The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-04-24
Comm 4
Percy'S Ringing Address On
Commission Government
Thinks This the Most Important Issue of the DayH Elected
Will Make Fight For Special Bill For
Greater Birmingham

come a better Birmingham; better paved.
with improved sanitation and beautiful
PARKS.
Intelligent consideration must be
given to hygienic conditions with tn e
pouring in of many foreign laborers
for our factories and steel works. I'M.
mense paving and sewer contracts must
be let and a great modern city should
be built here on the most progressive
lines. In five years from now the
city of Birmingham will spend annually
$40 for public improvements for 81
now spent. Our people will not be-
grudge the money IL it be honestly
and intelligently expended. With the
| growth of our city. the increased
value of public franchises and great
or amounts involved in public con-
tracts, there will come increased temp
tation TO corruption. Good men will
become more and more reluctant to
take up without compensation, the
constantly increasing and ever thank
| less labor of aldermanic service. But
even if the Birmingham of the i'm
mediate future shall be SO fortunate
as to escape the corruption which the
aldermanic system has produced in
nearly all of our large American cities,
does any thoughtful person believe that
such an unpaid, unwieldy body can in
diligently plan and economically ex-
ccutt the Guy improvements we snail
soon require? The aldermanic govern
ment Is obsolete and was never suited
to anything more than a sort of neigh
| borhood government of small towns.
The excellent mayors with which Bir-
mingha am has been blessed have min
imized the evils of the aldermanic sys-
tenn. One would suppose that men,
who for years have toiled without pay
as aldermen, would be anxious to re-
a hair hItr 70 a
public servants, but strange to say J.
have found that some of our alder
men resent the suggestion of a COM
mission form of government as an i'm
pertinent interference with their vested
rights and ancient perquisites. And
| the tenacity with which some alder
! men have chung to their offices, and the
expensive campaigns they have made
for reelection are incomprehensible.
| Some of you have doubtless smiled over
the story of the alderman who, urg-
| ing upon reluctnat friend his claims
for reelection, finally in desperation
gave as a convincing reason: But, Bill,
need the job" 1 believe we have
had as good government as we could
expect under the system, but experience
condemns the system. Maintaining a
bad system and trying to keep bad
men out of office under it Is as hope
less proposition as trying to xiii
| flies by hand in an unscreened house
In the summertime. The position Of
alderman frequently brings business tc
the holder because of favors he eau
grant Those favors are naturally
often granted to the valued custom err
and the public welfare is neglected
/ believe we should be governed by
from three to five commissioners who
should be paid adequate salaries. Tn
increased honor and payment of ade-
quate compensation would secure bet
ter talent and more efficient and loyal
public service. The concentration of
power would enable the public to place
responsibility and the selection of men
for such positions would arouse public
interest and attention in refreshing
| contrast to the way in which our al
dermen are now selected. The salaries
| of these commissioners would. l be-
llieve, be saved many times over in the
results accomplished. The costliest way
10 pay an employe Is the indirect way
and the most expensive employees to
American cities. measur ed by results,
have been those who were not on the
| pay roll:
| In Galveston. Des Moines and other
cities where the commission form Of