The age-herald., 1902-01-31
DRENNEN PLEASED WITH MEETING ON
 CONSOLIDATION Mayor Believes Good Results Will Come of the
 Conference
COMMITTEE NOT NAMED
MT. Drennen Will Proceed Cautiously In the Matter-Legislature Has Power to Annex Suburbs
 Without Consent.

Mayor Drennen expressed himself yes- terday as pleased with the result of the Greater Birmingham meeting Wednesday night.
 "I believe the majority of the people of the suburbs really want to come in, he said. If they can obtain satisfactory terms.
 ''The fact that a committee was author ized to take up the matter and arrange the details of the consolidation shows the interest that is taken in the subject. I have not appointed this committee yet and 1t will probably be some time before l make a selection. I am making haste ing the names of those who will probably be appointed on the committee. The date of the meeting of this new committee has of course not yet been fixed and it may not meet for some time to come,
 With Prearranged Bond Issue.
 q am inclined to think from the dis cussion last night that if some arrange ment could be made with the suburban towns to annex them at a time In the future, say two or three years, and in the meantime let them issue a reasonable amount of bonds for public Improvements with the understanding that when they do come into Birmingham the city Is to assume this debt and pay the bonds that this arrangement would be to the advant- age of all concerned.
 This is one of the matters, however, that the committee Is to take up. It will be composed of the best men that can be obtained and they will have charge of the entire matter. It is probable that many informal conferences will have to be held between the representative of Birmingham and the representatives of each suburban town before general meeting of the whole committee takes place. For instance Ensley and Pratt Oity are not vitaly concerned as to the annexation of East Lake and Avondale nor the amount of their territory These matters will have to be discussed between the representatives of those places, and similarly the amount of territory to be taken in with Ensley and Pratt City will have to be discussed with their represen- tatives. These informal conferences will have to be held with representatives of each town and when the terms of annex ation are agreed on then general meet ing of the entire committed can be held to discuss the matter in all it's phases. This committee can then make report 4~ +,,o Graatar I2irt,,ip0 0t m coufniffPe
 ''Of course the committee may decide to proceed differently" concluded the Mayor, this is only my idea of the way the work will have to be carried on."
 Can Be Done Without Consent.
 As to the legal status of the ques- tion it Is said that the legislature has the power to pass an act consolidating all the suburbs with Birmingham without consulting their wishes. It will not be the policy of Birmingham, however, to take in any suburb which does not wish to come in voluntarily unless it should be unreasonable in it's opposition. For instance if East Lake and Woodlawn wanted to come in and Avondale, which lies between them and the city should
  effort to have it annexed along with the other two places.
 The legislature while it has the power to pass a bill taking in the suburbs 1t will not do so without their consent as State Senator Hugh Morrow Is bound by the instructions given him at the last county convention to oppose any Dill seeking to annex suburb without sub hitting the question to a popular vote of the people proposed to be annexed. If such a bill is opposed by Senator Mor- row senatorial courtesy" in the senate will prevent it being passed as the sem ate will not pass any bill opposed by the senator from the district to be affect ed.
 Senator Morrow. personally is in favor of a Greater Birmingham but in his re- presentative capacity he is bound by his instructions.