The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-19
OUSTNG OF BOARD
OF COUNCIL CAUSES Gos-
 SIP IN MOBILE.
There May Be Legal Fight Over the Matter--Pavfng Work in Gulf City VIII Not Be
 st0nped.

Gulf City VIII Not Be Stopped.
 Mobile, Aug. 1S.-(Specfal. .)--To be thrown out of ofice without a note of warning after nine years of service appears to the Board of Public Works as being a rather serious matter and before the councils action of last night goes into effect there may be some legal difficulties to overcome. However. the members of the board are taking things philosophically and are letting the other side do all the talking.
 There can be no doubt that the ac. tion of the general council in abolish Ing the board at its meeting of last night has been contemplated for some time. but the opportunity to put the measure through did not present it. self until the matter of repairs to the street paving presented itself
 As stated in The Advertiser this morning, this was the question that started the trouble. Up until the time that Councilman Inge made his trade against the board. when he ex- plained his vote for the asked for appropriation, 1t appears that there was not the slightest thought in the minds of any of the councilmen that such action would be taken at the meeting. It should be said that it was not the board that asked for this appropriation. but rather a number of prominent citizens who had request ed a representation of the council to meet with them. As a result of this meeting the resolution. asking for the appropriation came.
 Reason for. the action of the coun- ell. 1t is said by those who are on the inside. came from Councilman InRAfo ana I.% 1+a this money to the board of public works but they had no means of com- polling the board to go ahead with the work.
 The councilnien believe, and this ap- pears to be the secret of the whole matter, that a street committee made up of three of the councilmen, can perform all the duties that the board Of works is called upon to do. Not only this: It is argued that if the matter of street repairs and street paving is in the hands of such a committee. provided that committee does not do its duty, the entire coun- cilmanic body is in a position to call 1t to task and if deemed necessary, retire them from the committee and place others thereon that will. This they cannot do with the present board of public works.
 
 Alderman Faith that the matter of the continuance of the board of pub lie works would be in the hands of the people at the next general elec- tion, and that therefore the present board should be continued until that time the following proposition Is put forth to-day: That while the people may at the next general election de- termine to have a board of public works yet there will be no board to be perpetuated such as would have been the case were the present mem- ters allowed to remain in office until that time.
 Some question was raised this morn ing as to wh neither the contract for the fifth paving venture made with the Jett Bros. would hold good now that the board of public works is to be abolished This is answered by an opinion of City Attorney Boone who says that all the contracts made for the city by or through the board of public works will be taken care of by the city
 The board has just fourteen days in which to wind up its work It is thought that the chief engineer for the board, Wright Smith, will be con- tinued by the council to look after the paving ventures.
 Nothing was done at the meeting of last evening regarding this propo- siticn,k but as there Is an adjourned meeting of the council tomorrow evening. the matter may be decided at thats Eme- .- sy,- ~ e+rst
 Councilman Inge, who was the insti- gator of the movement that resulted nthe abolishing of the Board of Pub lie Works. left on the afternoon train for Biloxi. .'' 2
 Met at the train he said that there was absolutely no pre-arranged plan for the action of the Council but that rather it's action was born of the hour
 Asked whether the plan was to mere ly admonish the Boar dor whether the determination of the City Council real ly meant to put an end to itShe replied that the action of tile General Council was final and that the majority of the members were glad that the oppor- tunfty had come to put the Board out of business. a-51
 From other sources It was learned that the action of the Council was started rather as a joke, but when it was seen with what determination the members took hold of the proposition. 1t was made one of the most earnest measures that has ever been passed by the Council.
 Stewart Brooks. President of the Board of Public Works, declined to dis cuss the situation. as did the Mayor and the third member of the Board Louis R. Bart.