The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-03

tion in office of any commissioner. This Is necessary, In view of the large powers of commissioners. l will favor the publi- cation of all franchises in advance of their grant, with the right of a fixed num- Der of voters by petition to demand an election thereon. The commission should have the right to employ and discharge all other city officials.
 'T am not inclined to favor a civil ser vice provision. It seems too complex. and, furthermore, believe in giving the commissioners a free hand and in holding them responsible for results. This policy has appeared to me to secure the best re- suits for private corporations. believe the terms of office should be not less than three years and that, after once organ ized only one commissioner should be elected at time. I am not inclined to favor the initiation of legislation by popu- lar vote. The democartic voters of Bir- mingham having by an unanswerable ma jority declared for a commission form of government, I shall treat the result of that election as a mandate to pass an act for a commission government without an- other expression from the voters as to the desirability of the legislation. I do not expect and don't think any other advo- cate of commission government should ex- pect to secure the identical plan individ- ually preferred
 ''The enemies of commission govern ment and of all other good city govern ment, and they still exist, will not openly fight the general idea but no one will ever be able to draft bill to suit them. There will be honest differences of opin- ion as to many of the details which have suggested.
 "rhe most important question which expect to arise Is, as to whether the first commission shall be elected by the voters of Birmingham or appointed by the governor. I have heard many ad- vocate the appointment of the first com missioners by the governor. The req sons generally assigned are that the old city gang may control the election; that some of the bosses are still strong; that many unfit men are being suggested Tor the position, and that the voters may not select good men. And 1t has been sug gested that, by virtue of my position. I may be able to influence or dictate some of the appointments.
 .'The commission plan is notpanacea for all the ills of government. Its sue cess will depend first, upon whether good men can be induced to offer for the positions; second, on whether the voters will prefer the good men offer ing to the other sort. I don't believe any place of It's size in America has a. better citizenship than Birmingham. I believe good men can be pursuaded to offer for these positions and I am confident they can be elected. If good man cannot be elected at the out set I fail to see much reason to ex- pect their seleoton at subsequent cleo tions.
 Should Elect Officials
 "Good government is secured by the stimulation of popular interests in gov ernment and can imagine nothing that would so chill popular enthusiasm for the commission plan as guberna- trial appointment of the first commis- sioners. We are entitled to local self government, and whether we select good men or bad. they should be selected by the people and not be appointed by the governor. I say this in no spirit of hos tility to MT. ONeal. would have taken the same position had MT. Mallory been elected. I fact, do not believe MT. O'Neal would desire the difficult and re- sponsible task of seh1 ting the men who are to govern city with the conditions and citizenship of Z aich he is compar- ntively unfamiliar.
 T shall present td the legislature bill embodying these ideas.
 WALKER PERCY"