The age-herald., 1901-05-16
MRS. M'NNLEY CRITICALLY ILL
 AND PRESIDENT ABANDONS TRIP
HOT ARGUMENT BETWEEN ALTMAN AND HENSON
 AT COUNCIL MEETING

Quite an unexpected stir relieved the monotony of the meeting of the Board of Aldermen last night and it was caused by the appearance of Robert Jemison, president of the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power Company, at the time of the report of the judiciary and street railway committees on the application for franchises on the part of the Metropoli- tan Street Railway Company.
 The report of the committee was filed and was about to be read when MT. Jem- ison walked to the outer railing and ask ed to be allowed to make a statement to the Aldermen before the report was ac- cepted or any action taken with regards to it's contents. This privilege was grant ed MT. Jemison. and he at once asked that the Board of Aldermen allow him or a representative of his company, which he stated was composed of citizens who had been foremost in every good and in- dustrial movement, to go before the com mittee and present some facts regarding street railways before any action was taken with respect to the present peti- tion. He said:
 Mir. Jemison's Statement.
 T want to tell you something of the past history of street railways in this city Also I want to present few mat ters that are of private nature. I would not like to bring to the attention of any competitor--and one of the members of the Board of Aldermen is a competitor. being a member of the Metropolitan cor poration that is now asking you to grant franchise, for which I am informed you might be able to secure a larger amount than offered by his company.
 T have attended a number of meetings of the board since this application for a franchise was made, but have never heard it mentioned before. And we would like to be heard before action Is taken.
 Our company is composed of gentle men who have lost large sums of money in Birmingham railways, citizens of this city who have devoted much of their time to building up the present excellent street, railroad system. men who have lost thousands and thousands of dollars for the citys good. Why, one of Birming- hams best and most noble citizens has lost more than one hundred thousand dollars in the enterprise and he should be heard before another company IS put in the field. I repeat our company Is com posed of men who have been foremost in every good and industrial action for the benefit of Birmingham, and gentle men, is it right and fittingly proper that these citizens should be given a chance to present their side of this question to you?
 Gentlemen, while I do not wish to criticise the action of any one. l have been told that the committee which has been Investigating this application has been offered more-but will not tell pri- vate facts to my competitors Nor did I wish in any way to embarrass any mem Der of the committee or board I ask that you refer the question to a new com mittee or to the same committee and all low us an opportunity to be heard on the question"
 Will Fight to the Last.
 The action of MT. Jemison. the presi- dent of the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power Company, in beginning the fight on the grant of the Metropolitan came very much as surprise to a num- Der of the Aldermen, for 1t was not thought the company would make any at tempt in the Aldermanic board to keep the other company out of the field. But, according to MT. Jemson. his appearance