The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-25
STRENUOUS DAY FOR BIRMINGHAM MEN AT CAPITAL Commission Situation Was Practically Unchanged
 Last Night THREE AGREED UPON SEEM TO BE ASSURED City Auditor Petersen Added Some what to Gaiety of Affairs by Issu-
 ing Criticism of Exum's
 Administration
By HUGH ". ROBERTS

which has just closed was strenuous one.
 There was something in the atmosphere, something intangible and evanescent, but positive withal. which kept every citizen Ipcf the Magic City in a state of intense ex- citement.
 There were two causes. The report was generally circulated that 1t was possible that Governor O'Neal would not name the commissioners agreed upon by the Jeffer- son delegation. And secondly, the report was everywhere that something of 8 sen- sational nature relating to the municipal government of Birmingham would de- velop before eventide.
 As to the first report, tfte conditions are identical with those of yesterday. The Jefferson delegation has agreed on the commissioners for Birmingham, and the governor has agreed to appoint them. in case no charges are filed and sustained against either of them. Numerous gentle men who are candidates for the commis- sion, keyed up in the hope that some slip might occur in the arrangements, or some split in the delegation, have been on the scene either In person or by representatives.
 Petersen's Charges As to the second report, there have oc- cured developments. On an early morn- ing train c. S. Petersen, who has been auditor of Birmingham for several years, reached Montgomery In the afternoon he issued formal statement in which he crticises the administration of Mayor Exum, and cites as proof of his charges number of letters which passed be- tween the chief executive and himself In this connection 1t Is of interest to note that during the day numerous mem- bern of the official family of Birming- ham were on the scene, and each partic- ipated in the general excitement and anx- toua anticipation. Mayor Exum was here Street Commissioner Gafford was here. Auditor Petersen was here. Judge N. B. Feagn was here Aldermen Morgan, Huddleston and Stern were here. Con- cerning the charges of Petersen no man made statement. Each desired to post pone his remarks until his return to Bir mingham.
 Call on the Governor
 Late in the afternoon the Jefferson delegation with the exception of Rep resentatives Barnard and O'Neill wait cd on the governor. The delegation bore the properly signed and engrossed commission government bill of Bir-, mingham The delegation requested the governor to sign the bill and ap- point the commissioners agreed upon as early as possible. ,..
 The delegation renewed it's former statement that 1t had been agreed that the governor would please, were he to name as the first commissioners of Birmingham, Mayor Exum, Judge A. o. Lane and Harry Jones.
 After the conference. MT. Percy said: 'I am certain that the original agree ment of the delegation will go through. I am sure that Governor O'Neal will appoint the gentlemen agreed upon by ferred and sustained against them, or either of them.'
 Will Consider It Carefully
 The governor before signing the bill will consider it carefully. As has been take kindly to the recall feature and the provision abolishing political parties. As to whether or not he will amend the bill 1t Is unknown.
 As has been stated. Governor ONeal has not entered an iron-bound agree ment to appoint any man or any men. On the night on which the delegation consulted. the governor sent word to the members by Representative Lee Long of Butler that he would not com init himself positively to any person. On the following morning he stated to certain members of the delegation, and since has repeated the statement, that any request made of him by the solid federation would be considered by him as if if was a command which he would feel impelled to obey.
 Since that. time there have occurred many developments. Friends of other Birmingham gentlemen have urged their claims and made criticisms, anu candidates have been on the scene. Deleeations have come. The situation has become so bemuddled that there IS no distinction between heads and tails.
 The statement given out here this aft ernoon is as follows:
 gro Whom it May Concern:
 q have been auditor of the city of Birmingham since July l. 1907, having previously been assistant city treasurer for two years.
 For some time past the city of Bir- mingham has from time to time pur- chased hay and oats in carload lots from one Henry T. Dean of Birmingham. The invoice weights of nearly all of the said cars were almost invariably considerably in excess of the actual weights as per itemized weight sheets furnished by the city employees who received them. As Is customary in all carload deals of the above articles settlement is made on the invoice weights provided they do not exceed the actual weights by per cent.
 .'I notified my voucher clerk, and it has been standing order in my office to always notify the city purchasing agent of short weights and this was done repeatedly as to these feedstuffs; / furthermore, the purchasing agent ap- proves each voucher as to price. etc. before 1t Is audited and placed in chan mel for payment.
 Some time about January 1, 1911. MT. Query of Artesia, Miss, appeared in my office and stated that his father had apparently been swindled by certain grain broker in Birmingham by name of A. B. Lonergan, he having in his possession a certificate made out on a voucher blank of the city of Birming- ham and signed by the city employe who received the hay to the effect that the grade of hay, of a certain car was in- ferior and was not worth over g per ton. >----F~< tNr.3, et VA rt tt ff4sf