The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-12
RUMORS HEARD IN CITY HALL CIRCLES FOrney'S Resignation Will Be Accepted By Council MANY OFFICES TO FILL Next Meeting of Council Promises to Be of Unusual Interest-Com-
 mittees Meet Early in the
 Week.
MANY OFFICES TO FILL

Awaiting the meeting of the City Coun- oial next Wednesday night, municipal af- fairs, save for an inestimable amount of gossip and speculation, are at a stand still.
 Since the mass meeting last Saturday night nothing of a positive nature has oc- cured. None of the aldermen against whom the people expressed sentiments and opinions have made an utterance, and all though one or more private sessions have been held. nothing definite is known con corning what action the council will take at it's next meeting.
 It was learned yesterday from an au- thoritative source that the resignation of John C. Forney, alderman of the Sixth ward, will be accepted on it's presentation, and that this action will mark the retire ment of MT. Forney from public life. As to whether or rot, however, a committee vii. be named to investigate the charges against Alderman Fulghum, which were preferred some months ago by Henry w. Eggler, Is in great doubt As is remem- bered, the people attending the mass meet ing demanded the appointment of com mittee to have this duty in charge. No one connected with municipal affairs be- lieves that A. A. Gambill, alderman of the Third ward, will sever his connection with the city, which was another of the da of fha of the r. ing It is believed, however, that the re- port. of the verdict in the case of Alder- man Klotz will not be presented at the next council meeting by the Judiciary committee, to which 1t was referred. It is stated by those in position to know that , this matter will be brought out at some future date, and that eventually MT. Klotz was resign. Nothing definite, however, in this connection can be learned.
 There was an interesting rumor in mu- nicipal circles yesterday to the effect that Alderman Burnett of the First ward would resign early in 1909, but while MT. Burnett did not make statement con- corning 1t it was learned that this mat ter is rumor only at the present time.
 At the meeting Wednesday the council will elect an assistant city attorney. City Attorney R. H. Thach will indicate to the council the assistant he desires, and this assistant will be chosen. Although Alderman Fred A. E'ulghum, chairman of the Judiciary committees has been men, toned as an aspirant for this position, it IS now generally believed that the present incumbent, J. Quinton Smith, will be re- elected It is not known whether the council will elect the two other assist ants and a clerk in the health depart ment, whose elections were held up at the last meeting of the board. Assistants Streit and Mckenzie and Clerk Sutton were nominated by the Jefferson County Medical association, but were not elected. No reasons were given. 1t is now consid- cred a question as to whether the Medical association will present the name of Dr. Hardness for city health officer at the next meeting. pr. Hardness has received the nomination by the Medical associa- tion, but his name has not as yet been presented to the board In this connec- ton there is an interesting controversy perding. The Jefferson County Medical association desires to have jurisdiction over the health department of the city, and wishes to have the city bacteriologist report to the city health officer. The council desires to retain jurisdiction over the department, and desires the depart ment to remain as 1t Is today. The Medi- cal association, as has been stated. will institute friendly test case to determine the disagreement, and it may be after the determination of this difference that the name of Dr. Hardness is presented to the board for election.
 The several committees will meet Mon- day, Tuesday and Wednesday. Interest Is centered ip the meeting of the judiciary committee, to which was referred the ver- dict of the special committee on Alder man Klotz. and In the meeting of the miscellaneous committee, of which AL derman Burnett is chairman, at which the license schedule for 1909 will be agreed upon. As has been stated, it is not be- lieved that there will occur any drastic changes in the present schedule. An ef- fort to differentiate between the near" beer and the soda water licenses will be made, and it is believed that higher license will be charged for the dispensa- ton of the former