The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-07
Mr. John Charges Present Com
mission With ''DisgracefuI
and Indecent Scenes
MILLER EXTENSION
BILL PASSES HOUSE
Senate Announces Personnel of Recess
Commissions-Red Bill
Is Signed BY the Governor.
other Bills Signed.

Montgomery, March G.-(Speeial)-The
police commission bill, general In It's
scope, but passed with a view of reaching
the situation in Birmingham went
through with a whoop in the house today,
though Messrs. Urquhart and Glover Oh
the jefferson delegation did what they
could to head it off. The vote was % to }.
1 Mayor George Ward was in the hall OF
the house at the time and had the pleas
ure of hearing many nice things sald
about him by members who favored the
! measure.
The law provides that in cities of over
50 900 inhabitants there shall be commits
sion of two members, of which the mayor
shall be ex-ofhcio chairman. These two
are TO be appointed by the governor until
the next general election They servo
without pay and have about the same
power that is now given In the old Biz
mingham commission. The governor Will
appoint the two Birmingham commas
sloners later in the week. He has been
seen by members Of the delegation about
them.
The bin was called up this morning by
Colonel John, who insisted upon It's con-
sideration. though some tried to carry 1t
over. Mr.. Urquhart tried to have II
amended TO leave it to a vote of the
people. Mr. John opposed. He said It
would only postpone the aid to be gotten
by 1t. lie said that the Christian people
of birmingham desired to be rid OF
commission that was permitting the
INST disgraceful and indecent scenes IN
b<--.i...iAara -lat', al lz4-a---.-- si'' ma
hid the enef snient of tae Mayor OF
Birmingham. Lieutenant Governor Grax
az Senator Miller
Denieo agreement.
Mr. Urduhart denied that there had
been an agreement to pass the bill, and
urged that the motion to leave it to the
| people be passed. lie did not like the
bill, but would support 1t if amended as
he suggested. He thought the bill TOO
drastic and that 1t gave the commission
too great powers over the police. He was
afraid OF the machine IL would build up.
Mr.. Glover said that the people of Bir-
mngham did not know of the bill nor
what 1t contained, and he could not sup
port 1t for that reason and Others. He
had found great opposition TO 1t In Bir-
mingham, while there this week. The
/
new commissioners and at the time of the
| election not a word had been said about
| the new law. lie said the present conf
| mission was a representative body OF
| men. He also denied that the bill being
| considered was the one adopted by the
ministers of Birmingham. He moved to
postpone until after recess.
! Mr. King Of Jefferson said that the bill
! had been endorsed by the senator and
! five of the seven members of the house
| from Jefferson. Mr.. Glover said that he
| did not understand that DR.. Ragsdale
| had endorsed 1t. Mr. King said he had
! DR.. Ragsdale's word for It. Mr.. King
| wanted the bill passed. He paid George
| Ward, the present Mayor high compli-
! ment as n man of courage and decency
and one to who II the control of the police
| could well be given over TO Insofar as he
would have the handling of them by this
commission.
| Mr. Haley supported the bill warmly.
| lie pointed out how difficult it is to get
| people to vote on n matter like this.
| Those who were against it usually went
| out and voted and those for it did not.
| lie thought the bill Just what Birnins-
| ham needs at this time. He thought It
would meet the demand arising out of the
situation
No RaIroadng.
Mr.. John denied that there had been
any attempt to railroad the bill. lie also
said, in answer To question by MI
Glover he did not know whether all of the
signers TO The petition We're voters or
not lie did say that there were some
Of the names of the best citizens OF the
city on il.
Mr. John, in answer TO Mr.. Glover. said
That the bill would abolish the present
law and that was very much needed. lie
read the petition of the ministers and
others lie recalled that Commissioner
rnff, .gI ha tla
he saw IT with regard to charges made
about running cheap saloon. and also
sa id that another member of the commits
sion conducted gambling hell though
la not call his name. lie said that
one saloon on the corner of Niuteenth
street had been bathed in blood because
Of the protection given In gambling there
by friends of the police commission; yes
members OF the commission.
Mr. John also said that Mayor Ward
had not received the votes of the saloon
men and he hoped the house would vote
down the Urquhart amendment.
Then II was that the motion of Mr..
Glover TO postpone and the amendment
of Mr. Urquhart to submit to vote OF
the people were both voted down. Those
who voted for the amendment were Ar
rington. Glover Goodwin, Lacy of Walk
er, Pitts of Dallas and Pitts or Perry.
Coleman of Lowndes. Johnson, Powell OF
Bullock, Scale, Tunstall, urquhart and
Vann.
Other House Work.
Mr.. Weaver. just after the business
Of the house opened. moved to make the
speaker a member OF the code commits
sion In the place OF the late speaker.
which was carried.
II was agreed by both houses that the
expenses of the funeral of Speaker Mar
tin ne paid out OF the contingent fund
t.Ta me ~