The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-21
WEAKlEY WILL NOT
SEEK MAYORS CHAIR
Would Be Powerless to Garry
Out Reforms
FAVoRS THE COMMISSION
Is of Opinion That Privilege Tax on
Merchants In Tco High which
Partially Explains the High
Cost of Living
FAVoRs THE COMMISSION

| John B. Weakley will not enter the race
for mayor, announcement to this effect
having been made yesterday. Quite a
number of petitions were circulated re-
questing Mr. Weakley to become a candi-
date and he considered the matter well
before deciding not to run.
In the announcement of his intention
not to run. Mr.. Weakley says: Under
the present system the hands of the
mayor are tied, his duties are limited, and
he is pdwerless to carry out any reforms,
however badly needed l do not feel that
| could render effective service to the pub
lie In the office of mayor at the present
time, and have decided not to enter the
contest"
He expresses himself as being in favor
of the commission form of government
OF being of the opinion that the privilege
tax upon merchants is too high Follow
in gis the announcement
Il have been asked by many friends in
birmingham to become a candidate for
| mayor. These requests have been so
numerous and of such character that
nave been impelled to give the matter
| serious consideration in order to ascer-
tain what my duty as a citizen demanded
| or me IN the premises. I have for many
years been interested in the problems of
municipal government in Alabama, and
at various times l have, both as an Off
cial and as private Citizen used my in
| fuence in behalf of a more business-like
| and efficient administration of municipal
affairs. have considered the many prob
| lens which confront the taxpayers of
Birmingham at the present time; the OPP
portunfty to render a great service to
the city in which live seems to be pre-
scented, and If l yielded to my impulses
| am frank to say 1 would offer my
| services to the voters of Birmingham for
| the work at hand
THE burdens and benefits of municipal
administration more closely affect the
people than any other branch of the gov
| eminent under which we live The
dweller in the city is brought in direct
contact every day with municipal Off
| Gals. and our daily life is in a large
measure governed by regulations of the
City Council. The problem of paving the
streets, the cleaning OF streets, the MAX
| Ing and enforcing OF regulations affecting
public health and sanitation, the improve
ment of parks already owned and the ac-
| QUESTION of others, the adjustment of
grade crossings. the building of a great
public library, the acquisition by the city
OF the water works plant, and reduc-
| ton of water rates, are some of the I'M
dertakings demanding the most careful
consideration of our public-spirited citi-
| zenship, and l would consider II a great
| privilege and honor to be called upon to
aid In these departments of municipal
activity.
AT the present time there is
great complaint about the high cost
of living While the trouble seems to
be widespread. 1t seriously affects those
| already residing in our community who
| work for daily wages and probably
| deters others of like occupation from
! locating in our midst. 1t occurs to
me that an efficient city government
could in many ways lessen the tax
upon the laboring man in Birming-
ham; for example, by lessenng the
privilege tax upon merchants which
! Is an Indirect tax on the consumer; by
providing him cheaper water rates; by
reducing the carrying charges on local
| Improvement from per cent to per
cent; by the abolition of tuition fees
in all city schools, and by furnish
ing to all children in the public schoo. |
text books free of charge. l would |
be glad to be an instrument in work
| ing out these and other plans for the
welfare and comfort of our people.
Il would like to aid in the passage
| of law for the establishment of a |
| relief fund for the policemen and fire.
men, the men who guard our property
l..
and who frequently give up their own
lives in the performance of duty. 4 |
| permanent fund should be provided
| SO that n fireman or policeman in
jured or killed in the discharge of duty
should be cared for while incapacitated
and his family should receive at least
$1,000 in case of his death, not as n
charity but as a matter of right. 1t
| la done elsewhere, and it should be
done here.
Under ordinary conditions my de-
| sire to aid in these and other ma tiers
equally important would lead me to
become a candidate for mayor. but
have reached the conclusion that at thi |
time the people of Birmingham are
more interested in changing the form
of government than In charging thu
activities of the government. and that |
the needs of the present situa ton can
best be met by the cooperation of all
public spirited citizens. myself among |
the number. in an effort to procure |
for Birmingham a commission form of |
government.
Under the present system the hands |
of the mayor are tied, his duties are |
limited and he is powerless to carry |
out any reforms however badly need
led. I do not feel that I could render |
effective service to the public in the |
office of mayor at the present time. |
and I have decided not to enter the |
contest. / have written at this length |
in the hope of arousing the public to
greater interest in the city government
Of Birmingham as well as In reply to
my friends whose consideration great
ly appreciate.
JOHN b. WEAKLEY