The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-06
HEIDI AIMS STIFF
BLOW At DRENNEN
Mayor Charged With Violating
His Oath of Office
PREMIUM ON DISHONESTY
Heidi Says Mayor Prevented Uniform
Enforcement of Weights and Meas
ures ordinance-Plaln Talk
BY tn. Alderman.
PREMIUM ON DISHONESTY

weights and measures ordinance, which
was adopted October 8, has not been
uniformly and vigorously enforced.
He wants to know especially why 1t
has been enforced against the coal deal
ers and has not been enforced against
other merchants and other business men
of Birmingham.
Particularly, Mr.. Heidi would like to
know IL 1t isn't true that the alleged dis
elimination in the enforcement of the
law Is due to 1.-The pernicious activity
Of Mayor Drennen.
In an interview given out yesterday at
the offices of the Heidt-Nelson Coal COM
pany at Fifteenth street and AvenueE.
South, Mr.. Heidi distinctly charged that
Mayor Drennen had prevented the en-
forcement of the law against every one
affected by it except the coal dealers,
and that the Mayor had been exceedingly
alert and jealous In making the coal
dealers comply with the ordinance.
Discrimination Charged.
ut is high time that some one spoke
out on this subject in no uncertain tone,"
said Mr. Heidi. 1.-THE weights and meas
ures ordinance was adopted October 5.
The provisions against the coal dealers
were promptly and vigorously enforced
The provisions against other forms of
business in the city in which weights
and measures are used were not then. and
have not since, been enforced.
Honest Men Welcome Ordinance.
IT believe the provisions of the ordi-
nance are wise. The ordinance. as
whole, is welcomed by every honest and
dreaded by every dishonest business man
in Birmingham. AS a citizen, and as a
coal dealer, was glad to see 1t enacted
and am glad that the provisions affect
ing my business have been enforced.
What want to know, however, Is
why has the ordinance been enforced
only against the coal dealers? Why are
the coal dealers compelled to give full
weight and full measure when all other.
forms of business are exempted from the
enforcement of the ordinance!
81 hold, and 1 think 1 can prove, that
the head and front of this offending is
w. Melville Drennen, the Mayor of Bir-
mingham.
Hot Shot for Mayor.
ut is Mayor Drennen who las prevent
ed the uniform and equal enforcement of
the ordinance.
ut is Mayor Drennen who has. by his
pernicious activity, made possible, and
indeed certain, this unfair discrimination
in the enforcement of the ordinance.
at is Mayor Drennen who has per-
mitted dishonest business men to give
their customers short weights and short
measures.
when I think of the way the people
have. been cheated, and are now cheated.
by these dishonest practices. l see in my
minds eye a man who by the scratch of
his pen, or by the sound of his voice,
could have protected the people and put
the short-weight and short-measure mer-
chants to flight.
"A Premium on Dishonesty"
"I repeat that Mayor Drennen is respon-
sible for this reprehensible business
HE has been recreant to his duty.
He has violated his oath of office.
"ue has set a premium on dishonesty
and dishonest methods.
And when l say that I mean exactly
what l say.
'That ordinance" continued Mr.. HEIDI
was adopted October 5, 1904. The coal
business Immediately felt its effect. The
city inspector of weights and measures
was provided with apparatus to test the
weight of the coal sold by the coal
dealers.
ha CIlnnllG0
paratus to enforce the law against all
other business men affected by the ordi-
nance!
"Thats the question 1 want the Mayor
to answer. That's the question the peo-
pie Of Birmingham have the right to in
sist he shall answer, and answer without
evasion.
Interesting Questions.
'I should like to know if 1t isn't true
that from the very beginning. Mayor
Drennen declined to enforce the law?
IT should like to know II it isn't true
that he warned subordinate officers not
to attempt to enforce the law?
st should like to know If 1t isn't true
that he gave as his excuse for the nom
enforcement that 1t was very unpopu-
lar measure and that its enforcement
would be resented by the business men,
and. therefore have disastrous polit-
cal effect?
"And that isn't all.
81 should like to know IL 1t isn't true
that Mayor Dre=nen kept up his opposi-
ton to the uniform enforcement of the
or dinance until last Monday?
Mayors Letter Book.
"If you could open the Mayors letter
book, you would find there letter writ
ten December 20, 1904. That letter was
addressed and sent, 1 am told. to every
member of the Board Of Aldermen, ex-
cept me- 1 heard something about the
contents Of the letter and telephoned
Mr.. Pepperfhan, the Mayors secretary.
yesterday and asked him to send me a
copy of the letter. He declined to do
so. Then I demanded a copy of the letter.
He still refused. Last night saw copy
OF the letter that had been received
by another Alderman.