The Mankato free press., 1923-04-20

and before the state tax commission.
In Mankato. with view Of holding
Mankato Electric Traction company,
! and were successful in this.
SKATING RINK
In order that facilities might be pro-
| tion for residents OF Mankato and for
| students attending local colleges. a
| committee from this association. with
otheys. appear before the city council
| two years ago. and were instrumental
| in having n public skating ring es-
tablished at the Van Brunt Slough
This rink proved to be immensely pop
| uiar during the past two winters.
Another committee appeared before
the council year ago last winter and
coasting during certain hours each day.
Nothing came Of the request that win
ter but it nevertheless did bear
fruit last winter when the suggestion
was carried out by the city officials.
True blockading some streets caused
some inconvenience. but then. the
youngsters must have consideration.
TRAFFIC, RATES AND SERVICE
Application was filed by the Civic
and Commerce association with the
commission asking that Chicago. ST.
Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha railroad
passenger trains Nos. 7 and 8, operat-
ing between Fairmont and the Twin
Cities, and connecting branch line
train be restored. A hearing was held
on the question at Fairmont and at
this we were represented The trains in
question were ordered restored short
while thereafter.
North Western trains No. 507 and No.
6 were restored after similar procedure.
OF course other civic-commercial or
ganizations participated in the filing
and prosecuting of these complaints.
Good railroad service in and out Of
In order that our national trans
portation system might be improved.
the association has repeatedly gone on
record favoring the Great Lakes-St
Lawrence Tidewater project. The as
ISOLATION was represented at HaTbor
Improvement conference which was
held in Duluth year ago last October.
at which time the deep water ways
proposition received impetus.
Our Traffic committee has given con-
ing an adjustment of freight rates ap-
licable to Mankato from Chicago and
points east thereof, and have come to
the conclusion that the desired relief
can only be obtained by filing a formal
complaint with the Interstate Com
plans on taking further steps on this
matter during the summer months. 1t
is big undertaking. but could the
desired adjustment be brought about.
II WopIu DC wei WoTth lhe ehoTl olla
expense.
TAXATION
II has been felt for some time that
definite steps should be taken to bring
about a reduction in taxation In Man
kato. A committee was appointed to
investigate the matter and determine,
what IL anything could be done. This
committee has been working quietly.
and has reached the conclusion that by
practicing economy and Withholding the
n NaIrs rsvxr~ - AA@A A~N
necessary at this time, some relief may
be had. Prior to the recent municipal
election. all candidates for the office
of mayor and council, were sent
questionnaire containing questions per-
tanning to matters affecting taxation,
which they were requested to answer
by our committee. This was done by
practically all candidates. all of whom
signified intentions to working along
the lines suggested. The committee
steps, and confidently expect to meet
with success in their work.
-cHAUFFUERS' EXAMINATIONS
For sometime past, it has been the
aminer to visit Mankato three or four
times year for the purpose of holding
examinations for chauffuers licenses,
but as the last legislature failed to
make an appropriation to cover the
travelling expenses of the examiner.
the examinations outside of Saint Paul
were discontinued about a year ago.
We are now communicating with the
examiner endeavering to arrange TO
have him come down to Mankato and
hold an examination for a class at the
expense, If necessary. Of the examines
in order to avoid the loss of time and
expense incidental to making a trip to
Saint Paul, the only place where the
examinations can be taken at present.
The examinations were formerally held
at the association offices and the pub
licity was also handled through that
channel.
BUSINESS CLASSIFICATION
1nasmuch as we are touching upon
some of the past activities of the asso-,
citation, perhaps it would be well to
again call attention to the classified
classification that Is an important fea-
ture of the telephone directory of the
Mankato Citizens Telephone company.
This directory came about through a
request made by the Civic and Com
merce association, and the initial draft
of dt was prepared by our staff. This
classification often found very con-
venient and is used by many with
EMPLOYMENT
During the past eighteen months or
so, the Civic and Commerce associa-
tion fas conducted a free employment
been the means of finding jobs for
many and for finding men and women
for jobs. Much good resulted from this
service during the last two winters
when work was not overly plentiful.
In thf, connection, we Nhave the CO.
operation Of the Red Cross whose Of
fees are located in the Civic and
Commerce association rooms, and also
of the J. S. Veterans Bureau. A rep
resentadve OF this bureau is granted
free use Of our offices for district head
SALVATION ARMY
We co-operated with the Salvation
Army In its campaign for it's Home
Service funds a year ago and again in
| the appeal which was made recently.
Your secretary is. secretary of the Sal
walton Army Advisory Board that has
supervision of the disbursements OF
these fuads. The Board meets month
ly.
MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS
Our membership meetings this year
have been very successful. They have
been well attended and have served
very good purpose. Including this
meeting. a total of six have been
held, four of which have been ban
ouets. Mitch credit for the success OF
| these MEETINGS is due Chairman c. X.
Mayer and his committees. The meet
| ings have been worthwhile and it is
hoped that the interest in them will be
| continued.
RESEARCH MATERIAL
Our file of research material covers
great humber Of subjects. A good
portion of the data pertaining to mat
| ters that have received attention or is
| likely to receive attention by the as
| sociation las been received from the
researchn department. of the American
| City Bure.u. New York, Newspa per-