The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-23
CITY ID ABOLISH
 THE COMMISSION Steps Taken to End System of Police Management BILLS ARE DRAWN UP Mayor Ward Says That Politics Is Worse In the Police Depart
 ment Than Ever
 Before.

If Mayer Ward and the Board of All dermen of the city of Birmingham and, perhaps, q majority of the citizens of this city, have their desire, Birmingham will have no such thing as a police com mission by the first day of January next The first step with this end in view was taken yesterday. An effort will be made at the extra session of the legislature, which Governor Jelks has announced that he will probably call for the coming fall, to abolish the Birmingham police commis- sion.
 City Attorney Ed Smith has drawn up bills repeating the present police commis- sion law, and these will be introduced at the next session of the legislature. regular or extra.
 Mayor Ward stated yesterday that im- mediate steps would be taken by the city to abolish the police commission for the reasons that the commission not only had failed to cause the conditions for which 1t was created, but that there is now moro politics in the police department than ever before, due to the existence of the police cOminlS5lOn
 Statement of Mayor.
 'T suppose everybody who pays any at tention to affairs of city government has long ago realized that our police com mission Is a superfiuity, to say the least of it." said Mayor Ward yesterday. "The City Council makes the laws, but if the police commission happens not to desire the enforcement of any city ordinance the city fathers are powerless. yet we are held responsible for good government.
 "Now, as every good citizen knows, the police commission was created primarily for the purpose of keeping the police de- partment free from politics. How woefully 1t has failed in accomplishing thls ob- ject, he who runs may read, because all can see that there Is more politics In the department now than ever before.
 'It Is understood that the city will con tend that in view of the fact that 1t ex- pends from $50,0oO to $60000 per annum In maintaining the police department. IL should have some voice in the conducting of the department.
 Birmingham population" said Mayor Ward yesterday. "is largely made up of people who come from all parts of Ala bama, and if citizens who feel an interest in the abollshment of the police commis- sion will write or In some other manner communicate with the representatives if the legislature from their old home dis tricts, making the conditions existing here known to these representatives. the latter will be enabled to go to Montgomery with their minds made up regarding the matter. This will materially aid our ef- forts to abolish the commission, and In view of recent occurrences, I believe the great majority of our citizens will agree that q police commission is not desirable here.
 "The act creating the commission is very imperfect. anyway in that 1t gives the commission no authority whatever. practically, and yet the commission stands between the City Council and the execution of the laws made by the coun- cil''
 City Attorney Ed D. Smith has been placed in charge of the campaign, which is expected to lead to the abolishment of the police commission. He has drawn up the bills to be presented at the meeting of the legislature.
 In addition to the bills are the notices that will be introduced at tfne next session of the legislature, as provided by law. The three notices. each of which com tains copy of the bill which will be in- troduced, are as follows:
 Notice.
 Notice Is hereby given that at the next session of the legislature of Alabama application will be made for the passage of the following bill:
 A BILL.
 To be entitled An act to repeal an act entitled An act to define the powers and duties of the Board of Police Commis- soncrs of Birmingham. Alabama, and to ccgulatc the police department of said city and provide for the appointment of raid commissioners. Approved February lg. 1S95.''
 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of Ala bama as follows:
 Section l. That an act entitled "an act to define the powers and duties of the police commissioners of Birmingham, Alabama, and to regulate the police de- oartment of said city and provide for he appointment of said commissioners. Approved February IS. 1885," be, and the same is hereby repealed.
 Notice.