The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-16
NEW DECATUR ID
 VOTE BOND ISSUE
Two Decaturs Oppose Tele- phone Increase-COnyicts
 Ignore Petition

Decatur, June 15.-(Special )-An ordinance has been introduced be- fore the New Decatur city council and placed on its first reading providing for the holding of an election in that city to vote $2o,O00 worth of school bonds. It is proposed to take one-half of this money and retire the s10,oO0 issue voted some time ago by the peo- pie of that city. The other 310,000 is to be used in making a number of needed improvements in the present city buildings. The ordinance fixes the date of the election on July H.
 mass meeting of the two Decaturs was held last night at the county court house to protest against the raise in the toll on telephones which has been inaugurated by the Southern Bell Tel ephone company in Decatur and the American Telephone and Telegraph company in New Decatur, these raises In rates to go into effect on July l. The advanced prices are about 50 per cent of the present rate in addition to the present rate.
 The courthouse last night was well filled. The meeting was called to order by ex-Mayor E. c. Payne of New De- catur B. Crawford, also an ex-mayor of New Decatur, was made chairman of the meeting, and H. D. Harkreader secretary. A resolution was unani- mously adopted by the meeting request ing the subscribers of the Southern Bell and of the American Telephone and Telegraph company to order their tele- phones taken out and petitions to this effect will be circulated among the tel ephone subscribers of the two Decaturs. Another resolution was also unanimous ly adopted requiring that the price to be paid by citizens for the use of any public utility be stipulated In the fran chise given such utility company by the city of Decatur and of New De- catur.
 Mrs. Florence Forbes of New Decatur, well known poultry woman, who was instrumental in the organization of the Alabama branch of the American Poul- try association, was elected secretary treasurer of the Alabama branch unani- mously. The officers of the Alabama branch were announced yesterday and besides Mrs. Forbes they are: President, Frank W. Webster, Huntsville; first
 
 second vice president L. K. Terrell, Birmingham; executive board, Col. s. T. Vert, Decatur, chairman Horace Lay man, Huntsville; MT. Sturtevant, Kush- la; W. H. Hofferbert, Gadsden; pr. J. P. Haley, Marion.
 A petition signed by over 300 voters, citizens and tax payers of New Deca- tur and calling on the New Decatur city council to order an election on the of Decatur and New De- catur was ignored by the New Decatur city council and was not even referred to. The law requires that 25 per cent of the legal voters present petition to the city council and if signed by this number then 1t becomes mandatory on the part of the city council to call such an election. In the event of a refusal mandamus proceedings can be insti- tuted against the council. Under the law the city council has 30 days in which to act before mandamus proceed ings can be taken.
 The petition was presented to the New Decatur city council a little more than a week ago and at the same time a petition was also presented to the city council of Decatur Up to this time no action has been taken by the Decatur city council.