The age-herald., 1899-05-04
Former Executive Presented Ex- ceIIent Report on City Finances
DRENNEN MAKES SUGGESTIONS
Gambling Vice Has Come to Point Where It Must Stop, and Indi- cates That Law Will Hereaf-
 ter be Rigidly Enforced

Mayor Walter M. Drennen and the newly elected members of the board of aldermen were inducted into office last night in the presence of a number of citizens who sembled in the council chamber at the city hall to witness the cermonies incident to a change of administration.
 Retiring Mayor Frank V. Evans, in calling the old board together for the last time took occasion to thank the members for the courtesies shown him during his oc- cupancy of the office of chief executive of the city, which he referred to most feel ingly. He reviewed the work of his ad- ministration and complimented each mem- Der on the record which the board would leave behind it. He said:
 Mr. Evans Farewell Address
 After administering the municipal af fairs of Birmingham for term of twenty nine months, the hour for our final ad- journment has arrived. Our record is made, and cannot be changed one jot or one little.
 "As the chief executive and presid-
 ing officer of this administration, I
 gladly commit this record into the
 hands of a fair and intelligent public
 for a just verdict. For the opinion of
 an ignorant, narrow and biased faction
 I care nothing. That some errors have
 
 you have intelligently, public spiritedly,
 progressively, economically, honestly
 and successfully administered the af-
 fairs of the city do declare and pro-
 claim.
 "It would be unjust to you and to the waiting assembly here, if I should consume your time in reviewing the great work you have accomplished during your term of of- flee, and I shall not attempt to do so. only refer to the record, which tells in tones louder than 1 can speak that with limited means you have kept your city government abreast with the public spirit of the people; that you have not borrowed one dollar; that your floating debt is much less than it was two years ago; that you have faithfully kept every promise and full filled every obligation to your creditors and to the people; that each year you have, without borrowing money, paid every demand made upon you, and con structed more public improvements than was ever done in the city, without the use of public credit; that when pestilence threatened the home-fresides of the people you sought and found relief from the na- tional government and in opposition to a professional and political sentiment you steadfastly plead for this relief for an alarmed people and a meagre treasury, and brought money and skill, not only to your own city but to the people of Jefferson county-all in response to your call, and brought with it sunshine and happiness, peace and protection. That when threat ened, as your city was, with absolute bank ruptcy you wisely submitted to the people proposed amendment to the constitution of the state, whereby you should be enabled to better meet your obligations rebuild your credit and maintain your public honor; and under your wise call, the relief has been afforded by the adoption of the amendment. And today you behold the light of deiveranee from the threatening calamity.
 [ Your administration has so greatly
 distinguished itself as a friend to free
 education, that I need not refer to the
 present splendid condition of your public
 schools.
 And now gentlemen, before our final ad- ournment, let me personally thank you for the uniform courtesy you have exercised toward me as your presiding officer; for the faithful manner in which you have up- held my hands in my every effort for the welfare of the city. If there have been . thorns along the pathway of my official course, there have been roses, too, sweet blooming, ever-living roses-roses cultivated by your kindly consideration for me- and the aroma of these shall ever finger with me. and I trust and believe will prove an inspiration for all of my future life, while the thorns shall perish, die and be for gotten"
 Alderman Hentschel, who is succeeded as a member of the board from the Ninth ward by SyT Daly, also took occasion to briefly express his apprecition of the mu- tual good spirit which he had always found among members of the board, and in re- tiring wished each success through life. After disposing of routine business Mayor Evans called upon MT. Drennen and the newly elected members of the board to come forward to take the oath of office Oath Administered to Drennen MT. Drennen, who occupied his seat as alderman from the Fifth ward, stepped forward and was followed by the nine members of the board who were elected on Monday last. The oath was administer ed by Mayor Evans, who then called upon the retiring members to escort their suc- cessors to the seats they would occupy. Aldermen Wheeler Kerr, Moore and Gra- ham were their own escorts under these instructions, having been reelected.
 MT. Parker, from the Second ward, gave way to Alderman George B. Ward; MT Hamilton, from the Seventh ward, to AL derman c. c. Heidt MT. Parker, of the Eighth ward, to Alderman Harry Jones; MT. Hentschel of the Ninth ward, to AL derman Syl Daily, while R. P. McAnnally succeeds Mayor Drennen as alderman from the Fifth ward.
 After the aldermen had all been seated. Retiring Mayor Evans escorted his sue cessor to the mayors desk, and in turning over the office to him said:
 MAYOR DRENNEN:-Accept from me this gavel-an emblem of the office you are now to assume. Without re- luctance, yea, gladly do I commit to
 you the trust in the name of the peo- pie who have chosen you as their chief executive. The position is not without