The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-19
MAYOR WARD WINS
 FIGHT FOR PEOPLE
Opposed 0f1cehoIders Names
 on High School Tablet
GIVES PEOPLE THE CREDIT
President Drennen Opposes Wards Mo ton, But the Board Sustalns the Mayor-Three New Teachers
 and Custodian Appointed.

Names of the city officials the archi- tect and the contractor, will not be in- scribed on the bronze tablet to be placed in the new High school building. The in- scription on the tablet will give the credit for the buildings erection to the people rather than to a few office holders.
 That decision was reached at yester- day afternoons meeting of the Board of Education.
 The man who is responsible for the new departure is George B. Ward, the Mayor of Birmingham.
 Ward Opposes It.
 After all the other members of the Board of Education had practically agreed to inscribe on the bronze tablet the names, in full of the Mayor of the city, all members of the Board of Edu- cation, the architect and the contractor, Mayor Ward took the floor and protested against any such action. The Mayor pointed out that the new High school building had been erected by the taxpayers of Birmingham; that it be- longed to the people; that the city offi- cials were merely the agents of the peo- pie and that there was no more reason why their names should be perpetuated In bronze than there was that the name of the humblest taxpayer in the city should be inscribed on the tablet. In conclusion, Mayor Ward moved, as substitute for the proposed inscription containing the names of the city officials. that there be inscribed on the tablet these words:
 Erected by the People of Birmingham For the Education of It's Youth
 The Mayor insisted that the inscription be one that would give the credit of erecting the building to the people rather than to a few men who happened to be in public office when the high school building was erected.
 Mayor Wards suggestion provoked lively discussion B. A. Thompson chewed the end of his cigar for a moment and said:
 q think the Mayor is right in this natter"
 J. ]. Smith agreed with MT. Thompson. Dr. Phillips and Eli P. Smith, after little discussion, accepted the Mayors point of view.
 Drennen Opposes Ward. Former Mayor Drennen, the president of the board, opposed Mayor Wards prop osition. He argued at length in favor or having the names of members of the Board of Education and others inscribed on the tablet. One after another, other members of the board supported Mayor Ward, but President Drennen opposed the motion till the question was ordered.
 When the vote was taken all members of the board except President Drennen voted in favor of giving the people the credit of erecting the High school build ing. Mr. Drennen did not vote either way.
 Ends a Vulgar Custom. In the judgment of members of the board this act of the Mayors will put an end to the vulgar custom that has heretofore obtained in Birmingham, as well as in other cities, inscrbing the names of city officials, architects and contractors on cornerstones of buildings, bridges, viaducts and all public works | in general
 | Board of Education at its meeting yester- day dispatched this business: | 1. Referred the request of the Ben F. Barbour Plumbing company for the con tract to install the plumbing in the new High school to the executive committee of which Mayor Ward is chairman. | 2. Fixed the tuition rates in the High school at s2 a month for resident stu dents and & a month for nonresident students namely, pupils who live out side the city limits. and empowered the superintendent of schools and the prin- cipal of the High school to exempt from the payment of this tuition without pub fishing their reasons. any pupils whose character and condition might justify | the remission of the tuition fee. 1 8. Granted the application of trustees of the Johnston District No 70 between Avondale and Birmingham for admission | into the schools of the city upon the payment of funds to the Birmingham Board of Education. The board stipulated also that the application be endorsed by l the county superintendent and the pupils l be admitted on same terms as city pu- pills so far as funds received will justify. The number of such pupils will be limited l to 40.
 New Teachers Elected. l 4. Elected these three teachers: l Head of the department of mathematics, | J. R. Bell of Oxford, Ala. | Head of the department of natural science, E. S. McGlathery, B. s.. of the | University of Alabama and recently con- nected with the Tennessee companys | laboratory at Ensley. | Head of the department of history and economies, J. W. Parke, graduate of Princeton and post graduate of Yale and l Chicago.
 5. Elected E. J. Bllbe custodian of the High school building. 6. Decided to repair the basement in the negro church at Twenty-fifth street. North, where the negro school was held | last year.
 T think we ought to do something for these people," said Mayor Ward, when the subject came up. The board agreed with the Mayor and acted accordingly. [. Referred the subject of fuel and toilet supplies to the committee of which Eli