The age-herald., 1897-10-12
BENRIE HOLDS ID HIS JOB
Council Declared His Place Va
 cant Wednesday Night.
RESIDES IN BIRMINGHAM
Says He Sees no Reason For the Action-Has Not Been Officially Notified, and is
 Therefore Still Chairman.

Lenox A. Bennie, who had. been made one of the park commissioners by the city council says he is still member of the park commissioners despite the fact that he was deposed by that body at the meeting held last Wednesday night
 of the commission reported to Chair man Williams, of the park committee. that MT. Bersnie had removed from the city
 The matter was brought before the council and resolution was adopted declaring the office vacant and instruct ing the committee to bring in the names of persons to be voted for to succeed MT. Bennie at the next meeting of the council
 The park commission is composed of three members, who are elected by the mayor and board of aldermen, and whose term of office is two years or until their successor has been elected. There is no salary connected with the position, it being purely an honorary office.
 The duties of the park commissioners are laid down in section 404 of article of the city code, which says: "The pub lie parks of the city shall Be under the Immediate supervision of park com mission. to be composed of three citi- Zens selected by the board, who shall, subject to the approval of the board, have authority to adopt rules and regu- lations for the parks; who shall super wise the improvements thereof, and who shall expend thereon any sum or sums of money appropriated by the board for the benefit thereof"
 The present. board is composed of L. w. Friedman, Charles Enslen, and MT. Bennie whose office has been declar; d vacant
 the new members elected by the present administration when 1t came into of flee. MT. Enslen succeeded himself.
 MT Friedman was made chairman of the commission Considerable work was done in the city parks, the council grant, ing the use of city convicts for the pur- pose.
 There was some objection raised to the use of city prisoners, and the request was made of the council for funds nec- essary for the purpose of employing free labor, which was granted.
 It is said some little misunderstand- ing occurred about approving bills, and MT. Friedman rendered his resignation as chairman and Mr. Bennie was elect ed to succeed him. At the beginning of the smallpox scare the commission were notified that no more funds were available for park purposes, consequent ly little has been done since that time.
 MT. Bennie was seen by an Age-Herald Heporter yesterday afternoon and was Emphatic in his disapproval of the ac 0on of the board
 q am still chairman of the park com mission," said he, "and have received mo official notice that my office has been declared vacant. I am stfl citizen of Birmingham. Since my marriage some months ago I have spent some time at the residenice of my mother-in-law. which is out of the city, and some time with my mother on Seventh avenue. My residence with my wife's people Is only temporary arrangement and still retain my citizenship in Birniing- ham. While the position is orlly an Honorary one, do not propose to be busted in any such manner, as a aues- ton of principle is at stake, and I can see no reason for this action.
 AS chairman of the commission I am in possession of the tools used in dm- provements and refused to give them to negro who was sent to me by MT. Enslen on the ground that no meeting of the commission had authorized the em- ployment of the negro.
 MT. Enslen has been littDe arbi- trary at times. but no real conflict has occurred between the members I hold that any action must be based upon plans approved by two members of the commission, consisting of a majority, and do not think any one man has the right to take the authority.
 ''I notice by the papers that an appro-