The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-10
MOLTON OPPOSED
 ID COMMISSION And Will Make Argument for Greater Birmingham GIVES SEVERAL REASONS Says He Has Heard Several Names Mentioned for Appointment-Hls
 Greater City Argument
 Touches Sanitation.
GIVES SEVERAL REASONS

T. H. Motion, who left for Montgom- cry yesterday afternoon, Is armed with printed circulars. in which he asks the legislature for "al1 of Greater Birming- ham, or nothing" and submits at length number of very strong argu- ments in favor of his position. He will distribute these pamphlets among the legislators, and hopes to influence them in changing their position. MT. Motion is opposed to the commission bill and will put in a word against 1t whereverN possible. When asked for his opinion on the commission bill he said ;
 T have thought well of the commis- sion form of government ever since the plan was adopted and proved so emL- nently successful in Galveston.
 Tt scarcely requires any argument to convince one that paid commission, composed of 'first-clas business men is more likely to give better service and bring about better conditions than a board of aldermen composed of score of men who meet two or three times a month and transact business for which they are not paid one cent.
 Theoretically, a commission form of government is the best, and in some places I have no doubt that practical results have been obtained, but at last 1t depends on the personnel of the com mission.
 When it was currently rumored that our first commission would be ap- pointed by the governor and that cer- tain men were slated for the place, must confess the proposition then be- came more serious to me and I have since considered both sides of the ques- tion. I have no doubt that the friends of this movement for a commission form of government have 1t in their minds to select as members of the com and successful business men. I have heard the names of such men as James Bowron, Capt. T. G. Bush and Robert Jemison suggested, but, seriously con- sidered. I don't believe that either one of them would stand as much chance of election as would any of the alder men or ex-aldermen, who are now giv- ing their services free of charge.
 Tt must not be overlooked that there was a great emergency which brought forth the services of such men as com posed the Galveston commission. No such emergency exists in Bfrmingh am, and the chances are that the only issues in the campaign will be wet or dry which seems to eclipse all other mat ters of importance in Alabama.
 There are other objections to the commission form of government which did not occur to me until the proposf- ton came face to face for considera- tion."
 In his address to the legislature on Greater Birmingham MT. Motion says: 'We of Birmingham want one great city, not for selfish reasons, but for self-preservation, and for the good of our suburban neighbors. If for no oth- CT reason we should have one city gov eminent to regulate and control sani- tary and health rules through out the entire valley. One small part of this thickly populated community could be a menace to the health and lives of all Jefferson county. It will not be forgot ten that in 1873 Birmingham was al- most wiped wiped out of existence by an epidemic of cholera. This epidemic gave proof that our rotten lime stone formation is the place where this ter rible disease spreads and gets in it's deadly work. In 1873 Birmingham had no sanitary sewer system, and much of the territory in our suburban towns, where population Is as great as was the population of Birmingham in 1873, has no sanitary sewer now. We have had entirely too much typhoid fever, scarlet fever, smallpox and other dis eases, and only by the province of God have we escaped some terrible cpl demic.
 As a member of the sanitary commits sion, I know that it is now feasible and practicable for all of the lands In these numerous places to be drained into our county trunk sewers. The problem is, how to have these different systems built and these county sewers used. The an- swer Is, give us one city government, with courageous officers and an able city engineer to do the work. This done, Birmingham will be one of the most healthful places in the world.
 From an educational standpoint, it is to the interest of all to have one school system, to be presided over by such man as our Dr. Phillips. The people who reside outside are now and have been for years, accepting, if not imposing upon Birmingham liberality, by sending their children to our High school at nom- inal cost. We are proud of our schools and want the children of our neighbors to be educated therein. We want them to study economies, so as to be able to teach their parents that 1t is cheaper to run one big city government than a dozen small ones. We want them to teach the old folks that the fewer office holders, the better for the people. l am sure these children who are educated un- der Dr. Phillips system will teach the old folks the advantages of one strong fire department over a dozen weak ones; that one strong police system is more eff fective than dozen small ones. They will be taught that the world Is round, moi square. to suit some designing office holder or selfish individual of the privi- legged class.
 We want somebody to teach the strength. power, economy and other ad- yantages of consolidation, cooperation