The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-01-12
MAYOR ADMITS CITIZENS
OPPOSE THE MEASURE
Atlanta Reserves Right to Prohibit
Use of Sidewalk Space-Mont-
eomery Only Allows One
and Half Feet.

the Board of Aldermen to be present at
the regular meeting Wednesday night to
present their petitions asking for the abol-
ishm ent of the nuisance. This invitation
has been accepted by Mr.. Estes, chairman
of the committee and the matter will be
thoroughly explained to the council.
Since investigation of the question has
been in progress sentiment against the
continuance of the stands has become
more general 1t is believed many of the
members of the aldermanic board have
changed their opinions and that ma
jority will vote for the removal of the
stands
As more and more light is thrown upon
the question, and the people speak out
more freely the fancied majority of citi-
zens favoring the stands, as seen in the
mind's-eye of some members of the board
has dwndled to almost nothing.
Mayor Changes Opinion.
Mayor Drennen, who asserted recently
that a majority of Birmingham's citizens
|
change his opinion, and to admit such Is
not the case. L.
The contest for signatures to petitions
on both sides goes merrily on. Each side
claims to have no trouble in securing
signers among prominent business men.
The number of names attached TO the
! fruit dealers petitions can not be obtain
| ed, but the number attached to the Com
mercial Club petitions is more than 600,
and each day the lists receive many addi-
tons.
1.-THE majority of people l have been
able to see are, find, opposed to the
fruit stands using the sidewalks" said
Mayor Drennen yesterday. This express
sion of the Mayor is a good index of the
public pulse as he is in touch with many
people In all lines of business
Il have here a letter. continued the
Mayor 'in answer to one | wrote Mayor
Minis of Atlanta, asking how fruit stands
were regulated there. He says that the
merchants are allowed two feet of the
sidewalk subject to police supervision
that Is the police have the authority to
order any merchant not to use any part
of the sidewalk. Atlanta charges no rent
for sidewalk privileges. but the fruit
business has q license tax of $40 In
Montgomery the merchants are allowed
one and a half feet and are charged a
business license"
These are the only replies the Mayor
has yet received from other Mayors.
Heidi Opposed to Stands.
Alderman c.. @. Heidi is opposed to al
lowing the fruit stands to remain open
on Sunday. He said:
Il do not see any reason why the fruit
stands should have special privileges not
allowed to others. The saloons are re-
quired to be closed up Sundays, and the
city stations policemen to watch them and
arrest any person buying or selling a
4 drink. There is not a grocery store in
the city which would dare keep open on
u Sunday, nor would 1 dare to sell lump
l of coal on that day.
| yet every fruit stand in the city is
kept open all day Sunday, and canned
I.goods and other groceries can be bought
at them.
.There are some things which are mat
tiers of necessity. and have to be sold on
Sunday such as Ice. In our climate in
summer people will be made sick drinking
warm water and many poor people can
not afford refrigerators and are unable
/ to buy a supply of ice on Saturday
which will last until Monday. and 1t is
therefore very proper to allow ice sold
/
ON Sunday.
mo such excuse exists for the fruit
dealers. Their candies and chewing
| gums are not necessities and their stock
will keep over one day without much
injury. In fact only the fruit might be
injured and comparatively little is car
ried over from Saturday night"
rs Signatures to Petition.
Signatures to the petitions of the Com
mercial club reported yesterday are as
follows:
W. M. Gibbs, T. M. Allen, Jr., George
Griffin, H. H. Wiies, J. T. Jennings. P. H.
Harris, w. D. Gresham, ]. ii. Harrison,
C. o. Locke, III. S. Hall, R. H. Walker,
A. w. Miller, E. H. Rogers, E. P. Quigley,
c. r. Trousdale, Haskins Williams, o.
e. Smith, T. @. Bush. Edward West r.
;. j. williams, J. H. Scruggs, John G. Smith,
1 A. Peterson, George Eubank, G. M.
4 Braune, T. n. Anglin, ]. w. Mcconnell.
i j. NJ. Cartwright A w. Williams, High
j land Pharmacy, j. d. Kirkpatrick, j. c.
i Tomlin, ]. C. Lacoste, j. K. McWilliams.
4 C. F. Dodson. T. II. johnson, w. K Nc
i Adory, ]. w. Smart, o. w. Street. Louis
! Euler. II. NJ Stapeton. s. M. Ullman, j.
| f. Frazier, g. NJ. Latham, R. "A. Wade.
! j. S. Fletcher, Jr R. p Wetwore. VIM.
! E Fort. James Carter Cooke, James l..
| Tanner George W. Mills, A. H. Apperson,
/ Guy c. Hamilton, r. Mcconnell, C. L.
4 Tucker. f. E. Carroll. C. r. Mcintyre,
\ f. E. Matthews. r. F. Black, J. r.
/ Clark. E. C. Smith. ]. w. Smith.