The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-05-09
CITIZENS FAVOR
PUTTING POLICE
/ UNDER THE MAYOR
Quite a Number of Representa-
tive Men Express Opinions
to That Effect
! WANT LEGISLATURE TO
CHANGE PRESENT LAW
Suggestion Is Made That the Mayor
Should Be Chairman of the Com
mission as of the Board
of Aldermen.

3.-Do you think the police commits
sion system of Birmingham to the
best interest of the city, or should the
police system be under the Mayor and
Aldermen?
2.-Are you in favor of petitioning
the next legislature to change the law
and place the police force of BIrming-
ham, like the fire department, under
the Mayor and Board of Aldermen?
SIS 1t or Is it not best that all
branches of the government of the
city of Birmingham should be under
one supreme and responsible head,
such head to be the Mayor, elected by
the people, his appointees to be con-
firmed by the Board of Aldermen?
A number of citizens were asked yester-
day to answer the above questions. and
the result follows:
Frank p. O'Brien-O In view of the
fact that it is the duty of the Mayor and
Board of Aldermen to arrange the
finances for the payment of the police
department, think they are better quail
fled to manage the force than is a sepa-
rate board. (2) am. As a member of the
legislature ! opposed the passage of the
present police commission act go L am
the head of all departments, the police
court alone excepted his acts to be con-
firmed by the Board of Aldermen. do
not think the Mayor should have the
right to remit fines.
j. d. Collns-O | think the Mavor
should be at the head of the police de-
partment. 90 Yes. go Yes, 1 believe that
it would be best to have all departments
OF the city government under the Mayor
and Aldermen.
Paschal G. Shook-Q) in my opinion the
police department should be under the d.
rection of the Mayor (2) Yes. (3) The
city government should be administered
like large business corporation. In cor
porations the executive head and the di-
rectors are responsible to the stockholders
for the proper management of all the de-
partments of the concern. And SO it
should be in municipal government The
Mayor, with the approval of the Alder
men, should have the direction of all
branches or departments. If results were
not satisfactory it would be the fault of
the people who elect the Mayor and Alder
man. With the Mayor held to account bv
the people the city would as a rule he
well governed
Leo *. Steiner-D The Mayor should no
at the head of the police force. This plan
would. ] think, be far better than the
commission system. 90 l am. fs) All
branches Of the government should be
under the direct control of the Mayor and
Aldermen. In this way we would have
one responsible head and thus unity the
administration of municipal affairs
j. Lawler Darby-O The Mayor and
Aldermen and not a separate commission
should manage the police force. ca Yes.
go Yes, | think all departments should
the approval of the aldermen.
Culpepper Exum-Q) believe it would
be for the best interest of the city for
the Mayor and Aldermen to have control
of the police force. 90 Yes. 90 1 would
say most emphatically that all depart
ments of the city should be directly
under the Mayor.
A. l.. Fulenwider-Q The Mayor and
Aldermen, rather than a separate COM
mission, should have charge of the police
force. 60 Yes. go Yes the Mayor. as
chief executive should have authority
over all departments.
Frank Grder-Q The city would get
better results II the police force was
Immediately under the control of the
Mayor and Aldermen. ~ Yes. go The
Mayor should have authority over all
municipal departments.
The Rev. DIR. A. J. Dickinson-O /
favor Mayoralty control. ~ Yes. CD The
Mayor with the approval of the aldermen
should be at the head of all city de-
partments, and If the people elect