The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-10
board DECIDES
COUNCIL IS ABLE
70 HANDLE LIGHTS
Effort for Immediate Reduc-
ton in Rates Defeated
By 16 to 4 Vote
WOULD NOT LISTEN TO
REPORTS FKOM CITIES
cabeen Says Merchants Pay Higher
Percentage Taxes Than the Light
Company without Millions
Worth of Franchises

The effort of several members of the
Board of Trade to place the board on
record as favoring an immediate reduc-
ton in commercial and domestic electric
light rates was defeated at the regular
meeting yesterday afternoon by vote
of is to 4.
The board refused even to draw a res
olution on the light question, would not
listen to the reading of the rates charged
in other cities, and unanimously adopted
motion by John l.. Parker that the
question of lights be left to the City
Council that the confidence of the board
in the council be expressed and that the
council be requested to settle the arc light
contract at once, but to postpone ac-
ton on the commercial lighting until an
other time.
The result came as a surprise, as the
programme which it was understood had
been mapped out fell through entirely.
The merits of the present rates were not
discussed, except in a few words by
President B. II. Cooper, put the Is votes
to postpone the matter were cast by
men who. have publicly expressed their
opinions that this is not the opportune
time for a reduction.
Largest Meeting in Months
1t was the largest meeting of the board
in several months. Among those present
were Sid W. Lee, C. c. Snider, w. ID.
Gum, r. M. Goodall, Oliver Chalifoux,
B. Fl. Cooper, Roy Mccullough Eugene
Fies. Jacob Burger, M. V. Joseph, Louis
Saks, H. J. Porter, r. d. Burnett, w.
T. Cox, R. w. Ewing, s. p Fowlkes,
In fact, it was pointed out, number
| were on hand who have not attended a
meeting of the board before this year.
| The light question came up when Pres
| ident Cooper called upon Sol Caheen to
report for the public utility committee,
| in the absence of Chairman Ferd Marx.
| Mr. Caheen reported the meetings of his
| committee with the light committee of
| the City Council, and stated that he be-
| ieved the council would effect a re-
duction at once. In reply to the argu-
ment that the light company is paying
enormous taxes Mr.. Caheen declared that
| the merchants paying a larger per-
centage than the Birmingham Railway,
Light and Power company. "and they
haven't got s2o.ooO.OOO worth of fran.
| chises''
i - Cooper Upholds City's Authority
President B. Fl. Cooper stated that it
was his highest ambition as president OF
the Board of Trade to secure cheaper
| light rates during his administration. In
the Drennen administration of the city
| e-np bo sol Of 20
council to regulate the light rates had
been threshed out and settled and it had
been decided that the council is supreme.
He then asked the secretary to read let
| ters showing the rates charged in other
cities. but John L. Parker interrupted,
and said he was willing to leave the mat
ter to the City Council. R. W. Ewing
thought that since the boards commit
tee had already been before the council,
the question had passed out of the hands
| of the board and was up to the council.
K. Wilkerson then moved that a com
mittee including Mr.. Parker, be appoint
| ed to draw a resolution to be presented
| to the council.
| This motion passed and the committee
appointed was made up of Mr.. Parker,
Mr. Caheen and Mr.. Wlkerson. After
remaining out Is minutes Mr.. Parker
stated that they had been unable to come
| to an agreemnt and made the motion
| that the council be requested to postpone
action on commercial lights, and express
| ing confidence In the councils ability to
| handle the matter
Mr. Caheen dissented, but the motion
carried. Caheen. Burger, Cox, and Chal-
ifoux voting against it.
Action on Belgian Blocks
| The only other matter of interest was