The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-06-18
IN FUTURE MR. ORENNEN
 WILL GET $500 4 MONTH
Alderman Ward Makes Speech In op- position to the Increase, But Propo- sition Is Finally Carried
 By Vote of 12 to 4.

Mayor of Birmingham will receive salary of $500 month, or ss6oO a year. His former salary was s2OO a month
 For the purpose of giving every repre- sentative of the people on the aldermanic board an opportunity to discuss the sub feet. the report of the finance committee of the board of aldermen was reeonsid- cred last night and re-adopted after full discussion and comprehensive vote.
 Though Alderman Ward made lengthy speech objecting to the increase in sal ary on the grounds that the financial condition of the city would not permit the expenditure, the report was adopted by vote of 12sto 4
 The four aldermen voting mo" were Ward O'Neill. D. R. Copeland and Coop CT. Those voting "aye" were Aldermen Wheeler, Greener Jones, Barbour, Moore. Gum. Forney Heidt, Thach, Gray, simms and stockmar
 The salary question was sprung on the call of committees and Alderman Gray opened the discussion with motion that the. report of the finance committee, adopted at the last meeting, be recon sidered. MT. Gray explained this motion by saying that from accounts in the newspapers 1t was evident that some members of the board did not understand the report at the former meeting. He said that it was not his purpose or the pur- pose of any member of the finance com mittee that anything should be hid from the board and that he wanted the entire matter taken up again.
 Argument Opened.
 After overcoming the parliamentary ob- structlons the argument was opened on MT. Gray's motion that the section of the report fixing the mayors salary at $500 month be adopted. In answer to inter- ruptions he explained that thls was not technically an increase, as the mayor s salary for the coming term had never been fixed. It is customary to fix the mayors salary at the beginning of a term, and so far this had not been done. Tn other words the committee did not propose to increase the mayors salary during his term of office, but merely de- sired to fix the salary according to law.
 MT. ONeill was the first of the opposi- ton to gain recognition, and he said his objection arose on the grounds of illegal ity and inability of the city's finances to meet the increase. He brought up the question of the constitution, a provision of which he said fixed the salaries of mayors in cities of s5,OOO people at s25O0 year.
 Ensuing colloquies brought out the fact that while the constitution says the sal ary shall be $250O 1t does not say that it shall not be more. Continuing, MT. O'Neill said that he thought $3eOO was little enough for mayor of great city like Birmingham, and that while he wanted MT. Drennen to have that amount he would have to vote against the proposi- tion on the grounds that the city could not afford it.
 Alderman Jones Satisfied.
 Alderman Jones, who had been listen ing intensly, said that his conscience was now clear, and that he would vote for the increase. In referring to remarks made by MT. ONeill and MT. Ward that they would agree 10 a salary of $250O he said that was all he wanted to know. and that he would willingly vote for the in- crease as proposed by the finance com mittee.
 MT, Ward then took the floor and began by saying that his first desire was to con form with the law. If 1t was pnconsti- tutional for the mayor of Birmingham to receive sS6OO year he was against it on laf Ia ba d not attempt to discuss the legal phase of the question, but he would vote against 1t because he thought the proposition il- legal. He then began discussion of the citys financial condition. and read ire quently from the mayors last report. "I believe the city Is drifting into a crisis, [" said MT. Ward, and If these expenditures are not cut down | cannot foretoll the result We started on the present year with a deficit of ss9, $50, and there has been steady increase of expense in every de- partment.
 While arguing from the mayors report, MT. Ward said that If the mayor would have a fixed opinion and stick to it the city would be better off.
 The mayor, who was presiding, inter rupted Mir. Ward and tartly replied that he generally stuck to what he believed was right
 MT. Ward replied that he was glad to know this and the incident was passed We can't continue to issue bonds with out bankruptcy" continued Mir. Ward, "and with not cent paid to a sinking fund l see no chance to ever lessen our $2, 000, 600 indebtedness"
 In conclusion MT. Ward said that in 1908 he would be glad to vote an increase in salary to the mayor but the mayor suggested that he might not need his as- sstance at that time. This sally created considerable merrlment
 The vote was then taken and the finance committees report adopted.
 Improvement Ordinances. r During the meeting several improve ment ordinance were passed. On motion of, Alderman Gray the assessments were made final for improving Highland avenue between Sycamore and Ellen streets.
 The following resolution was adopted:
 Be it resolved that whereas there are $95,0o0 due to the city of Birmingham for delinquent street improvements that the city treasurerb be instructed to give notice