Norwich bulletin., 1917-01-13
NEW BRITAIN SPEAKER
 AT OPENING MEETING
Secretary Andrews of State Chamber of Commerce Addressed Local Members on Membership.

Secretary Andrews of State Chamber
 of Commerce Addressed Local
 Members on Membership.
 A. H. Andrews. of New Britain,
 secretary of the Connecticut Chamber
 of Commerce, was the principal
 speaker at the opening night of the
 chamber of commerce. which was held
 Friday night and which was very
 largely attended.
 President James called the meeting
 to order after a three-piece orchestra
 under the direction of John Swahn
 had given an excellent concert con7
 sisting of all the latest pieces.
 President James stated that the
 rooms were open every day and that
 the secretary would be on hand to serve in any way possible. The roll
 call of officers showed two absentees
 and the minutes of the previous meet
 ing were read by Secretary Branche
 and accepted as read.
 President James attended the meet
 ing of the state chamber which was
 held in Hartford Thursday and he re-
 ported on some of the important mat ters which came before the state as- sembly- President James referred to the request from the state board of health, which is trying to secure re- organization, and which matter will come before the session of the legisa- ture. The health department wants
 power as in the case of an epidemic of disease. At the present time the powers of the health officers are linn ited. There is also a bill before the legislature which would reorganize the secretary of states department in his Jurisdiction relative to the motor ve- hicle law and place the Jurisdiction with the state highway commissioner. There is another matter which will
 come before this session of the legis- lature regarding the solicitation from out of town for missionary purposes and institutions. It is proposed to pass a law which requires the solicitor to
 secure a license from the police de- partment in the city where the solicit ing is to be done.
 President James said that at the next meeting of the board of directors of the state chamber of commerce pr. Sykes, president of the Connecticut College for Women at New London, will speak on the need of dormitories at the college.
 Referendum No 19, which deals on | prevention of railroad strikes and | lockouts sent out by the National Chamber of Commerce for the local chamber to express it's opinion on, was 1 partially adopted.
 1 President James announced that the ! board of directors of the local cham i Der have selected an efficient secretary l in Herbert R. Branche, who in a few l well chosen words expressed his desire l for the keen support of the members l of the chamber. Secretary Branche referred to the last meeting of the board of directors when James l.. Case i appeared before the board and accept l ed an invitation to act as chairman of
 a membership campaign which will be 1 launched.
 Ernest o. Rodier. president of the Norwich Building and Loan associa- tion was next introduced. He explain cd the aims of the association which is to encourage thrift and encourage those who vViGh to build homes. In of this kind, and in the city of PhiIa- delphia. where I was born. he said, there are more home owners than in any other city in the United States The organization here is young yet l but it will grow The association of fers shares which mature at s200 and l the payments are made monthly. We know that if a person has an obligation to meet each month he will try to meet the same. The associa- tion has done well for the first year and shows a surplus and it wants to 1 have the support of the Chamber of The association would like to have the mem hers of the Chamber of Commerce continue the five shares which the old ] Norwich Chamber of Commerce had and would like the privilege of using the rooms for our meetings. which oc- cur on the third Tuesday of each
 month. We want to make the associa-
 ton successful and we will, with united support.
 On motion of John NJ. Lee. the mat ter Of taking over the five shares con- tracted by tho old Norwich Chamber
 of Commerce was referred to the board
 of directors with power. The motion was carried.
 It was voted to grant tbe Norwich Building and Loan association the right to use the Chamber of Com merce rooms on their meeting night Charles W. Pearson. secretary of the United Commercial Travellers 1 brought up the matter of the commer- 1 cial travellers installing a desk in the l rooms which would match the other ] furniture and which would be used by commercial travellers.
 H. M. Lerou moved that the per- | mission of installing the desk be granted. The motion was seconded | and carried
 Charles I. Smith spoke on the mem | bership campaign which will be con- ducted. He said that the chamber has | at present 266 members and that the | slogan of the campaign will be 300 l members in one day.
 1 President James then introduced the 1 principal speaker of the evening. A. 1 H. Andrews of New Britain, secretary l of the Connecticut Chamber of Com | merce. Secretary Andrews expressed | his pleasure at being present to lend 1 his support to the work. He said he was unfamiliar with the local situa- tion. but, he said, I am convinced that your real purpose is going to succeed according to. the fine representation here tonight. You have the goods and will get results.
 ask, why are you here? For en- tertainment or because something is
 wrong Because you each know some
 social municipal or business condi-
 tions which are not as good as you
 think they should be in the city of
 Norwich. the country or state But no
 two of you will agree on details In
 this great and sometimes called free
 country where we say we have gov
 ernment by, of. and for the people 1t
 is sometimes hard to realize. Only
 certain of the activities are included
 in the CoverT1 rnent and 0fha fbor,