The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-16
Lieutenant Governor Gray Ten derS Resignation as Member
 of the Board of Aldermen
HAILED AS NEXT GOVERNOR
 BY ALDERMAN PARKER
Old Board Plans $5oo,ooo Bond Issue for Sewer mprovements-Reso ton Favors Putting All Down.
 Town Wires Under Ground.

l several enduring mementoes of its pro- gresiveness With it's actions last night the coming meetings will be much con cerned.
 Perhaps the most interesting resolution introduced was that increasing the license of saloons from $500 to 5000 per annum, thus almost quadrupling the amount of the old figure. This is in lie with the ex- pressed desire of Mayor Ward, who in his last message gave that as one of his suggestions towards controlling the liquor. traffic. The object Is to cut off about thirty of the little saloons around the outskirts which are maintained by their sale of beer alone. The schedule, if adopted, will not go into effect until January l. 1908. thus allowing the saloon keepers time to close up their businesses.
 The saloon license was recently increased to $500 from $500. but this has not accom- plished the desired results. The excise committee, having considered the matter, reported favorably on the resolution, but it was immediately referred to the mis- cellaneous committee. It is thought that the figure was set at the highest point. in order to allow a little cutting down, if kick is raised
 $5oo,o00 for Sewer Improvement.
 Another important resolution was that introduced by Alderman Forney and re- ferred to the finance, judiciary and street committees. calling for general storm sewer improvements, the issuance of bonds to the amount of $500,000, and in- structing the city attorney to prepare the | Al,a t an early date
 It was with peal of applause that the aldermen and spectators followed state ment from the lips of Alderman Parker, when, in commenting the sagacity and re- sourcefulness of Lieutenant Governor Henry Gray, and expressing the regret of the board in accepting his resignation, he hailed him as "The future governor Of Alabama!"
 a1i Put Wires Under Ground. 1 It was the sense of the board, as ex- pressed by the adoption of a resolution, that all overhead wires, except trolley wires. should be put under ground, and the city attorney was instructed to investi- gate and report on the advisability at the next meeting. The only two other i'm | contracts for nearly s95 o0O worth of pub lie improvements and the motion allow mig a saloon and pool room to reopen, after having been closed on account of statute violations.
 | Immediately after the board was first called to order Alderman Jones moved that the rules be suspended took occa- 1 sion to remark upon the beautiful dec- orations, and introduced a resolution thanking the officials of the city hall for their kind thoughtfulness
 Alderman Gray Resigns.
 Lieutenant Governor Gray. one of the aldermen of the Eighth ward, then ad- dressed the board, saying: Under all the circumstances and feeling so close to you as do, can not sever the pleas ant ties which are around me as a mem- Der of this board without expressing to you my regret and thanks for the nu- merous kindnesses that you have shown me. Eleven years I have been member or this board, serving under three diff ferent mayors and with scores of alder men. There is now only one man in the body who came in when did. The many | pleasant hours with you, l shall never forget, and while we have all had diff- culties. they have been in the open, and we have always settled back into closer } friendship. I thank you"
 | Gray's formal resignation, which was | very brief
 Alderman Parker moved that the resig- nation be accepted and paid Mir Gray some high compliments. He said the retiring alderman had come to Birming- ham when the town was an infant and , helped to build it up to its present posi- tion. After referring to him as the fu- | ture governor of Alabama, he moved a resolution of regret which was adopted
 City Bonds Burned. During this time City Attorney E. D. Smith was burning city bonds for sums | amounting to S10O00. They included mem- bers from series zoi. 267. 205, 220. 221 23s, 16o, 21s. and 224 The motion of Alder man Jones relative to l.acing overhead l wires underground was adopted Com pany K was granted permission to use the armory hall for ball on the night l of May 90.
 A resolution instructing the Seaboard Air Line to place a f1agman at Avenue A and Twenty street was re- ferred to the railway committee. Alder man Klotz introduced a resolution pro- viding for paving and improving general l ly Eighth avenue from Thirteenth to Eighteenth streets.
 Alderman Parker read a demand of O. l.. Clark for damages alleged to have been caused by a ditch into which the | the judiciary committee. Here Is Alder man Ccoper's resolution on the saloon l question:
 "Be it resolved by the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of Birmingham, that after January 1. 1908, the license for the sale of liquors. retailing spirituous. malt and vinous liquors, any or all, shall be 5000 per annum."
 There seemed to. be general favor in behalf of the resolution introduced by Alderman Forney, for sewer improve ments. The alderman seemed to be eager that sn election be ordered at an early date and the half million in improve ment bonds be sold as soon as possible. Alderman O'Neil made a talk on the urgency of the move.
 Results of Election.
 Alderman Klotz, chairman of the spe- cial committee. composed of Klotz. D. R. and J. R. Copeland, after examining the ballot boxes. reported the following results of the election: For mayor George |. Yard $50 votes; aldermen. Burnett. 45; l l. >eil 30; Eggleston. 43; Walter Moore, 35 Cooper, 50; Forney S4; Heldt. 51 Ho- gan. 45; Estes. fl; police commissioners. Copeland. S45; Tom Parker, 354 McGavock S14: F. B. Yielding, 3O5.
 Thanks Visitors for Coming.
 In conclusion Alderman Jones called the attention of the board to the sixty bright