The age-herald., 1900-02-09
THE MAYOR STRUCK 4 POPULAR CHORD Many Citizens Favor Municipal
 Ownership. THEY EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS. Recommendations in Annual Message on Light and Water Plants Hearti-
 ly Endorsed-Should Be
 Taken Up at Once
THEY EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS.

nual message d TeCOulIn4nudtIOH ldNOIIuS
 municipal ownership of such public utf1
 ties as water works and lighting plants.
 The mayors recommendation in that direc-
 tion met with very general favor with the
 Birmingham public, as is indicated by
 the interviews published below.
 An effort was made by The Age.F1eraid
 yesterday to ascertain so far possi-
 be the sentiment of the business men and property owners of the city with reference
 to municipal ownership. large number of those seen by the reporters had not
 given the matter much thought and were,
 therefore, not in position to express opin-
 ions one way or the toher.
 From expressions of those who had
 studied the question it appears that the
 large majority favor city ownership with
 the provision that such utilities be as far
 removed possible from politics, other
 wise they fear the building up of polit-
 cal machine that would injure the city in
 stead of benefiting il. Some of those in- terviewed advocate the adoption of civil
 service system in the event the city under
 takes to purchase or build water works or
 lighting plants.
 A number of the property owners are in
 favor of the present administration mak-
 ing a thorough investigation of the ques-
 ton and af the board is then satisfied that
 municipal ownership would be best for the
 city, its submission to a popular vote.
 The following interviews are among
 those obtained yesterday:
 CEIIEF OF POLICE AUSTIN-Those are
 my sentiments exactly. am very much
 in favor of that very recommendation
 which Mayor Drennen has made.
 JAMES BoWRoN, vice president of Ten nessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company If the business affairs of the city could be
 managed from non-partisan standpoint,
 I would favor municipal ownership of the
 fwatenworks and lighting plant; that is, if good men could be placed the board
 without reference to their political af- ilfations
 EMIL LESSER, manager of the Metro | politan hotel--I believe the mayors recom- mendation is a step in the right direction. | There is some fear that municipal owner ship of the waterworks and light plants
 would increase the number of officeholders, and thus give tthe administration addi- tienal power but that can be overcome by
 the introduction of the civil service system,
 as is done in other cities
 GEN. E. w. FUCKER, president of the Alabama National bank-I think the city should own the water and light plants if it is able to pay for them.
 w. N. MALONE, real estate and insur- ance agent-I am in favor of municipal ownership of waterworks and lighting plants. The revenues derived therefrom would, in my opinion, pay interest on the | outstanding bonds of the city, and also on the bonds that it would take to construct such plants.
 B. STEINER, of Steiner Bros, bankers The report of Mayor Drennen is strong
 document. It@sGhows clearly that the policy of the administration is wise and conserva-
 tive, and its business conducted along
 sound lines. The mayor is entitled to great
 credit for his dilgent research into the
 matters of the different city departments.
 His views are sound, and agree with him.
 As to municipal ownership of water and light properties, as rule, it has been found wise and advantageous by the mu- nicpalities that have followed this course, and with the e-establishment of our public credit, the accomplishment of this result is now practical.
 JOHN J. MOORE. City ownership is the
 thing. The principle is right and munich pal ownership scheme could be financed. It is certainly feasible.
 s. H. BARRON-I am certainly in favor of city ownership. The principle is certain ly right. The question then arises Is the matter feasible? I think it is. Even if the citizens had to pay small tax on the maintenance of water and light plants, l this tax would prove decidedly economical in the end.
 | M. V. JOSEPH-I have been too busy to l read the message. I prefer to express my l self later. after having read it. | H. H. SINNIGE-I am in favor of municip- al ownership of water and lighting first, last E and all the time. It is absolutely right. Mayor Drennen's position is a feather in his | cap. His message rebounds to- his credit and bis advocacy of the principle of city ownership of the public utilities referred | to Is heartily approved by the people, no | doubt
 | ADOLPH HIRSCH-T am in favor of. the | city owning it's light and water plants Such ownership would prove Very popular. BERT. JACOBS-I am heartily in favor of t the principle of municipal ownership of light I and water plants, and hope to, see the t principle applied here in Birmingham, But II if 1t is done care should be taken to keep ' r these departments out of politics. They | should be under commissions composed of representative citizens who would see that | they were conducted on business principles. D. J. FOX-I am decidedly in favor of the city of Birmingham owning the water | works. have record on that line. When J was mayor in 1894 I labored to bring about the purchase of the water plant. I bar gained for the works at what was regarded
 as reasonable price then-$1. 900 in per cent. city bonds But men who at first
 favored the purchase changed over to the
 other side, and the scheme failed. Private parties afterwards paid over a million and
 quarter dollars in cash for the plant. The city made a mistake in not buying the wa-
 ter works in 1894 City ownership Is the
 thing.
 w. D. wILSON-The principle of city ownership is all right. believe in the prin-