The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-28
NESM|TH AND SHARPE
ARE PROBABLE WINNERS
After Conference Jefferson Delegation
Decided to Report These Names
Favorably-EIection Today.
Other Matters.
BY c. M. STANLEY.

BY " m. = AIN It T.
Montgomery, February 27-(Special.)-
Mayor Ward has evidently whipped the
police commission. He had to do some
compromising to bring about a victory
but the old commission is on its last
legs
The Mayor wanted the old body abol-
ished entirely and he wanted the super
vision of the police department placed in
the hands of the Mayor in order that
responsibility could be more easily placed.
The commission had some strong friends,
however, among them being Capt. Frank
p. O'Brien and Tom Mcdonald. A caucus
of the jefferson delegation with Lieuten-
ant Governor Gray present recently
agreed on a compromise plan and it is this
ulan which is about to be adopted by
both houses.
1t provides for the aboishment of the
old commission and the creation of a
new commission to be composed of three
members, of whom the Mayor is to be
one. He is also ex-offcio chairman of
the commission.
The commission nominated at the recent
primary will probably never be inaugu-
rated. The two new commissioners will
be named by the governor and they will
serve until Nay. AT the regular muni-
cipa1 election TO be held then candidates
for commissioner will be voted on by
the people.
The bill providing for these new COM
missioners was introduced simultaneously
In tho senate and in the house The
house committee, to which it was re-
ferred, voted this morning to report the
matter favorably. o Brien and Mcdonald
appeared before the committee and were
strenuous in opposition to abolishing the
commission. They object to further CEN
tralization of power and claim it will
bring the police department into poll
tics.
In the afternoon the senate committee
heard arguments for and against the po-
lice measure, but this committee also
voted to report the bill favorably. 1t
will, therefore, probably be rushed
through both houses and become law be-
fore adjournment.
1t developed during the day that the
commission may have fight on the floor
of the house but friends of abolition do
not have much fear for the result. Rep
reseutatiyes Glover and Urquhart are
found to be opposed to any change and
they say they will fight the change on the
floor. The rest of the Jefferson dele
CATION appears to be in sympathy with
the plan to abolish the old body.
The senate judiciary committee this
morning voted to postpone action on the
employers liability bill until after the
long recess. This is the measure which
means more to Birmingham, perhaps,
than any other matter that has come
before the legislature. 1t would affect
every employer of labor in the state and
inasmuch as Birmingham Is composed
almost entirely of employers and en-
poyes, the vital significance in the great
industrial center is readily appreciated
At the meeting this morning the COM
mittee listened to representatives. of the
employers. Walker Percy and John +.
Tillman of Birmingham set before the
members the Objectionable features OF the
bill in very impressive manner. The
speakers were greatly pleased with the
courtesy and consideration shown by the
chairman and committeeman.
Mr. Percy in his argument maintained
that Alabama was already far ahead of
other states in laws protecting employees
and he cited Pennsylvania. with whose
products those of Alabama come in such
close competition. He held 1t unfair to
put still greater burdens on the producers,
which would make 1t harder to meet COM
petitoin. He said If President Roosevelt's
ideas were carried out and the extra ex-
pense of the personal injury suits abb
sorbed by the consumer 1t would increase
prices and make it all the more difficult
to meet the competition of rival states.
Mr., Percy said that the Tennessee COM
pany alone, which he represented.
now at an annual expense of 100000 for
personal injury claims. One of the strong
POINTS he made was that no representa-
tives of labor had been here working
for the proposed law. He said damage
suit lawyers were the only men pushing
it-men who hoped to reap a profit by
putting greater hardships on the en-
ployers.
Mr. Tillman talked along a similar line,
emphasizing the great increase there
would be in the number of damage suits.
He said the damage suit business was
already enormous and that his firm alone
representing employers had between 700
and 800 damage suits pending all the
time. He also expressed the belief that
the supreme court of the United States
would mold unconstitutional the federal
statute. after which the pending Alabama
bill is patterned.
When the arguments had been finished
the committee went into executive ses-
sion and the conclusion was reached ts.
postpone action until after recess.
The employers liability bill is so techni-
cal that its far-reachng provisions are
difficult for the layman to grass,. Mr..
Percy after the hearing. was asked to
make a statement for The Age-Herald.
He said:
s.The present law of Alabama governing
the liability of employers of labor to
employees Is almost an exact copy Of the
English employers liability act. Under
II am employer is responsible to one en-
ploye for any injury occasioned by the
negligence of another employe who has
-. lCONTINUED ON PAGE 10 II