Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-06-20
REGULAR Meeting OF
commercial CLUB
SESSION HELD AT NOON HOUR AT
SRAMEK RESTAURANT. VISIT.
ORS GIVE SHORT TALKS.
DISCUSS FREIGHT RATE INCREASE

Resolution Regarding Proposed In.
crease in Freight Rate Read.
+ Action Deferred.
The Manchester Commercial CLUB
met at Sramek's restaurant on Mon
day, at the noon hour. The club had
number OF guests, who gave short
talks following the dinner. Senator
Trewin. of Cedar Rapids, was the
first of the visitors to talk to the club
Mr.. Trewin is q member of the Com
mercial club of Cedar Rapids, and in
the course of his remarks stated that
the unusual growth of his home city
is due in very large measure to the
efforts of the Commercial club. He
also emphasized the fact that Man
chester should have more manufac-
turing establishments, and in this way
become a producing city, rather than
one that consumes.
DR.. Hilton l. Jones, who appeared
on the Chautauqua program on Mon
day morning, in few carefully chos-
en- words, addressed the club. DR..
Jones is a pleasing speaker, and was
accorded the closest attention of the
club.
Mr.. Simmons, law partner OF Sena-
tor Trewin, of Cedar Rapids, was the
next speaker. He said that CONNER
cial clubs were no longer an expert
ment, that they were a necessary part
of every live town or city. He COM
mended Manchester upon having a
Commercial club in which so large a
per cent of the business men take an
active part.
DR.. Harry D. Keis, superintendent
of the Chautauqua, expressed his ap-
probation for the interest taken by
the business men in the ChautauQua.
Following these short addresses by
the visitors, the routine business was
taken up. Secretary H. W. Phenicie
read the minutes of the last meeting.
The question of opening up ne"
piece of road beginning on Main
street and running north through
number of lots, and joining road at
the A. NJ. Cloud farm, and then con-
Meeting with the road running east
and west south of the fair grounds
was discussed, and plat showing the
proposed new road submitted to;ithe
club. Some discussion was indulged
in by a number of members. The ex.
ecutive committee was instructed to
present the proposition to the city
council for their consideration. II
this roadway can be opened it will
provide a drive of several miles, en-
circling the city of Manchester.
The question of erecting a hlgh
board fence along the south line OF
the fair grounds was continued until
future meeting.
At a previous meeting Of the Com
mercial club committee to investi-
gate the proposed increase in freight
rates was named and asked to re-
mort at the meeting on Monday E.
NJ Carr, chairman of the committee
submitted a report of the findings Oh
the committee, which is as follows:
whereas, the right of the public
to fix railway charges carries with
it the duty of dealing justly between
those who buy and those who sell
railway service. Service is all that
the railroads have to sell. and when
changed conditions vastly increase
the cost of their service, they have as
good a right to increase their price
as the producers, manufacturers and
merchants of the country have to IN
crease the prices Of their commodities.
Labor and iron products enter large
" into the expense of railway trans
portation, and both have greatly in
creased in price during the past two
wears. The general increase in the
price of all commodities increased the
living expenses of railway employees
and called for increases in the pay
of nearly all of them. The Adamson
law, approved by the highest court IN
the country, added more than $780,
600 600 to the wages of the trainmen.
And the price of everything manufac-
tured out of iron has practically doubl-
ed during the past two years.
Therefore, Be it resolved by the
Manchester Commercial. Club that the
increase of Is per cent in railroad
freight rates is reasonable, just and
exceedingly conservative when COM
pared with the general price increase
Of all commodities.
. E. M. CARR,
C4IAS. B. BAUMGARTNER,
GEO. II. BARR,
Committee.
After some discussion of the above
proposed resolution, motion prevail
ed to have action by the club deferred
until the adjourned meeting on Thurs
day night, when it will come up for
further consideration