The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-14
MOORE OPPOSES
 MUNICIPAL CODE
Sees Danger to Birmingham in
 Measure Proposed
POINTS OUT THE DEFECTS
FaVors Making Mayor Purely Execu. tive Officer, But Thinks Other Provisions of Bill Smack
 of Capitalization.

Walter Moore, alderman from the Fourth ward, returned from Chicago yes terday, and discussed quite freely the proposed municipal bill Said he
 Il am much surprised at the general provisions of of that bill Instead of putting us twenty years ahead 1t throws us twenty years behind in the general progress of this city It may do for some other towns of the state. but it is not up to date for progressive cities like Bir- mingham.
 "l admit that the bill has some favor able features. For instance, I am not aVerse to the proposition, which makes the Mayor and exclusive executive officer with veto power and without legislative authority; because l recognize the fact that veto power Is a strong leverage in the hands of the Mayor and that our chief executive Is always worthy of earnest consideration No man elected by the people to that exalted position Is liable to go astray. and having beea appointed and sustained by the people to labor in their behalf, he Is never going back on them He, perhaps, has more time to think than has the average alder man, and I do not regard his elimination from the legislative board as a reflection upon him nor as a dlscredit of his wisdom Let that go.
 However, l do object: First, to a reduction of representation by the people Of the present corporate limits of from eighteen to fourteen aldermen
 Second, l object to the Ninth ward, O. any other ward voting for a representa- tive from the First, Second. Third ol Fourth or any other ward.
 Third, my judgment is that true repre- sentative government consists of absolute local representation. national, state and municipal, and l do not believe that the Ninth ward knows any more of tho wants of the Fourth ward than does New York know of the needs of Oklahoma. Fourth, the whole thing looks to me much like centralization of government, which has always proven repugnant to the general Idea of democracy It Is un- democratic unwise and dangerous to the welfare of the city.
 | Chicago tried an experiment like unto | the one proposed and Chicago failed sig nally, and returned to the very principl, Of self-government Experimental legisIa-
 ton is always dangerous. If we will only stick closely to the principle of self-gov- ernment we will win in the progressive movement and spirit of the age 1 am | opposed to going backward.
 Fifth, the suggestion for a board of public control means simply double 1 headed commission and q conflict which must necessarily cause disturbance and a most damnable interference with the public service.
 Sixth, for many years l have served as an alderman without reward or the | hope thereof, save that which comes from | the conscientious conviction of having done the best l could for the city in which l live, and as an average tax payer, who willingly bears his part of the 1 burden, l have never complained of any tax for any purpose that has been levied against mo or mine. I am not a kicker | but l do want progress-a progress which means an upbullding of the city, d 1 progress which means the greatest good to the greatest number, a progress which means go forward and not backward, and a progress which means that ."ery man, woman and child In every prt of | this great city of ours shall have full street improvement, sanitary conditions of the first order and school houses and | school teachers who will keep apaee with the general progress of our great l city. I detest favoritism, eschew the mar row idea and place my thought. my mind and my vote for everything that means | upward and onward.
 "The general municipal code is entirely contrary to my idea, therefore l am op- | posed to It."