: ~
 May I venture remarks on the rela- ton the, proposed department should have to the shippers? In my opinion, it should be a representative of the shippers col lectively, just as individual shippers have their individual traffic managers to han dle their particular traffic. There are numerous instances, I am quite sure which come before shipper wherein he sees his territory invaded, or wherein he sees business he ought to control slip from him because of freight rates. The shipper individually would not feel justi- fled to shoulder the entire expense of liti- gating the case, realizing that which he fought and paid for would be shared by his competitor who had not been so ag- gressive. I advocate an aggressive de- partment, and one that serves but one interest, and that interest is the ship pers' interest"