The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-20


 in victory for the advocates of the pro hibition doctrine. With the same lights before me, I would pursue the same course were it to do over again. Since. however, a majority of the citizens of Jef- ferson county-the county having been made the unit-have declared against the licensed saloon and 1t is now the law of the city, county and state, I will do my duty as sworn officer of the law and enforce 1t to the letter. treating friend and foe alike.
 Under the rulings of the several courts trying parties for violation of the prohibition law, it is extremely diff hcult to convict. Therefore I respect fully request your honorable body, un- der authority granted you by sub division II of section 1192 and section 1196, to appropriate a sum not to ex- ceed $500 to be used by the Mayor as his judgment directs.
 I crave your pardon for taking ad vantage of the time and place to put myself squarely before certain par ties whom I am told are laboring un- der the impression that because of the fact that I was an anti-prohibitionist as chairman of the Police Commission and direct head of the police, 1 will permit violations of the prohibition law. I think 1t my duty to disabuse the minds of those people and inform
 
 prohibition law expecting leniency. My duty Is imperative. I did not make the law. It is my duty to execute it to the letter and, win or lose, I intend to carry it out as by the measure of strict performance of duty will I be held accountable by the good citizens of this community, and justly con demned should fail to carry out every provision of this police regulation.
 Police Department.
 At future meeting, after the Police Commission will have had a meeting and gone thoroughly into the organiza- tion of the police department, will be prepared to furnish you full report. For the present I respectfully recom- mend that the commissioners of police be authorized to employ three men to be mounted on bicycles and known as bicycle sergeans, one to each shift.
 also recommend the employment of six additional mounted men. The &C., quisition of Avondale. East Birming- ham, Mountain Terrace and that portion extending up to East Lake renders ab- solutely necessary that this increase be allowed.
 More effective work can be accom- plished with six mounted men in the territory mentioned above than can be done by 20 men on foot. I therefore cheerfully recommend that you pur- chase the horses and accoutrements necessary and allow the commissioners of police to increase the force as herein set out.
 Fire Department.
 find the fire department in charge of thoroughly competent officers and a body of men of whom the citizens of Birmingham should be exceedingly proud. The only feature I find lacking to make it one of the best in the south is a motor equipment throughout. realize that the revenues of the city will not admit of such an outlay at present
 I find rather an incongruous condition in Ward 10. Under the municipality of Avondale, the fire department was con- trolled by volunteer organization, consisting of chief and "A men, with one man at a salary of $65 per month to care for and drive the horses; the chief received $2 and the men $1 for each fire Chief Bennett informs me that he has not attempted to exercise authority or supervision other than to o. K. bills received during the month for salaries and supplies.
 I would like to be instructed by your honorable body as to what action l must take in the premises as l can find no law authorizing the recognition of two chiefs of the fire department.
 I am also informed that the volun teer organization claim the equipment as their personal property. l would also like to be instructed as to the status of this equipment.
 Street Department.
 Of all the departments that go to make up perfect autonomy, l find none more vexatious than the street department. Where there is so much to be done, and that with limited equipment, 1t Is not surprising that there is much dissatisfac- tion. l hope the citizens heretofore com blaming will be patient a while longer until their respective complaints can be worked out in detail.
 l find that much of the complaints come from streets that have been badly repaired through the neglect of parties laying sewers, water or gas pipe. l sug- gest that the unpaved streets be put on the same footing as paved streets so far as repairing after the laying of all kinds of pipe or other excavations.
 1 am informed that on account of lack of sufficient assistance several hundred dollars is lost to the city annually, grow ing out of the failure to make proper charges against citizens for repairs. l therefore recommend that the street com missioner be allowed a clerk in order that a better system of keeping the ac- counts in this office can be inaugurated.
 The street commissioner has in his charge a horse which he informs me is known as the mayors horse." As 1 furnish my own horse and can find no law which authorizes the furnishing and feeding of a horse for the mayor, l sug- gest that the horse be turned over to the police department for the use of mount ed man.
 Sanitation Department.
 In relation to the preservation of health l am of the opinion that the department of sanitation should in a great measure, be under the control of those who have made hygienic effort a life study. They are more competent to conserve and pro- tect the public health than are those lay men whose duties call them in other di- rections daily. Yet, while the actions or the sanitary officers should be subject to the inspection of the health officer of the city, they are properly under the gen. eral supervision and control of the mayor, as set out in Section 1179 of the municipal code, whose duty it is to see that they properly discharge their duties.
 It is gratifying to note the untiring en- ergy displayed by the present officers of the health department. There is reason for congratuaton that this department is managed by such competent officers, that with the cooperation of such compe- tent assistants in the administration of the office l hold, I will find pleasure.
 What is herein stated about the officers of the sanitary department holds good as tI,a lfff oal, axrnr, 1af ,%f-