The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-12-05
GAMB|LL DECIDES ON A WITHDRAWAL Alderman Had Signed Agree ment to Elect Boggan TWO OFFICES ANNULLtD Assistant Custodian of City Hall and Weight Inspector Abolished-"Un
 cle" Tom Jeffers' Career
 Is Ended.
TWO OFFICES ANNULLtD

A. A. Gambill. the present incumbent in the office of license collector of the city of Birmingham, notified Mayor Ward yes terday that he would not be a candidate for reelection at the meeting of the City Council tonight
 The council will in all probability elect J. J. Boggan to succeed Mir Gambill, in spite of the fact that this gentleman has notified the Mayor that he was not a candidate, and that in case he was elected he would not accept the office It is believed that MT. Boggan. at present a clerk in Mir. Gambills office, will re- ceive the unanimous vote of the alder men.
 The letter of MT. Gambill yesterday came as a surprise, but it was received in rather a calm manner by those seeking the election of Mir. Boggan. It was foregone conclusion that MT. Gambill would have been defeated even had he al- lowed his name to be presented.
 Mayor Ward, who for several years has led the fight against Mir Gambill. had the written agreement of enough members of the City Council to guaran- tee the defeat of the present license col lector. For some time the names of nine aldermen who signed an agreement to be present at the meeting and vote for Mr Boggan have been carried in the pocket of the chief executive of the city. Mr Gambill's defeat was therefore certain, ad fn ,aip would have given Mr. Boggan a majority, even had Mir. Gambill received the other nine votes of the board
 MT. Gambill, in his letter to the Mayor, stated that he would not accept the job at the salary which it will draw next year, $24OO. He said that the sole reason for him considering the proposi- tion was that he thought that later the percentage basis could be re-esta blished. He declared that he finally reached the conclusion that this would never be again and that for that reason he would not be in the race.
 Interesting Features.
 Since the practical certainty that there will be opposition to none of the present officeholders of the city, the announce ment of the retirement of Mir Gambil leaves but two interesting features to the annual election which will be held to- night.
 The office of weight inspector of the city will be abolished, and A. J. Hall will no longer be employed by the city ir that capacity. A decision to this effect was reached yesterday, the reasons given I, ters affecting this office came found the bill authorizing the creation faulty. Mayor Ward stated yesterday that the office would be abolished and no new inspector of weights and measures elect ed tonight
 The other interesting feature in con- neotlon with the annual election of the heads of the various depa rtments of the city government Is that the indications point to the fact that the city hall will have for next year no assistant custodian In other words, on the official list of offices to be filled tonight, that of as sistant custodian does not appear. neither does the name of Thomas Jeffers.
 At the last election of officers Mayor Ward opposed the election of Mir. Jeffers, stating that the office was unnecessary, and that the continued election of "Uncle Tom" was a matter of sentiment and not business. Due to the intercesson of AL derman Harry Jones and others, how ever, the board again elected Mr. Jef- fers
 As is known, there are few men con- nected with the city government who have careers as interesting as has Uncle Tom" He was formerly a Mayor of the city, and his efforts during those early days when the existence of Birmingham was not certain as today, did much towards guaranteeing the permanency of the then village. The salary attached to the job is a mere pittance. and the in- cumbent has no other source of revenue At present he is sick at the hospital, and will not be able to appear at the meet ing tonight It is probable that some ef- fort to have the position of this officer retained will be made
 The Candidate.
 Here follows the list of candidates for the various officers. The names of J. J. Smith and Eli P. Smith. who will be reelected members of the Board of Ed ucation without opposition, do not ap- pear, as do not the unopposed candidates for the various parks of the city, which were published yesterday morning:
 George Eustis, treasurer and tax col lector.
 w. B. Copeland, auditor.
 J. c. Murray, city clerk.
 Julian Kendrick city engineer.
 John M. McCartin, street commissioner.
 E. D. Smith, city attorney.
 E. M. Duncan, chief meat and milk in- spector and bacteriologist.
 R. G. Wadrop, warden.
 A. J. Hall, inspector weights and meas