The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-27
Chamber of Commerce De- nOunces Reports Regard
 ing Quality of Steel
MONTHLY MEETING
 LARGELY ATTENDED
President DeBardeleben Authorized to Name Commissary Committee. Three-Mill Tax IndOrsed, Fol
 lowing Speech by Phillips

''The greatest metallurgical expert in the United States has been employed and will say to the navy board at Washing ton or when it appears in Birmingham that Birmingham district steel is as good as any steel in the world for armor plate.'
 The above statement, madeNby Morris W. Bush, chairman of the local armor plate committee together with the de- nunciation by the Chamber of Commerce as false reports started by selfish inter- ests in the east that Birmingham steel Is not good for armor plate, answered positively rumors to this effect which have been gaining circulation since the campaign for the location of the armor plate plant in Birmingham was started. Although MT. Bush was not in position to give the name of the metallurgist em- ployed, he said that he was the greatest expert of the kind in the United States and that announcement of his identity would be made within a few days.
 The monthly meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, held at the Tutwiler last night, was one of the largest meetings the body has held in months. Features Of the meeting were discussion of the armor plate plant situation, and a dis cusson of the 3-mill tax, which the cham Der indorsed as body Dr. J. H: Phil- lips. superintendent of public schools, made a short talk in favor of the 3-mill tax.
 Robert Jemison, ST.. started the armor plate discussion by declaring that the cry that is being raised now is but an echo of the cry raised years ago when eastern industrial men declared that steel could not be made from Alabama pig iron. He introduced a resolution that the chamber denounce as false and without foundation rumors started by selfish in terests in the east to the effect that Bir- .mingham steel is not good for making armor plate.
 MT. Jemson took advantage of the op- portunity to ask that the Chamber of Commerce should stand for the progress of Birmingham, and that 1t should stand for the protection of the railroads and corporations as well as the little indus trial man.
 t'Every large corporation should be welcomed and protected as long as they remain within the law he said.
 Morris W. Bush chairman of the local armor plate committee outlined the data that is to be presented to the naval board that while it may cost 50 to 75 cents to dephosphorize Birmingham pig iron to grade for making armor plate, the fact that the pig iron is $4 to s cheaper than that in Pittsburg and other places, still gives this district margin of $3 or $4
 The question on the face of it is ab- surd," said MT. Bush, speaking of the rumor in regard to Birmingham steel. "It is & question that should not need to be answered to any man who has any knowledge of the making of steel and armor plate. Whether or not we get the armor plate plant, I am glad to have this opportunity to lay open the question of the quality of Birmingham steel as regards rails and armor plate''
 TO NAME COMMITTEE
 President DeBardeleben was authorized to appoint two members of committee to join in the investigation of the con- missary situation. In putting the ques- tion before the meeting MT. DeBardeleben said
 q am one of the offenders. I operate a company that runs three commissaries. welcome the investigation into the ques- tion. only ask that you understand that it has several sides, and view it from every standpoint I offer the committee free access to my books, my labor and will even cooperate with 1t to the ex- tent of furnishing transportation from one of my camps to another. I wish to add that in naming this committee I VIII consider any man directly or 1ndl- rectly interested in a commissary."
 Dr. Thomas Byrnes, pastor of the Uni tarian Presbyterian church. who has re- gently been made a member of the Cham Der of Commerce was introduced and made short talk.
 Announcement was made by President DeBardeeben that the National Electric Light association, southeastern division, would hold it's convention in Birmingham in October
 The chamber voted favorably on three measures of referendum of the United States Chamber of Commerce, on bills to come before Congress- giving the Presi- dent power to regulate railroad strikes.