The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-16
Council Has Important Meeting
 "Wednesday
CITY OFFICERS ELECTED
Will Probably Create Office of Record CT and WIIl Decide Question of Opening Third Ward Bal
 lot Box.

"Wednesday night, and a meeting of the city democratic executive committee Thursday night, it is probable that the
 week just beginning will be a live one
 in municipal affairs.
 The meeting of the council Wednesday
 night is expected to be an exceedingly live one.
 The aldermen will vote on a resou-
 tion as to whether or not the board will grant the request of the executive com
 mittee of the city in furnishing the evil
 dence in the contest of A. A. Gambill against Asa L. Hoyt, democratic nomi- nee for Third ward alderman.
 In case the council passes a resolution to furnish this evidence, the council will | open the general election box used in the | Third ward. and furnish the committee with the names of all those voting for
 republican or a socialist candidate on September 21.
 On account of the fact that the demo- cratic executive committee has positively
 refused to open this box, believing that
 the law does not give 1t the power to
 do so, the action of the council is being awaited with interest Prior to the meet 1 ing of the council, however. Clerk shrop- shire will ask City Attorney Thach for a written opinion as to whether not he
 must abide by the instructions of the council to appear with the general cleo ton box, of which he is the official keeper.
 There are other live matters coming be-
 
 chosen by the board, will be elected, with the exception of city clerk, city attorney and city treasurer, which offices have al- ready been filled. For a long while 1t was generally understood that the council
 would not re-elect Judge Feagin as judge of the police court, but according to latest information the council will not
 carry out it's intended programme. At
 this meeting however, the title Judge of the police court is expected to pass out of existence. Under the new municipal code the city is empowered to elect
 recorder" having the same judicial , functions as the present judge of the police court An ordinance providing for the election of a recorder has been drafted and will be adopted at the meet ing Wednesday night.
 The live wire of the council meeting is expected to be prior to the vote on the adoption of the report of the steering"
 committee, of which NJ J. Gregg Is chair1 man. The report was submitted at the last meeting but was refused unanimous consent for passage and carried over This report puts into the hands of Attoriey Edward D. Smith five important cases that the city is preparing to prosecute, who, by the provisions of the report, will be paid s1000 Alderman Bstes at the last meeting, objected to the passage of this report, inasncch as the city has an at- torney of its own on a regular salary. Another feature of this report in clause allowing the city attorney $40 per month as remuneration for stenographer.
 The importance of the meeting of the city democratic executive committee. scheduled for Thursday night following the meeting of the council Wednesday night, depends wholly on the action of the council in reference to furnishing the evidence in the contest of Gambill and Hoyt.
 If the council refuses to open the gen eral election box, then the committee will have no evidence before 1t substantiating the claims of Mir. Gambill, and will prob ably declare Mr. Hoyt the regular nomi- nee of the democratic party.
 On the other hand, there will be much business before the committee if the coun- cil does furnish the names of all who voted in the general election box for re- publican or a socialist nominee. The com
 nittee. according to it's mode of pro- cedure. will throw out all votes cast for Gambill or Hoyt in the primary and for republican or socialist in the general election.
 Tn case the council furnishes the re- publican and socialist votes cast in the general election, the committee will after opening the primary box compare the lists Then the contest will be matter easily decided. If, after the throwing out of ballots, Gambill has a majority. then the committee will proclaim him elected. On the other hand if Hoyt still retains majority he will be officially declared elected.