The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-20
ENGINEER SPEAKS
 ID COMMISSION North Birmingham Plant Is
 the Subject A SMALL POLICE CUT Saving of $34O Annually Made By a Reduction of Salaries-Re- port Will Be Made Each
 Month


 mission the post of chief of detectives, held by w. J. Mcdonald, was abolished and the holder of that position placed in as a detective. His former salary was s11O per month, while the latter one is | s97. 50. The other measure was the re- duction of the rank of Paul c. Cole from the post of detective to that of patrol man, carrying a reduction of monthly
 salary of sl75O. The detectives receive
 s97. 50 in salary and the patrolmen sso straight.
 ] The reductions in the police department
 made by Commissioner Lane, In charge | of that work, reaches very large fig ure. and 1t is stated that further actions are contemplated.
 Engineer Talks | The commissioners met yesterday prlh- cipallv to hear speeches from electrical engineers on the North Birmingham plant
 nroposition. I. F. Mcdonald, of the Me Clary Engineering company of Atlanta made a lengthy speech. The speech ol MT. Mcdonald was confined solely to the proposal to figure on the plant at North Birmingham, for which he was to be paio retainer by the city. Judge Lane heard with attention the presentation or MT. Mcdonald that his company had erecteh a great many plants in the south ana that they were all marvelously successful rTovever. the commissioner of public safety said he would not consider for moment paving any money for prospec- tus.
 ''If this gentleman has such unbounded faith in his ability, then let hlm propose to us, said Judge Lane.
 'sThere are engineers who will map out the manner of work, tell us what It Will cost and who will furnish us with mass of proof that our North Birmingham prop ertv is valuable, all free. What this gen tleman wants is a retainer to'furnish us with something that we may not use. l for one am utterly opposed to spending .be neonle's money for any speculation
 Consideration Postponed
 Commissioner Weatherly moved that the commissioners hear everything possioie ol tbe scheme and then decide later what action should be taken.
 He said that it was his intention to learn everything possible of the ehsiiieei- ing plans at North Birmingham anu he did not feel like discourasing anyone WHO desired to talk. even If they did "ish 'o he retained. The suggestion that the coih- nissioners postpone action on the propo- sition to retain Mr. McDonald was acted rnon favorably and it was passed until another day. The commissioners yesterday inoica.eu A restless desire to get into the woik a' North Birmingham and map out plan to furnish the city with arc hghts anu current for all municipal buildings. Judge I. .ane is seriously studying the propositioh along with the other commissioners ana every energy will be spent, it is stated to get the electrical ball to rolling. Notes for Loan Signed
 The notes guaranteeing the record breaking $50O,0Oo loan, made by the ci'y Thursday. were signed yesterday and to- aav Birmingham as a municipality is half million better off. The notes were for s25,ooO each, discount rate at S74 per cent for four months
 The notes were made payable 10 the city of Birmingham at the Birmingham Trnst and Savings company and were s,gned at the bottom by President Exum. |Comnoissioner Lane and Commissioner wea atherly. They were signed also by Il. Scudder Ryall, secretary of the commls- sion After all this the notes were re- yersed and signed again by the oficials. The great seal of the city dlscioslhs es belching furnace was indented on the upper left hand corner of each note. president Exum delivered the notes to the bank in person.
 No Sunday Shows Final action was taken yesterday on th. withheld petition of several moving picture show proprietors to open thelr places on Sunday. The commission py a ma aninous vote sustained the adverse re- mort of Commissioner James ,Weatherly to whom the matter was referred. The commissioners held up acton pend inr another communication from Thomas Ano,in the owner of a picture show who desired to throw more light upon the nronosition No communication was re- ceiyed yesterday, so the final action was taken.
 MT. weatherly said he had received in nun,erable letters from children, ladies ministers and others requesting nm 10 | rule adversely. He was also visited py | committee or HuiliSlelo' "Ho "~N "
 not to permit the shows to be opened on | the Sabbath
 Monthly Report l J1pon a motion of Commissioner Wealth.
 ar,v made yesterday every month re-
 nort will be made of the commissioners | nfficiaI action to the public. A paragraph | in the law provides that a summary or | the commission work shall be furnished inc daily papers once every month, carry | ,no all receipts and expenditures, as we'll .s a concise statement of the acts of the | body.
 MT. Weatherly said the matter should
 he attended to at once, as the people were entitled to the fullest and most unre- served data on what was being done by their three commissioners.
 His views were concurred in by the commission as a whole and the report will henceforth be made.
 | To Read Minutes Secretary Scudder Ryall was instructed yesterday by the commission to read the minutes of all meetings previously held at the beginning of new ones. The mo- ton was made by Commissioner Weather ly. who pointed out that in the best reg ulated business houses errors were made.
 "We should read the minutes every day" said MT. Weatherly. while our | acts are fresh in our minds. In that way 1 any errors made will be caught and ar ranged quickly, and will probably save trouble in the future
 | Commissioner James Weatherly left yesterday for Mobile, where he will ad-
 dress mass meeting today on the com
 mission He will return Sunday at noon. | rIa will talk llnon generalitieS and not