The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-16
TAKE UP THE JAIL
 MATTER TUESDAY Wheelock's Plans Will Be
 Accepted WORK ON TIDEWATER Commission Doubts Its Authority to Change the Franchise Without Referendum to the People
 for Vote N

The plans of H. B. Wheelock, the we'll known architect, for new prison as out lined several days ago, will be. officially accepted by the commissioners at spe- cial consultation tomorrow at 10 o'clock. It was pointed out at the meeting yes terday that during the term of the late Capt F. P. OBren as mayor Mr. Wheelock was sent over, the country in an effort to secure the most enlightened ideas for prison. He drafted plans at that time at the expense of the city which have been looked over by the com missioners and which have received their commendation and tentative approval. It was pointed out at the meeting yesterday that inasmuch MT. Wheelock had been previously retained it would have been folly to have invited competitive plans and bids from all the architects in the city.
 At the meeting tomorrow MT. Wheelock will appear and work will be ordered to proceed through him for the s4o,000 jail building. His plans as outlined several days ago are the last word in modern prisons and they differ from the old style in the most noteworthy respect of being provided with plenty of baths and fresh air.
 Infaddition to MT. Wheelock the meet ing tomorrow will be attended by l. C. Beatty of the Birmingham Realty com pany who will sell the jail site to the city. Commissioner James Weatherly has all but completed the details of that trans action, and it is said by realty experts that the city is securing fine bargain in the sale price agreed upon. No action Of a final character has been taken upon the proposition of, exchanging other property in part compensation.
 The indications are that the prison work will proceed without any delays now that almost all details have been arranged.
 Take Up Tidewater Request
 Tie commissioners met yesterday morn in, [ at 10 o'clock, and for the first time ij -wo weeks the full membership was 7 sesent. They disposed of a large amount of routine matters such as pay rolls. in dicated their desire to make certain im- provements requested by citizens, and at 80 o'clock adjourned the meeting until Tuesday morning.
 The proposition of changing the Tide water right-ofway was referred to the city attorney again, and it will be taken up Tuesday. In this transaction it may be possible that the referendum will be first brought into use The commissioners have some doubt as to their power to pass the request should any legal number of citizens request that the matter be re- ferred to them. This point is being looked into by City Attorney Romaine Boyd, and upcn his answer will depend final &C., tion The ordinance carrying out the rec concentrations of the Tidewater company was introduced by Commissioner Lane, but was held over for investigation until the meeting Tuesday
 Visitors Present
 Several out town spectators interested in commission form of government ap- peared yesterday to look on while the machinery was at work. The guests in cluded Edward Warner, general manager of the bond and stock department of the Nashville Trust company; Warner Shook of Tuscaloosa. vice president of the Cen tral Iron and Coal company, and Paschal G. Shook of Birmingham. The out-of- town visitors were seemingly much in- terested in the dispatch and thoroughness of the commissioners work. They were later the guests of President Culpepper Exum at luncheon.
 The commissioners passed large num- Der of appropriations, including some bond payments, and then adjourned.