The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-07-13
COMMISSIONS ACT
WIDELY DISCUSSED
Ward-phillips Matter Has Prob
ably Not Ended
MAYOR SAYS BUT LITTLE
Rumored In City Hall Circles That
Attention of CITY Council May
Be Called to Recent Action
of Police Commission.
MAYOR SAYS BUT LITTLE

The action of the Police Commission in
refusing to enter into an investigation of
the charges preferred by Mayor Ward
against Commissioner Phillips was the
subject of much talk yesterday
The public is wondering if Mayor Ward
Intends to take the charges into the
courts where the defense has promised
not to plead lack of Jurisdiction.
The Mayor and City Attorney Smith
both refuse to make statements regarding
what action they will take in the matter.
From a good source it is learned how
ever, that the Mayor will push the
If necessary. He and City Attorney
Smith will reach a decision in the mat
ter within the next day or so.
The specific charge against the COM
missioner was that he intiIndated
members of the police force at the "RabS
bit Foot saloon on Morris avenue and
Twenty-fourth street, in which the COM
missioner has an interest.
Tuesday Nights Action.
The commission at a meeting Tuesday
night declined to enter into an investga-
ton of the matter, claiming that it did
not have the right to investigate the ac-
ton of any member of the commission.
The vote stood to against an investi-
cation.
The charges still stand against the COM
missioner The refusal to investigate the
charges does not dispose of them and
they will stand against the commissioner
until the Police Commission either dis
misses them or takes some definite ac-
ton.
AS to City Council.
The matter may find its way into the
City Council formally at the next regu-
lar meeting of the body which will be
held next Wednesday night. There is a
persistent rumor to this effect around
city hall circles. Heretofore all of the
members of the City Council. with the
exception OF the Mayor. who is the presid-
ing officer have kept hands eff, so far
as the public knows. 1t is said, however.
that the Mayor has on more than one
occasion recently conferred with certain
aldermen about the point at issue. Sew
eral aldermen were interested spectators
at the meeting of the commission Tues
day night
Just what will be done should the mat
ter go into the City Council is also
problem hard to solve. The only affilia-
ton the council has with the Police Com
mission is to approve and order the city
treasurer to pay the members of the police
department every month. The City Coun-
ell at its next meeting may be asked to
at least adopt pertinent resolutions. Finan-
cial complications between the two bodies
are possible
The Mayor had but little to say yester-
day afternoon with reference to the ac-
ton of the commission.
Further Procedure.
.sOf course ii is impossible for me to say
This Afternoon what my further procedure
II. the matter will be-" said the Mayor.
.swill you drop the matter?" was asked.
well hardly"
Have you outlined any plan to work
on?"
"As I told you 1 lave not had time
IN rive the matter much consideration
today"
..Wiu YOU take the matter before the
city Councilg -
"The city Council may consider II later.
..xvbat about the policemen who were
summoned to testify against commis-
sioner Philips?" ,.sor,.,os
II think that the municipal authorities
and the people of Birmingham VIII, IL
necessary. see shat they are cared ior'