The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-03
NED BRACE TALKS ABOUT GOVERNOR
CONFER AND ACTS OF HIS LEGISLATURE

few years hence it was shown that the
people who are now supporting the town.
were adding to the profits of land owners
brought in and exempted from taxation
for many years and that the licenses and
! taxes were increased for this purpose,
many Of the very men who have recently
signed the petitions would not only be in
dignant at themselves but antagonistic 10
every representative who had permitted
them to place such burden upon them
selves.
want a Greater Birmingham want
to see a town with a million inhabitants,
but I cantzsee any reason in favoring a
few who happen to have much while the
many who have but little are burdened
with taxation because they have but lit
tie.
George Ward has fought and compro-
missed until he has finally gotten a bill
practically through the legislature by
which the Mayor of Birmingham is really
to have control of the police force. The
bill provides for a commission of three
men, of which the mayor shall be chair
man and the two others are to be APP
pointed by the governor. This practical
ly means that the mayor would have
charge of and be responsible for the
acts of the police force of Birmingham.
The city will hold him responsible and
they will expect competent and well
regulated police system The people will
really have somebody to complain to and
somebody to protest against if they do
not get proper protection in all sections.
On the other hand the bill gives the
mayor an opportunity to build up pow
erful political machine. Should the peo-
pie select a dishonest man he would
nave the opportunity to build up ma
chine that would perpetuate him in
power. The system has its merits and
its demerits Under Ward, who has
made a good Mayor, 1 think it would be
good one. Should the power be abused
the people will have opportunity before
the next legislature, four years hence.
to change it. So 1t can't be so very
bad after all.
In this connection, there is much an
tagonistic liquor legislation pending be-
fore the present legislature, and under
the act recently passed I would not be
surprised to see an election in Brmng-
ham upon the question of prohibition or
saloons in the near future, unless the
excise board of the present board of
Aldermen takes steps towards regulat-
ing and limiting the number of saloons
and the location of the same in the city
of Birmingham.
There are sections now in Birmingham
in which saloons are licensed to do bust
ness where there should be none. 1t may
cut off the profits of some of the brew
cries and of the wholesale liquor deal
.ers who might own interests in these
saloons or who might be backing them;
but regardless of profits they should be
eliminated. AS Chief Wier stated, they
simply add to crime and are merely the
resorts of the criminal element. They
are of no use to any classes deserving of
consideration. AS a matter of fact, those
who see and observe things in Birming-
ham know that the liquor traffic has
been running riot, so to speak, for the
past year or two. 1t deserves to be
curbed and the respectable element of
those who are engaged in the manufac-
ture and wholesale business owe it not
only to themselves but to the community
of which they are part and parcel to
see to the doing we'll and respectfully of
that which has to be done to make Bir
mingham a prosperous and well regulated
town
Whenever an individual, manufacturer
or corporation attempts to overdo q
thing he is, or they are, eventually over
thrown.
A,e1 1ovza~