The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-03-02
Nd THOMAS MUST
NEAR GRAY UNIFORMS
PeaTce's Sanitary Ordinance Was
Passed.
GRAY SUBSTITUTED FOR BLUE
Sanitary Policemen Must Work
Regular Hours.
AND PATROL THEIR BEATS
H. D. Wood Appointed Acting City
Clerk and Auditor Until May L
Committee Appointed to Take
Up Question of New Hall.
GRAY SUBSTITUTED FOR BLUE
AND PATROL THEIR BEATS

Up question OF new Hall.
1t will not be many days before the angu-
lar forms of Sanitary Policemen Cotton
and Thomas will appear on the streets
fitted in brand new, spanking gray uni
forms.
All this is due to the passage by the city
council last night of the Pearce ordinance
further regulating the sanitary. department.
As first drawn the ordinance contemplated
blue uniforms. General Thomas objected
to the blue, but said he would be satisfied
to wear a gray uniform, and so it was that
the judiciary committee recommended the
change in colors.
DR.. Cotton was present at the meeting
and told the board that he would not wear
a uniform. He thought an insignia of office
to be worn on the lapel of the coat was
sufficient Notwithstanding this the board
passed the ordinance, which requires the
policemen of the sanitary department to
wear uniforms, to work regular hours and
to patrol certain beats daily. The territory
is divided into north and south side. The
two officers will decide this phase of the
question by drawing straws.. The salary
was fixed at $40 per month each.
The council accepted the resignation of
A. j. Camp as city auditor and passed
resolution complimenting him on his eff
cient services. The matter of appointing
his successor to serve until May was left
with the mayor. Immediately after the ad-
journment of the board Mayor Evans APP
II n ole 4
auditor until May l.
Mayor Evans presented his plan for the
building of a new city hall to the board,
and committee was appointed as follows
to investigate and report back: Aldermen
Gray, Kerr, Wheeler, RAINBOW and Hent-
schel. e.4.t 81 -.-.s
The Routine business
Those present were Aldermen Lynagh
Wheeler, Parker (T L., RAINBOW, Kerr,
Mcknight, Meighan, Moore, Williams, Ora
ham, Hamilton, Pearce, Harrington and
Hentschel.
After reading of the minutes of several
meetings past, Mayor Evans read a COM
munication to the board notifying it of
Mr.. Camps resignation, and presenting his
scheme for the building of new city hall
The mayor notified the board that tho
New England League of Newspaper Core
spondents would shortly visit the south to
write up the different points of interest.
A resolution was passed inviting the news
paper men to visit Birmingham. The fol-
lowing committee was appointed to receive
them: T. L. Parker, j. l.. Parker, Mel
Drennen, w. ]. Pearce and II. b. Gray.
The reports of officers were then received
as follows Cemetery, $105; City Tax and
License Collector Gambill, Sis, 475.50; Chief
of Fire Department Mullen, $11.5O; market
clerk, $40950; tax collector, s., S10.6S; inferior
criminal court, 1898. 70,
The finance committee reported the usual
bills.
The judiciary committee reported favor
ably the ordinance introduced by Alderman
Pearce further regulating sanitary officers.
One amendment was made changing the
color of the uniform to be worn from blue
to gray.
DR.. Gotten was present and was invited
to say what he thought of the ordinance.
Mucn Misrepresentation
DIR. Gotten said that there had been
great deal of misconception about this mat
ter. He had been submitted to a great deal
of humiliation because of certain unjust
criticism that had been INDUCED in here.
He did not think it necessary for sani-
tary officer to wear uniform. A sanitary
officer was not a policeman. He had no
civic or criminal authority. The question
of hygiene and sanitation was one for
study A uniform or sunfiower on
mans coat would not make him absorb
sanitation.
This city had certain conditions to con-
tend with that were not found anywhere
else. There was a sthriftless class of me-
groes that were totally irresponsible.
DR.. Gotten said that he was sorry to say
that there was jealousy among certain
members of the board in regard to the
physicians. The physicians did not want
to control the sanitary department. They
merely exercised the right to appoint
sanitary officer they thought competent.
He wanted the members of the board to as
sist him. When they heard of complaint
they should come to him and not go to
the newspapers.
No Scientific System
"What system have you for inspecting
the CITY," asked Alderman Pearce.
DR.. Gotten explained that there was none
except that of going about to see the con-
dition of things. The past month had been
a hard one. There had been heavy rains,
sheets and SHOWS and he had been trying
TO palliate things. He could not make peo-
pie unstop frozen pipes.
.'What objection have you to the ordi-
nance?" inquired Alderman Pearce.
"There Is no need of stating hours and
there is no need of wearing uniform
Something on the lapel of the coat is suf-
fcient. There is no necessity of wearing a
uniform and 1 am not going to wear one
A mans pride would force him to do his