The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-26
ATLANTA CREETS
 EXUM WARMLY
CONTINUED FROM PAGE n

through plain business efforts, and in the official position which I now occupy, I am sure that every man who supported me in my race for mayor, expected me to handle the affairs of my city Just as I have handled the affairs of the bus mess concerns with which I have been identified. Therefore, the very best I can offer you is a short business talk to the business men.
 At the time I offered for mayor of Birmingham the people also voted in favor of a commission form of govern ment, the champion of that particular | form of government being that learned lawyer and patriotic citizen, Walker Per | cy, and to thim is due more credit for the establishment of our present commits l sion than any other.
 Board of Aldermen "At the time of the change from the old aldermanic system to our present form of government, Birmingham could be justly proud of the large majority of the members who made up its aldermanic board. We had on the board successful men; men of large affairs; patriotic men, and men who am sure would and did do their full duty toward the city so far as a government of the kind they represent ed would permit. But the system was wrong. and though good and patriotic citizens were in charge, failure resulted Under the present plan in operation in Birmingham, the direct responsibility for success or failure is placed upon the com missioners and all the people of all the city are the judges. The commissioners devote their whole time to the city, their energy and their brain being at it's dis posal. Naturally, therefore, more eff cient and satisfactory results are expect ed and more are obtained.
 "The plan under which Birmingham is now operating makes it practically posi- tive that good and efficient men will all ways be in charge of it's affairs. Under our plan, it is necessary for a man who aspires to the office of commissioner to be solicited by a petition signed by at least 800 qualified voters of the city be- fore his name can be placed upon the ticket, and a voter may only sign one petition. It follows, therefore, that a voter will be pretty slow to solicit any but man in whom he has confidence as to his character and ability, and one whom he will vote for and active in his election
 Our plan further provides that but one commissioner retires at a time therefore only one place can be filled at time. It also provides that the successful candidate shall receive a ma jority of all votes cast. Any candi-
 
 two candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall make the race within 10 days after the previous cleo | tion. You can see from these precau- tions in selecting the material in the | first place until the final qualification as commissioner, that it is, mighty hard to get bum copy.
 Showing Atlanta
 Tt is not often that Atlanta can be shown, but In this instance I believe your good people will point to your sister city. Birmingham. and say of her and her people that she has framed and put into operation plan of gov ernment which we can vouch-safe for in handing down to our future genera tions. Therefore, good Atlantians, in- vestigate, and if our experiences are of value to you, take advantage of them.
 "So much, in a general way. about our plan. l suspect what you want to know Is, what has that commission really done over in Birmingham, and am going to tell you just little, for we have been in control such little time, and the work laid our for us to do Is so big, that in compa rison, I am afraid we have really accomplished but little.
 Personnel of Commission We took charge on April 10, our com mission being composed of Judge A. O. Lane, James Weatherly and myself. Judge Lane resigned a very important | tudgeship to accept the place on the Board of Commissioners, MT. Weatherly was one of the leading attorneys of Bir- mngham and the state, having an exten- slve and lucrative practice. Both Judge Lane and MT. Weatherly are eminent law yers As soon as the commission was or ganized each commissioner was assigned a particular department over which he had special Jurisdiction. Judge Lane was as- signed to the department of public jus tice, and in addition was given the police | department, health and sanitary depart ments and the plumbing department Mr. Weatherly was assigned the department of streets and parks and public buildings. Finances, public affairs and fire depart ment were assigned to me. In the judi | cial department our first step was to re- 1 duce the number of recorders courts | from four to two. and to reduce the at- | tcrneys connected with these courts from six to one, thereby making saving of $15,220 per annum in this department; we reduced the expenses Of the police de-