The age-herald., 1899-01-22
NED BRACES
 SUNDAY CHAT

I am glad to see that the mayoraIty cons test is being conducted on high plane. In another column of this issue is a card signed Box Ballard" It was written by a we'll known banker of this city-a man of good old horse sense He is right when he says that the office of mayor of Birmingham should be purely an executive office who- ever the mayor is, he should enforce to the letter the laws and ordinances of the city.
 Birmingham needs a new charter. In that charter the city should be given power to regulate itself, and all public and quasi public corporations and concerns. The United States government as well as the state and municipal governments of this country, are governments of and by the peo- pie. The people usually right Every concern of whatever nature doing business in city is entitled to legitimate profits, and honest citizens never seek to prevent such.
 The new city charter should make the mayors office an executive office purely. The mayor should not be part or parcel of the board of aldermen. The board should select its own chairman. The mayor should be separate and distinct, having the veto power. The board of aldermen should have the power of passing a measure over the mayors veto by two-thirds majority of said board
 My opinion is that Birmingham should have dollar-gas, and that Birmingham should own it's own water works system. The present water supply of this city should be bought, owned and operated by the city, provided however, that the same could be bought at a reasonable price. Bonds, guar anteed by the revenues from the water sup ply could be issued to pay for the same. If the city officials and the water works officials can't agree upon a price, then the city should look to the building of another water supply system. I see no reason, how ever why sensible men can't agree upon sensible things
 During the past week, the agitation of the dispensary question has caused 1t to become an issue of importance. Senator MoodyS recent speech in Birmingham created a tre- mendous stir in this community. The preachers have been preaching on the sub- ject, and many people have been discussing it. I am glad to see that the discussion up to date, has been dignified and argumenta- tive. There are good features and bad feat ures to the dispensary system. Able men advocate saloons and able men advocate dispensaries. A healthy discussion of this matter can do no harm to any one. Petit tions are being gotten up on both sides. Petitions amount to nothing. large per- centage of men will sign almost any req sonable petition presented to them. I know men in town who have signed petitions on both sides of this question. Let the mat ter be discussed. Every one is entitled to an expression of his views.
 Speaking of dispensaries, reminds me of Senator Ben Tilman, of South Carolina. Ben Tillman was the author of the South Carolina dispensary bill It was not origi- nal with him, however. He borrowed it from some of the good citizens of Athens, Ga. The first dispensary system in this country was adopted and enforced in Athens, Ga., some ten years ago. Athens is a college town, and it was claimed by some that the dispensary system prevented temptation being placed before the college boys. On the other hand, have heard it said that there has been more drinking among the college boys since the dispensary was established. However this may be- Athens originated the dispensary system Ben Tillman adopted it for the state of South Carolina, and there is bare possi- bility that Alabama may follow in South Carolinas wake.
 Tillman is however not a prohibitionist He takes drink when he wants it. But he doesn't drink to excess.
 Perhaps Ben Tillman's rise in life more rapid than that of any living Ameri- can citizen. He jumped from the plough handles to the executive mansion of South Carolina, and from that to the United States senate I regret to see that he still indulges in language more expressive than elegant, as was observed by those who read his remarks the Nicaragua canal bill yesterday.
 Tillman is the seventh son of an eleventh child, and I once heard an old negro, who has been in the Tilman family for seventy years state that this fact was the cause of his extreme luck in life. "Come seben; come eben," in the language of the old negro wins in craps and in everything else.
 
 I see Senator Bate has been reelected to the senate from Tennessee. Senator Bate is said to be the only member of the United States senate who don't smoke. He is, how ever, rarely seen without an unlighted cigar in his mouth- I once asked him why he never lighted his cigar. In response he told me the story. It was in the battle of Shiloh. He was astride his horse a knoll over looking the battle, when his brother, who was on his staff, rode up to him. At the instant General Bate was about to light a cigar. He struck match on the pommel of his saddle and was just touching it to the end of his cigar when a cannon ball passed, taking his brothers head off and extin- guishng the match. From that day to this. Senator Bate has never lighted q cigar.