The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-03
PERCY EXPLAINS
 COMMISSION BILL Favors Three Commissioners
 Including Mayor FAVORS RECALL SYSTEM Is Opposed to the Governor Appointing First Commissioners, Believing Such a Course Would Chill
 Enthusiasm
FAVORS RECALL SYSTEM

Walker Percy, who will introduce a bill in the next legislature provid- ing for a commission form of govern ment for Birmingham, issued state- ment yesterday explaining the details of his bill.
 He favors three commissioners, in- cluding the mayor. the latter to be paid S7500 and the others $6000 per annum. He is opposed to the appointment by the governor oe the first commissions CTS and the recall" system is strongly advocated.
 He states that the appointment of the first commissioners would chill local enthusiasm and he argues at length concerning the benefits of local self-g government. He states he favors the election of the commissioners in spite of the fact that the risk oi choosing unsuitable men will necessar- fly be encountered.
 Tke Formal Statement
 His statement of the matter follows:
 "The people of Birmingham begin the New Year with a genuine pride in their splendid city which they have never known before. It is no longer necessary to boast of Birmingham s natural advantages, its marvellous in- crease in wealth and population, it's lovely homes, splendid charities and good citizenship. The facts and fig ures have been officially published and heralded abroad. The pessimist has been silenced and the skeptic con vinced.
 "Proud of Birming gham's past achieve ments and serenely confident of it's fu- ture, it's people are developing an in- tensity of civic spirit and an enthusf- astic interest in local good government, in refreshing contrast to the hopeless apathy and cynicism which once pre- vailed. The good men of the town have touched elbows and learned to know and believe in each other. Capable patriotic and earnest men, regardless of personal sacrifice, have come for ward to aid in carrying on the diffi- cult, exacting and laborious work of city government
 i Birmingham never had better mayor nor so many good aldermen. Good men have been willing to serve
 
 their discrimination and their whole some interest in good local govern ment by electing with few, if any, ex- captions the best men who have of fered for aldermanic responsibilities Everybody has learned how easy 1t is to beat the corrupt ward politician. and the impotency of wOuld-be bosses in an enlightened community has been revealed. The reason Is simple: Few naOn1a nrofit hU pifv pn : ment. Ninetynine per cent of the voters benefit by honest and efficient government.
 Three Commissioners Desired 'T believe full discussion of the com mission form of government has done much to stimulate interests in the city affairs and to encourage hopes of and efforts of better government. I know many men have been willing to serve temporarily as aldermen largely be- cause of their desire to aid in tablish- ing the commission plan. The people of Birmingham have voiced In emphatic and unmistakable terms the desire to in- stall commission government, and en- certain confident hopes of it's success. My own belief in commission form of government and my desire to aid In it's establishment prompted my candidacy for the legislature, and this work will have the first call on my time and labor.
 Realizing the deep public interest in this subject, I feel that I should say something as to the kind of legislation I shall work for, and the fun1 ental ideas which 1t seems to me the tends of commission form of government should bear in mind The basis of the commis- sion system Is concentration of power and responsibility and the payment of some- thing like adequate compensation be- lieve there should be three commis- sioners for Birmingham, including the recently elected Mayor. favor salaries of approximately $75O0 for the Mayor and s6000 each for the other two commits sioners. can see no necessity for five commissioners. So large a number d. minishes the honor, divides the responsi- bility and unnecessarily increases the ex- pense. The commissioners will have the power to employ competent subordinates and five heads are unnecessary. The com mission should have the entire adminis- tration of the city, including the police force. and if we have the legalized sale of liquor. should have the responsibility of It's regulation.
 Recall Is Favored 'I will favor the recall system. giving 26 per cent of the registered voters tht right to cell an election e to the ysten.