Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-10-17
SECRETARY BLOOMS REPORT ON WORK
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| NET On1 ON WORA
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 Continued from Page Two) .->- ->~~~ > >~ ->~>~>~>~- ~> = ->- ->~>->~-~~~>~ banking concerns will remove most of the trouble we have had on this line and includes what most of us say, compulsory arbitration of labor dis putes. We have favored the imme- diate repeal or modification of the luxury tax, which is burden, as well as a tax on every citizen of this whole country and includes the absolute nec- essity of life from which the greater portion of this tax is collected.
 Conventions
 During the past year we have had l the honor to act as host to the fol- lowing conventions: The Arkansas Dental Association, Arkansas Bottlers Association, Arkansas Lumber Deal- Sweet Potato Growers and Curing As sociation, to all of whom, am sure Pine Bluff maintained it's reputation for hospitality. This is the. second time we have entertained the Lumber Dealers, who have been considering making this permanent place. The Sweet Potato Association was the first of it's kind which included all southern states and some western states to have met and much to our Icredit permanent organization, na- jtional in scope was formed. We are lpleased to admit our untiring efforts howard making this five day meeting in this city a success and in partial depreciation of what was done, the mayor of the city and the secretary of the Chamber of Commerce were made honorary members of the asso- tciation.
 Emigration
 Our city and county have received more new corners during the past year as permanent citizens than ever before in single year that has come to our knowledge. We have had to find homes for the families of great many of the men connected with the new industries, to say nothing of the unmarried skilled mechanics that have been brought here for their re- spective lines of work. Thirty -one families have purchased small farms and have or soon will make this coun- ty their home, directly through visits and correspondence with this organi- zation and in the city we have had to find homes for more than seventy new corners. l am quite sure all of our members realize the enormous task that this requires and this brings us to the point of our housing conditions, which must be remedied at once if we are to continue our efforts to bring new citizens to this city There is not habitable tenant house in the town and we have applications on file now for great many homes of this kind. The same conditions exist as to mercantile and factory buildings. We have lost families and new con ,cerns through our inability to furnish houses and buildings and know of no more important work for the coming year that our organization could take up than that of remedying this mat ter.
 Employment Service
 Nearly every day we have inuuiries from our business concerns regarding clerical or office help and on the other hand Just as often we are asked by young men and women to aid them m finding suitable positions. We have had remarkable success in this line and have placed possibly a hundred of such positions, much to the grati- fication of the employer as well as the employee.
 Our Neighbors
 The friendly and cordial relation ship existing between this city and our neighboring counties continues in such a highly satisfactory manner that l am sure it must be a source of qualification to our business concerns. The Chamber of Commerce continues to be the medium through which our neighbors seek to obtain information and relief which they feel they are entitled to and which affords the or ganization unlimited pleasure in sery- ing.
 Rating Bureau
 Fms continues one Of the most inn portant auxiliaries of our organiza- ton and the system could not be im- proved upon. Investigation as to re- tail losses and bad accounts continues to be at the minimum, in fact it is so small that it is hardly noticeable. Those of our members who use the bureau have absolutely no complaint on this account. Service to New Industries V We have not only found pleasure l, m finding suitable locations for the new industries and homes for the em- pioyees, but through our system a weekly and if necessary, daily, per sonal visits to the new concerns and