The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-03
COUNCIL WILL
MANAGE POLICE
May Elect a New Force at the Next
Meeting.
CANDIDATES FOR CHIEF
Not Thought Mcdonald Will Offer to
Succeed Himself.
WILL ELECT CITY OFFICERS
No Opposition to Present Inonmbents,
Except in Possibly One Instance
Some Aldermen Said to be
Against Gambili
WILL ELECT CITY OFFICERS

In the course of week it is likely that
the control of the police department will
pass from the commission to the city coun-
Gil.
The city administration feels that it has
its fight already won. There appaers to be
little doubt about the passage of the COM
promise measure in the legislature. which
abolishes the present commission at once
and delegates the authority oyer the police
department to the board of aldermen until
next May, when a board of commissioners
will be elected by the people
This will place all matters pertaining TO
the force under the direct supervision of
Mayor Evans and the city council.
The city council at it's regular meeting
Wednesday night, may have to elect new
chief of police and police force
1t is customary to elect all city officers
at the first meeting in December. If the
present police commission is abolished it is
claimed that the city council will choose
the police force along with the other city
officers.
In this event the aspirants for the Of
flee of chief will have little me to marshal
their forces and enter the battle. That
there will be change in the head of the
department is not questioned. The present
chief, T. c. Mcdonald, cannot be elected by
the board of aldermen, and no one knows
this better than himself. 1t is not thought
that he will enter the race. His term
pres January l.
1spirants to Succeed Him.
The interesting question now resolves it
self into who will aspire to succeed him.
Those mentioned inv this connection are;
s. III. Norton, former chief of police, and
now a conductor ON the Louisville and
Nashville railroad; C. w. Austin, N ght
Captain Weir and Day Sergeant Donaldson,
who are both on the police force at present.
Police Commissioner John McCartin is
also mentioned as possibility. lie mas
made no dec ded announcement Tor the po-
sition, but it is we'll known that ne mas
many warm friends on the board OF alder
men who would gladly vote Tor him IL he
desires the place.
There may be some changes in the force,
but there mas not been time to discuss
them.
1t Is thought that the election OF city Of
ficers VIII De uninteresting, from the tact
that there will be no opposition to any of
them, with possibly one exception.
There may be some interesting discussion
on another point. Heretofore the terms of
the mayor and aldermen have expired on
December l. Now the administration
changes in May. In the past the auditor,
treasurer and other officers held over until
January /, to straighten up their accounts
and allow the new officers chance to have
their bonds fixed. The question now comes
as to whether, If they have the right to
hold over one month, if they should not
continue in office until new administra-
ton is elected. This point will have to be
decided by the council.
The offices to be filed are as follows:
City clerk and auditor-Now held by A. ].
Camp.
City treasurer and tax collector-Now
held by George Eustis.
City attorney-Now held by Robert j.
Lowe.
City, street and poll tax collector-Now
held by A. A. Gambill.
City engineer-Now held by Julian Ken
drick.
City sanitary inSpector-Now held by
General Thomas.
Sexton Oak Hill cemetery-Now held by
]. A. Lambert.
Sexton Red Mountin cemetery-Now held
by s. +. Cunningham.
Chief of fire department-Now held by
Thad Mullen.
About Ohicer Gambill.
The present incumbent to whom there is
some opposition is Street Tax Collector
Gambill. 1t is intimated that quite num-
Der of aldermen are against him on ac-
count of troubles that have arisen from
time to time during the year in the collec-
ton of street taxes. 1t is not known
whether the opposition has taken the form
of placing another candidate in the field.
CITY ENTERS SUIT