The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-30
COMMISSIONER LANE TALKS ON
 C|TY'S AFFAIRS Shake-up in Police Depart ment Is Just Getting
 Started BOND ISSUE MUST SOON BE SUBMITTED Says the City Faces a Financial De- ficit Unparalleled in Its His tory-Blind Tigers and
 Resorts Must Go
By CLYDE ENNIS

In the quietude of his office in the City hall yesterday afternoon, Associate Com missioner A. o. Lane gave a few expres- sions as to what may be expected to oc- cur in municipal Circles at no very dis tant time Here are some of his expres- sions:
 "The shake-up in the police department has just started.'
 "The city faces a financial deficit un- in her history
 'The blind tigers in residences, infest- ing respectable residential sections. are doomed with no recourse.
 "I will make an effort to secure employ ment for two of the officials whom we were forced to release for the citys finan- cial welfare"
 "Incompetency will not prevail in the police department
 'The people will be called upon to vote for bond issue.''
 "The commissioners will make the re- quest and set a figure as low as possible" !"
 "The bond issue is inevitable.
 "The reduction of salaries will continue, as will the reduction of official positions .
 These few expressions of Judge Lane were pleaned from an interview lasting nearly two hours, during which time a line of persons desiring to see him waited patiently in the railways of the City hall. Judge Lane was the only commissioner about the building yesterday and all peti- tioners and others turned to him for re- lief and hearings. He received them with marked kindness and consideration. Late in the afternoon, after having failed to secure time to write an answer to a few his home
 In discussing the police department problem Judge Lane, in whose depart ment this division Is located, spoke with all kind feeling. He made 1t manifest, however, that he was studying the sit- uation with close attention to details and would continue to clean out the men Lane Is actuated solely by high sense of public duty, as he says the depart ment will be brought up to the highest mark of efficiency and responsibility.
 Must Be Source of Pride
 "I assure you,' he said, and in his gray eyes there was no faltering, That the police department will be source of pride to Birmingham if 1t Is possible for me to make 1t so. I intend to give 1t my closest personal attention. I will weed out the incompetents If our power is complete. I think it is.s There is no de- partmert which comes understhe public gaze so necessarily as the police. They must be efficient and must be of good 
 In talking of the financial department he said:
 'The city has been running behind at a tremendous rate The complete data is not before us but I am informed that at no time in Bii1ningham's history have the debts been greater. We will meet this problem conservatively but In bus iness-like way and will try to place the city on good solid basis"
 q am right in behind the alleged blind tigers in some residential portions of the city. And do not hesitate to say that a marked decrease in the number is be- ing noted They shall be broken up if it requires the entire police force All laws must be obeyed and respected in this city. The regrettable conditions must be dealt with sternly and without con- promise"
 Talks of Bond Issue
 In speaking of bond issue Commis- sioner Lane was not very communicative, but he said:
 'I daresay the people are about edu- cated to the idea of bond issue. As we see it the question is inevitable. The bond issue twill be requested. We will ask the people to vote on figure just as low as possible to maintain the city. The financial report next week will show clearly, I take 1t, how far the city has in debt. Then we can deter mine about bond issue"
 Judge Lane said that further reduction must be made in several departments, which would be taken up as soon as pos sjble.
 We have been pretty busily engaged since taking charge and have roughly gone over things. Other reductions will 
 friend of an alderman received a job In the city service. We cannot permit an of these officials.
 1T am personally very sorry that we have been forced tp throw some men out of jobs. However, the city must be placed on a sound financial basis. am person. ally going to see if I cannot get a place tu,o of Thav ro deserving and competent know Judge Lane said the work as it had pro- sressed this far was satisfactory to the commissioners and that they were getting fairly we'll acquainted with their duties.
 we must have the corporation of the citizens in this work. I urge that they get behind us as evidenced by letter received today from Crawford Johnson. That spirit assists us more than I can say, and helps us 10 solve the problem of the city rightly and with cue regard to all concerned,
 President Exum of the commissioners was absent from the city yesterday. He the grand opera session in At lanta. He will return probably this after noon.
 Commissioner Weatherly was out with officials looking over the city and getting in touch with local conditions. He will he absent from the. city Wednesday and Thursday.
 A meeting will he held Tuesday begin ming at 10 o'clock. At this meeting a great many problems will be up for soiu- ton.
 The accountants on the financial report are working alike fire fighters on that work. They will be engaged in 1t at the city hall today. Comptroller Abbott will also be at the city hall today trying to get the financial data of the city in