The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-22
EVERY ALDERMAN
 HAS ANSWER READY Answers Nc" to Each of Con-
 mittee's Questions SIXTH AVENUE UP AGAIN Committeeman Bowron Asks Alderman klotz Some Rather Warm oues-
 tions-cooper Thinks Bitu-
 lithic Pavement Is Best
SIXTH AVENUE UP AGAIN

Do you know anything about the Southern Bitulithic company in regard to it's giving rebates or making prom ises to any city official or city em- ploye, for or in consideration of his using his influence to obtain a con- tract or perform a service for the com pany? Do you know of any sighted 1 work? Do you know or have you heard of any alderman owning stock in the Southern Bitulithic company"
 These are the questions which were put to all the aldermen of the city of Birmingham last night by City Attor- ney E. D. Smith before the Bitulithic investigation committee. To everyone of them every alderman answered | 'No."
 When the meeting was called to or der Chairman G. H. Estes, Aldermen c. c. Heidt and Dan Hogan, Messrs. James Bowron, J. A. Kirkpatrick and J. l.. Yancey were all present. The alder men had been summoned by Chairman Estes to testify before the committee, and the sesison lasted till Il o'clock.
 Parker First Witness. ] President John l.. Parker was the | first witness called. He first denied the questions relative to graft or re- bate, and then told of the pavement in his ward. He said that the wood pave | ment was first laid on Highland ave- nue but was afterward condemned on | account of defects in putting it down, and that bitulithic was then put in.
 Chairman Estes asked him if he knew who composed the Bitulithic l company, and he replied that he did not, but he had heard J. E. Donelson, | H. B. Gray and Warren of Nashville were stockholders. He did not know of any member Of the council owning | interest in the company.
 Alderman John Forney was the next | witness called. After answering the | usual questions, Chairman Estes l wanted to know if he knew of any l reason why competitive bids were not taken. President Parker answered that the ordinances specified certain streets should be paved with either bitulithic, brick or chert. Bowron asked who was l responsible for the choice of material. and MT Parker replied that the prop l 6fIy owners Speclned the k1nQ they | wanted in their petition.
 Alderman Estes was sworn and de- l clared that he had never been ap | preached, directly or indirectly. by any | representative of the company asking for his influence. either as an alderman | or citizen.
 Cooper Tells of Investigations. l Alderman B. H. Cooper, when asked 1 for the process of originating and the 1 course pursued with improvement ont ordi- l nances said that the petitions were first | presented by the alderman from the ward in which ihe citizens lived. There has been more pavement in ny l ward than 1t, and other, and 1 want to | say that I feel just as much respon- | sible for every foot of it as if l was member of the street committee. 1 | have always con suited with the en- | gineer and am posted as to the work 1 that has been done In the ward.
 "The first work done here by the bitu- | lithic people was on Fifth avenue. A 1 petition was handed me to pave the ave nue with asphalt. 1 immediately busted | myself to find out the best pavement | went to Nashville at my own expense and consulted with the business men as to the bitulithic pavement laid there. They said it was good pavement, although in i ferior in some respects when laid by con- vict labor l went to Atlanta where the | Mayor showed me Peachtree street and advised against the laying of asphalt. l | saw asphalt in Denver Chicago and Washington, where the law prohibits wagons of small width tires.
 "I came to the conclusion that the bitulithic was the best, and made fight for 1t on Fifth avenue against the as- phalt. 1t was accepted and then and there the established price was set at S1.65 We had bids on brick and asphalt. The bitulithic was a little higher than asphalt. l led the fight against Dren- nen and Jones and won out. Later we found it better to lay brick between the car tracks I say that any man who says the people have been held up is speak ing rot"
 On questioning of Alderman Estes, MT. Cooper stated that the general impression Is that only the Bitulithc company can bid on the contracts.
 Warm Questions For klotz.
 Alderman Klotz answered the usual questions, after which James Bowron brought up the Sixth avenue pavement question. over which the charges against Alderman ONeill arose. T want to know who built the fire under you two aldermen in the Second ward to make you rush that Sixth avenue contract through in such short order he de- 1 clared. 'I didn't see the match,' re- piled MT. klotz.
 Who pushed you over the brink?' con tinued MT. Bowron. Mr Klotz stated that he left Sixth avenue to MT. O'Neill and did not have anything to do with 1t. You are mighty big man, MT. klotz, to push your responsibility over on poor little MT. O'Nell."
 He gets about much as I do," an- swered the alderman. He closed by stat ing that whatever he had done was for the best interests of his constituents.
 Fred F'ulghum told how the Washing ton expert had advised against asphalt In favor of bitulithic Both he and All derman Burnett said they had never been approached by anyone directly or in directly relative to the interests of the company,
 J. R. Copeland gave expert testimony relative to the thickness of pavement and durability. He considered six-irch slag better than four-inch concrete for a cushion, and thought the expense very little less. "Evil-minded people imagine everybody is crooked, sut when you sim mer it down you find that they know nothing" Finally the committee ad- journed to meet tonight at 7:30 o'clock. Mayor Ward will them be placed on the stand.