The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-19
SAVING OF $500 MADE IN 45 MINUTES Commission Cuts Police De-
 partment More LOAN IS FLOATED
Birmingham Trust Makes the Lowest Bid for Interest on S50O,000 Loan-Other Matters
 Transacted

A shake-up in the police department caused by Commissioner Lane, the floating of a loan of $500,000 by Pres ident Exum at the lowest rate in the
 history of Birmingham, and few other matters, consumed yesterday the small est amount of time of the commission of any session ever held. The meeting convened at 1115 a. m. and by noon the commissioners were off and away on missions connected with their of- ficial duties.
 The first matter before the body was the opening of bids from banking ln- stitutions for s5O0.OO0 to be borrowed for four months. Three bids were re- ceived and of them that of the Blr- mingham Trust and Savings bank bore the lowest rate of interest. That bid was accepted.
 After the completion of the money transaction Commissioner Lane intro duced a resolution anent the police de- partment The most important propo- sition was one completely rearransing the Birmingham police traffic squad and placing those policemen on beats. Judge Lane explained that he and the chief had agreed that by placing the men on beats and requiring them to stand on the corners during the con- gested hours would be as efficient as | for them to maintain one position at all times He said a prominent New | Yorker had stated that the policemen on the corners for traffic purposes
 were useless and he agreed with him.
 This encouragement will save the city
 about S270 per month
 Saving of $3500
 The resignation of Barney Phillips as desk sergeant was accepted. In his
 place w. R. Weaver was placed, while l B. w. Puckett was placed in as as
 sistant warden. the place formely oc-
 cupied by Weaver
 | The services of c. J. Furey, V. Zella and w. R. Swope as policemen were dispensed with by the commission. A. D. Brown and w. P. Henderson, here tofore detectives at $9750 per month, were placed on as patrolmen at $50 per month effective at once. | The result of the encouragement of the police department will be a saving of approximately $35oo per year in the police department. It was gathered that Judge Lane has additional changes to suggest in that department. Avondale Park Stand The commissioners listened to a pe- tition of the Humane society to the eff feet that quarters for that organiza- ton should be provided in the city hall, and the society requested other con- sessions. That matter was passed. | The commission leased refreshment stand at Avondale park. It was ex- plained that an exception was made of 1 Avondale by the earnest solicitation of 1 the residents of that territory and that | this park would be the only one made an exception of. as a resolution has all
 ready been adopted refusing such con | sessions.
 After hearing a few communications | and ordering several bills paid the
 commissioners adjourned until this
 morning at II o'clock.
 Weatherly to Mobile l Commissioner James Weatherly will | leave tonight for Mobile, where he will
 address a mass meeting of citizens on l the commission form of government
 At the earnest request of Mobile citi- zens he will make the trip.
 He explained yesterday that his talk
 would be along general lines and that he would not enter into local appli- 1 cation of the system. He said the ten
 dency of the times politically was to | return the government to the people and that the commission was one form of that return.