The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1904-07-11
OF the council than 81 y Ct

tions of the Council than not - Get
them at all"
nThe bonds having been authorized,
the Council proceeded to dispose of the
proceeds. The suburbanites. had no
voice and no representative who had a
voice in saying where the school houses
should be located; where the fire sta
tions should be built and what prices
should be paid for the work. The work
was to be done in the suburbs and for
the benefits of the suburbanites. but
they had absolutely no consideration In
the important matter. The Jobs,
should have said contracts, were given
out by the city government
special committee was appointed
to redistrict the wards Of the city on
Nov %, 1908. Do you know that No
vember Committee did not not report
until the heated days of June? In the
meanwhile the Council was spending
the s350,000 bond issue as fast as 1t
could and the suburbs were with their
fingers in their mouths watching the
money 20 out"
And that report, why It was enough
to shock even the courcil The .reve-
lations concerning the deliberations Of
that committee were startling to say
the least. Every member OF that COM
mittee on the floor OF the Council
stated that the wards were arranged
with reference to the wish OF the al
derman interested except when the
interest of some of the Aldermen
clashed An Alderman had only to
to say what he wanted for his ward
and he got It unless 1t confcted with
the interest of another Alderman.
So far as the debate showed what the
people wanted was not considered
by the committee. I don't suppose In
the history of the Council any COM
mittee ever made the frank revelations
that committee made"
And what did the committee do for
the suburbs? 1t gave the suburbs
the usual marble heart and horse
laugh. ignoring the fact that the
territory of the city was nearly doub-
led by the Greater Montgomery Act
the committee created only one new
ward. And in creating that ward IT
did not interfere In the least with
the other wards which were regarded
by the Alderman as their private pc
serves. And all the Aldermen had
| large slices OF the new territory adj
| ded to their wards"
Observe, too, that the committee
| made no provisions for the election
| of the new members of the Council
| from the new ward. 1t was the full
purpose of the committee that the
| Council should itself elect the two new
| Councilmen. Under the city charter
| all vacancies in the Council are filled
| by election by the 4A.dermen, but the
| committee in it's report failed to pro-
| vide for any primary plan by which
| the provision of the charter could be
| complied with and the new Alderman
| could be selected by the voters"
Now / ask. has our treatment been
| fair? Has 1T been JUST"
The only answer that the members
| of the city government make 10 70
we'll you have not paid any taxes
yet mo, no taxes have been paid
but every piece of property in the
suburbs, has been placed on the city's
tax book. The taxes on this property
have been accumulated since the first
of October and there Is no way giver
to man by which the payment of the
taxes can be avoided"
But then we are better of than the
West End and North Montgomery
fellows. The Council has In effec'
said to us. You are not yet ready fol
self government, but In time you will
develop up to that state where W.
can trust you with the ballot" Th'
Council has refused to give the othel
fellows any ward at all. They hav,
no further governmental prospects. Il
II possible that the Council consider
ed that they would not develop up Il
the full standard of Montgomery vo
tiers.
and say, do you think Mayor Car
Is going to sign that redistricting Or
| dinance?"