The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-20
Vigorous Message Indicates Mayor Exum's Purpose
 to Do Things
CONTRACTORS MUST
 ACCOUNT FOR DELAYS
New Audit of City's Finances to be Made-JaiI Conditions to Be Im- proyed-Arc Light Con-
 tract Adopted

 night resulted in immediate action on a number of matters which have been long hanging fire, and everyone of his recom- mendations was concurred in.
 An investigation into the failure of con- tractors to complete improvements was assigned to the street committee and city engineer; the Mayor was authorized to employ experts to make a careful study of the North Birmingham light and water plants and estimate what outlay Is neces- sary to operate them economically and profitably; the legislative and market committees were instructed to make careful study of the need for a crematory and find the best method for Birming- ham; the Mayor was given authority to urer's office, and a competent assistant to the auditor; a complete audit of the city's books and departments was or dered a committee was instructed to in- vestigate conditions in the southside and northside jails, and make recommenda- tions for an early improvement; the arc light contract submitted by the Mayor was adopted; and the finance and streets committees were instructed to take steps looking toward the purchase of flush carts to wash the streets.
 Message Was Vigorous
 All this was done upon the Mayors recommendation, by a unanimous vote. except in the case of the light contract The message was vigorous, and demon strated that the new chief executive means to do things. He settled the long disputed arc light muddle, by presenting an entirely new contract, which does away with the many difficulties which had arisen.
 The Mayor is no figurehead, as some code. With the backing of the whole board, and his power to recommend and veto, he seems to be a very live proposi- tion. With the legislative committee. which President Harry Jones has given him as his committee, subject to his call, and made up of the chairmen of the most important council com- mittees, he can set on foot any Legislation or improvement he deems night that the Mayor is always a member ex-officio of the committee.
 Message Is Read
 The message was the first order of business after the readying of the min utes, and was read by President Jones, the council acting on each paragraph separately. Here it is in full '"To the Honorable, the City Council of Birmingham.
 "Gentlemen: Without being able to get full report from the city engineer on the general condition of contract work for street improvements, etc, In time for the meeting of your honorable body. l have, however secured sufficient data to ascertain that a great many Of the con- tractors are far behind with their work. In fact, I find that the time for comple- tion of many contracts for street im- provements has expired. and in some in- stances no work whatever has been done from the time of the letting of the con- tract to the date set for the completion of same.
 'I therefore recommend to your honor able body that such contracts be investi- gated, and unless good and sufficient explanation can. be made for such de- lays, that the city of Birmingham pro- ceed against the bondsmen of such con tractors, WnO nave ueIdulttu uiluCi tHC terms of their contracts, and enforce the provisions of the agreement.
 Tt is not my purpose, nor do I believe 1t Is the intention of your honorable body to insist upon the completion of con- tracts within unreasonable time limits, or to expect too much of the contrac- tors, but certainly when work is let at a specified price, to be finished within A specified time, and bond given to I,;r oLo haf oil hQ and specifications of the contract shall be fulfilled, we should insist that the work be completed within the guaran- teed time and no dilatory methods on the part of any contractor should be permitted.
 q trust by the time of the next meet ing of your honorable body I will have a full and complete report on all im- provement contracts which I will lay be- fore you.
 North Birmingham Crematory
 Your chief executive accompanied the legislative committee to North Birming ham and made thorough investigation of the North Birmingham water works and electric light plant.
 This committee will make their re- port and recommendations.
 However, I beg to state to your hon. orable body that it is my opinion, and
 I recommend same to your honorable body, that no money be spent on these plants other than Is absolutely neces- ssry to insure their continual operation while further investigations are being made This amount to be expended will not exceed 5000.
 q further recommend that a thorough ly competent expert be employed to in- vestigate the amount of water the city of Birmingham can positively expect for its water plant and that the question of the purity of the water be thoroughly gone into. When these facts are ascer- tained 1t will be comparatively an easy matter to estimate what outlay the city of Birmingham can afford to make to operate the plant economically and profit ably.
 "I recommend, also, that an expert be appointed to investigate the possibilities of the city of Birmingham's electric light plant It may be that the cyv has in Its employ some one competent~ make this report, and in this event. 1t will be un- necessary to employ an outside expert.
 CrematOry
 q understand that the matter of crematory for the city of Birmingham was referred some months ago to committee composed of the Mayor, the chairman of the police and sanitation. chairman of the finance committee, chairman of the street committee. chairman of the judiciary committed, the city engineer and the street com missioner, but that no action or report or recommendation has ever been made by this committee.
 q, therefore, suggest that this same committe, or any other committee which ,,,,r I, I,oporobla nresidept may doaro It