The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-30
COMMISSION IDEA
 TAKING FIRM HOLD
King Thinks Agitation Will Hurt
 Greater Birmingham
WEATHERLY FAVORS PLAN
Alderman O'NeiIl Thinks It Will De- prive the People of Rights, and Representative Glover Com
 mends Certain Features.

Now that the prohibition question is settled, the discussion of the commission form of government for Birmingham is becoming more and more earnest. Walker Percy. who began the fight, states that he is heart and soul in it, and believes the legislature will act. There are many l statements pro and con.
 q am heartily in favor of the commls' sion form of government" said Alex T. London.
 The developments of yesterday were full of interest. Representative Jere c. King comes out strongly against it. Alex T. London favors the idea, and James Weatherly makes a number of points in it's favor. Others interviewed were Al 1 derman O'Nell and Representative John l T. Glover.
 MT. King, the father of Greater Biz mingham had this to say
 King Thinks Idea Preposterous.
 "A discussion of a change in the form | of government for the city of Birming- nam, at a time when we are inviting the qualified voters among 65,Ooo people to vote for annexation. is worse than idle. 1 It is preposterous to people who love l home rule, to ask them to surrender their l control of local affairs and put all au7 thority of government in the hands Of three men who live many miles away l Greater Birmingham is not yet real l ity. It must be submitted to a popular vote before the law is effective. If Pratt 1 City and East Lake did not have a rep resentative in the government of the greater city would not expect one single vote for Greater Birmingham from either l place.
 "Every town to be annexed should have a voice in the control of the greater city. | It will take several years to work , out the scheme of consolidation and get l the machinery for running the greater l city harmoniously adjusted. If the peo- pie from all parts of the greater city desire a change in the form of govern ment let this expression come from them
 "I feel responsible for taking these peo pie into Birmingham, and so long as l am in the legislature I will never con- l sent to the passage of any bill that will deprive them of thsir rightful representa- ton in the governing body of Greater Birmingham"
 ney, said;
 Weathery Likes the Idea. | 'I heartily favor the commission plan l for the government of Birmingham. Since we arc 10 have prohibition, wesshall need it to enforce prohibition. If we are to have Greater Birmingham, we shall need it to deal with Greater Blrming- | ham's great expanse of territory and com plex problems; and if we are not to have 1 Greater Birmingham, we shall yet need It to grapple with and solve existing evils. The aldermanic system of city govern ment, as it has existed in the United Sattes, has proven notorious and scand- alous failure. and public sentiment is awakening to the need of reform. 1 "The advantages of government through commission or council of three or five salaried officials of ability and honesty and elected by popular vote, are:
 '1 Direct personal responsibility of each official to the electors.
 "2 Greater economy in administration, a higher standard of honesty, greater ef- fieieney.
 8. Better enforcement of existing law; greater facility in executing needed re- l form.
 ''The plan comprises reasonably ire quent elections of the governing body, I and should also comprise the system of 1 referendum whereby matters vitally af fectng the general welfare, either must be, or may be voted on by direct vote of the qualified electors. Such a sys- tenn of government for Birmingham would 1 result in better financing, better polc- | ing, better sanitation; in better and more public parks and recreation grounds; would give us at least one public li- | brary, and, generally, a clean, healthy | and beautiful city.
 "Finally, it would result in our having a city government which would more nearly be the peoples servant, and more nearly express the peoples ideals"
 o'NeiI Opposes the Plan.
 'I do not believe that the commis- l sion form of cunicipal government is as good as our present system," said | Alderman John w. O'Neill. "It takes away from the people their voice in the way the affairs of the city should be run and the chances of corruption are just as great Under exceptionally good men it might work. but the town would be lucky to get them. The way things are arranged now could be improved up- on-the judiciary with the recorder, and the executive and legislative with the Mayor and Board of Aldermen although think the mayor should have the veto power alone in regard to the acts of the Board of Aldermen
 'sThfs discussion is going to kill Greater l Birmingham if it is kept up. As mem Der of the Greater Birmingham cam l paisn committee I know that it was only l after pledge of fair representation Tn the City Council that opposition has be- l auieted in the outside towns and ta 1 like this will certainly cause it to bS
 up again"
 I Representative Glover's Views. Representative John T. Glover said: 1 think this governing Birmingham by l commission is a good scheme. but l would not at this time pledge myself l wards voting on a bill providing for i From reports received from cities whei