Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-01-19
THAT POLICE. COMMISSION
Acted Upon by the City Execu-
tive Committee.
= -.
THE REPEAL RECOMMENDED
Vacancies causedby the Suspension of higgins
/. 5 and hfnerF1iIed by the Election of W.
-, A. Wright and Michael Mury

The democratic executive committee
met yesterday afternoon at O'Clock in
the city hall.
The meeting was called to order by
Chairman j. H. Montgomery, and on the
call of the roll the following members Of
the committee answered to their names:
j. III. Montgomery, chairman; d. l..
Brannon, DR.. w. H. Wilder, L. K. Stein
er, w. l.. Howard, w. H. Cutliff, j., d.
Elliott, Gen. GIL. Thomas, c. c. john
son, c. F. sDouthitt, H. Unrath, G. B.
Burkhaters and r. ]. Lowe, proxy for
Judge Coleman.
When the secretary completed the CALI
ing of the roll. Chairman Montgomery
Slated that the first thing in ORDER was
the election of committeeman from wards
one and nine, to succeed M. j. higgins
and H. Turner, respectively. =.
Mr.. Lowe moved the election OF Mr. W.
A. Wright to succeed Mr.. higgins in the
First ward
Committeeman Cutllff arose to a point
of information, and asked whether or not
the committeeman had resigned or what
charge had been preferred against sthem.s
The chairman stated that at a previous
meeting of the committee the said COM
mitteemen had been suspended on the
charge of aiding Mr.. Enslen as against
Mr.. Evans, the democratic nominee for
mayor and also for actively engaging in
an effort 10 defeat the democratic ticket
Committeeman Cutliff said he was not
present at the meeting and only asked
for information that he might vote intel
ligently.
The motion was put and Mr.. Wright
was unanimously elected as committee
man from the First ward.
Mr. Burkhalter moved the election of
Mr.. Michael hurry to succeed Mr. II.
Turner of Ward Nine. There being no
discussion the motion was put and Mr..
hurry unanimously elected
On motion Of Mr.. Burkhalter the COM
mittee went into executive session.
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
DR.. Wilder offered the following resolu-
lions:
Whereas, The laws creating and reg
nlating the board of police commission
ers for the city of Birmingham ignore
the principle of local government,
and, sa
whereas, The said laws in their opera
tion have been the prolific cause of dis
cord and contention In our midst.
Therefore, be 1t resolved, That said
laws are undemocratic in principle and
vexatious in operation and that the same
ought to be repealed.
Be it further resolved, That the board
of mayor and aldermen be and they are
hereby requested to urge the general
assembly to repeal the same.
Mr.. Lowe spoke in support of the reso-
luton. He said he had always opposed
the manner of selecting the police COM
missioners. Not that he had any oppo-
sition to offer as to the personnel of the
gentlemen who compose the commits
sion, but has always favored local self
government. He thought 1t right and
democratic for every state, every county,
every beat every community and every
household to regulate it's own affairs
The present law places the appointment
of the police commissioners in the hands
of the Governor. He believed the city of
Birmingham as fully capable of attend
ing to her own local affairs as any city
or community in the state. That the
system of appointment is contrary to
democratic usage and democratic prece-
dent That the city has no fire commits
sion and it Is acknowledged that the fire
department Is superior to any in the
south and equal to any in America.
The police commission" continued Mr.,
Lowe, possesses a power that Is con-
trary to all right and justice. While
this power may not have been exercised
to its limit, the commission possesses 1t
just the same. I have no objection 20 the
commission. but think it ought to come
under the Jurisdiction of the city and
with restrictions. The city ought to at
least have voice in saying what their
police department shall cost, AS it is they
have no voice except to pay just what
the police commission may say. Those
who collect the taxes and are responsible
for the expenditure OF the city's finances
ought at least to have voice as to how
1t shall be expended"
Committeeman Johnson favored the
resolution and said he was democrat
out of the whole cloth and thought the
city ought to be able to take care of her
own affairs without appealing to the
Governor for assistance
Committeeman Cutliff said he favored
a police commission, but also favored To-
cal self government, and thought the
commission ought to be either elected by
the people or appointed by the mayor and
aldermen
The question was called on the aadop-
tion Of the resolution as offered, and
unanimously carried. a6es
There being no further business the
committee adjourned, subject to the call
of the chairs