The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-07-29
THE COMMISSION FAVORED BY KREBS Thinks Three Men Would Gov-
 ern Finely. WANTS HIGH SALARIES Robert c. Redus Opposed to Idea. Thinks Fault Is in Lack of In-
 terest In Aldermanic
 Elections.

"The commission form of govern ment presents a number of good req sons for It's adoption" said Allen J. Krebs the contractor, last night. 'It serves to centralize the government and still be in accordance with the Ameri- can peoples ideas of government by representation, there being either three or five commissioners with two year terms.
 q am very much for 1t and hope that the legislature will arrange mat ters so that Birmingham may try 1t. It would undoubtedly prove a success here as it has in other cities where tried. From all accounts the Texas cities have been unusually successful and Texas men tell us there is no desire out there to change back to the aldermanic system.
 When the discussion of this propo- sition first started I was of the opinion that five men would be the proper
 
 me now, however. that three would serve to better purpose. Five would cut down the salary appropriation and we all know that the larger the salary the better the man. In this way we could secure three men of higher cali bre than we would five.
 About the Salary.
 "The salary for each commissioner should not be less than $5000, and even this would be small. The trio could take charge of the various de- partments and probably operate them even more successfully than they are being handled now. It would also ex- pedite the handling of the city's busi- ness generally. Under the present sys- tenn 1t takes weeks and months to put matters through which the commission could handle within a few minutes in many instances.
 High salaried men of executive ability would prove valuable invest ment for the city. It would mean the saving of much money to the city and really would put the city on a straight
 
 become a thing of the past and petty politics would not play so much part in the doing of the city's work.
 Three commissioners could take up a proposition, discuss 1t among them selves and arrive at a quick conclu- sion. With the board of alderman it is often the case that matters needing immediate attention are blocked by some alderman who Is acting under supporter of his.
 T have no kick against the men composing our city council, for the presnt body is just about as good a one as could be selected. The system. however, is nothing to compare with the commission plan, so far as the city's general good is concerned, and I, like many others, would be very glad to have the change"
 Redus Opposes Commission.
 Robert c. Redus said that he was in- clined to take g. conservative view of pro- posed changes, and in regard to the com mission form of government he did not see any good ground for substituting 1t for the present system.
 ''If council" said MT. Redus, "does not administer the business of the city wisely and honestly there could be no guarantee that a commission of three or five men would do 1t better. I am in favor of holding on to our present form of municipal government, If voters will only take the interest in public affairs that they should there will be no trouble in electing intelligent, public-spir1ted and conscientious aldermen, who will take pride in giving us good government"