The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-06-05
Some Aldermen Assert They Fail
edto Hear That Part Of RepOrt
PROMINENT CITIZENS TALK
An Effort to Be Made to Have Rule
Adopted That All Petitions and
Resolutions Be Read to Board
Before ling Referred.

The mayors salary was the subject OF
much comment yesterday.
An interesting feature connected with
the action Of the mayor and board of
aldermen in raising the salary of the
mayor from $500 to $500 month at the
meeting Wednesday night is that num-
Der of aldermen said yesterday that they
did not know of the increase until they
read an account of it in The Age-Herald
yesterday morning in a report of the pro-
ceedings OF the board.
In Low Voice.
These aldermen assert that the report
of the finance committee, read by Alder
man Gray, was delivered in such low
voice, especially at intervals, that this
item of the mayors salary escaped their
notice.
The records of the clerk of the board
show that only one alderman present
voted against the report of the commit
tee, D. r. Copeland The mayor asked to
be excused from voting on the report.
A number of aldermen held an informal
conference yesterday, and from what can
be learned OF their intentions 1t is thought
they will endeavor to have rule estab-
lished that all petitions and resolutions
be read to the board in open meeting and
then referred. They claim that the reso-
luton Increasing the mayors salary, If
presented before Wednesday night went
to the finance committee when the usual
motion was made that all resolutions and
petitions be appropriately referred. They
claim that IL such was the case and the
resolution was not read, only the re-
commedation of the report OF the finance
committee showing that such resolution
had been offered, and then that as the re-
port was read in low voice. they had
no opportunity of knowing that such a
resolution was pending.
AIdermanic Opinions.
Some of the aldermen are inclined to
the belief that the salary OF a mayor
cannot be raised during his term Of Of
nee under the provisions of the constitu-
ton of the state. Those who favor the
increase assert that the salary was real.
~ raised at the beginning Of the term.
as the resolution was presented at the
meeting when the mayor was sworn into
office.
Mayor Draws Salary.
Yesterday was the monthly pay day Of
the city officials and Mayor Drennen
was given a check for $500 by the treas
urer.
Asked for his opinion on the question:
the city attorney, Ed Smith, said yes
terday:
II think the action of increasing the
salary of the mayor was legal. have
given no particular attention to the pro-
visions of the constitution In reference to
the matter.
"I do not know of any resolution to
fix the mayors salary that was introduced
prior to the adoption of the resolutin
recommended by the finance committee
last night and IL there was no such other
resolution 1t is legal and from the amount
fixed Wednesday night there cannot be
any increase during his term.
Alderman Jones.
Alderman Harry Jones said he did not
care to be interviewed, but he had no
hesitation in saying that he thought the
finance committees report was under
stood by all the members of the board.
The fact that the mayor asked to be ex-
cused from voting should have been
enough. Alderman Jones said, to call at
tention to this part of the report per-
tanning to the salary.
o'Neill's objections.
John w. oNeill, alderman from the
Second ward, said while l believe the
chief executive of a municipality the size
OF Birmingham should have a salary
commensurate with the size of the city,
and $1,000 a year is not too much, provid-
ed the city is able to pay 1t But as the
mayors report to the city council showed
that the city expended last year $4,000
more than was received, and the city Is
badly in need of an Increased police force
and other things, l do not think the raise
should have been made at tho present
time.
II am satisfied that the majority Of
those at the meeting Wednesday night
did not hear that part OF the report OF
Mr.. Gray, chairman Of the finance COM
mittee The item recommending the in
crease in the mayors salary was sand
wiched In the report OF Mr.. Gray and
parts of the report were read so low as
to be scarsely audible. and matters of
this kind generally come up under sepa-
rate reports and are discussed"
Alderman Barbour Talks.
Ben F. Barbour, alderman from the
Third ward, said: IF the recommendation
to increase the mayors salary to $500
was read at the meeting 1t was In such
way that could not hear 1t. voted for
the adoption of the entire report of the
finance committee. not knowing of the
item recommending this raise In salary.
I never knew Of the matter before and