The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-11-05
GAMBLING WAS UP.
 FUR DISCUSSION Birmingham May Have a New
 High School ALDERMAN WARD TALKS Said That at the Time His Resolution Was Presented Gambling Was
 on the Increase In the
 City.
ALDERMAN WARD TALKS

An ordinance was reported favorably by the judiciary committee of the city coun- ell last night providing for the submis- sion to the voters of Birmingham the question of issuing bonds to the amount of $100.0O0 for the purpose of erecting a new high school building.
 Alderman Jones gave notice that he would make an amendment to the or dinance so that it would provide Tor building two other school houses which had been promised by the council to the residents near Five Points and in the eastern part of North Highlands.
 At the council meeting which was the first regular meeting of the present month there was considerable discussion over the following resolution, introduced by AL derman Gray as a member of the judi ciary committee:
 The Police Commission.
 "Whereas the police department Of the city of Birmingham is separate anu distinct part of the city government so created by the legislature of Alabama, and in no respect under the control or the board of mayor and aldermen; ana
 whereas the board of police commls- sioners are elected by the citizens or DIT mingham and are, responsible to them TOT their actions, ,sRe if resolved that the resolution or oensure of said department be respect fullv referred to the police commissioners
 ..Re if further resolved that the board of mayor and aldermen have confidence in the fidelity and integrity Of Cnie. wier and the other officials, and In the hoard of police commissioners, and believe that they will faithfully carry out all the laws which are upon the statute books"
 Laws Against Gambling
 The resolution was the result of reso- lution introduced at the former meeting of the council by Alderman Ward, charg- ing the police department and the porce commission with certain neglect Tn the enforcement of the laws against gambling and vagrancy in the city of Birmingham, which was referred to the police and sani- tation and the judiciary committees, and of another resolution introduced at the same meeting by Alderman Gray, calling upon the police commission to refute cer- tain charges made by a member Of the board of aldermen.
 When Alderman Gray read the resolu- tion to refer the whole matter to the po- lice commission Alderman Ward spoke against 1t, saying that he didn't see how the other members of the board could vote for it. Alderman Altman stated that he thought the alderman ought to be willing to put his charges in writing If he had any to make, to which Alderman Ward replied that he simply made the specific charge that at the time his resolu- tion was introduced the laws against va grancy and gambling were not being en- forced. He said that was the case at that time, whatever course was being pursued by the officers at present.
 q am not man to be run over by a majority of this board when I think l am in the right" he said. and if the members want to go into a fight with this matter I warn them right now that there may be some things brought out that they don't want brought out and which might as well be kept from the public"
  walking about the streets of Birmingham could not help but see that the number of gambling houses in the city had in creased, but that he believed Chief Wier and the commission would do their duty Alderman Altman stated that he was not at the last meeing of the council, but that if the charges as he had read them in the newspapers were true he did not think the board ought to avoid the question by referring the matter to some one else
 Wards Substitute.
 Alderman Ward moved as a substitute to the resolution to refer the matter to the police commission that the resolutions of Alderman Gray and himself made at the former meeting be referred to the po- lice and sanitation and judicial commit tees for further investigation. The sub stitute was adopted Aldermen O'Neill and Forney voting no. and Alderman Barbour passing
 Educators Invited.
 The mayor was instructed by the board