The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-14
CORNERSTONE HAS
 HAD QUIET WEEK Nobody Has Been Fired for
 Four Long Days TUESDAYS MEETING Will Be Important-0peration of the North Birmingham Plant and
 Other Matters Will Be
 Considered
TUESDAYS MEETING
Rx CLYDE ENNIS

By CLYDE ENNIS
 Not since the commissioners strolled into the city hall April 10 last, have they srent so many days without holding a session. The next meeting will be Tues day afternoon. Careful compilation dis closes the fact that four long days have passed without any commissioners put ting the official rollers under some de- partment attache or letting out yell for this or that measure, or rapping the Bir- mingham Railway. Light and Power com pany.
 When the three commissioners take their chairs in the city hall Tuesday there may be some service rendered which will pay for the time lost commencing the lat ter part of this week and extending over into Tuesday of the new period. The commissioners have not been idle during the past few days, nor has their inactiv- | ity been a wanton waste of time as some | would gather from the foregoing. The rulers of Birmingham and other terri | tory they may survey have been without ceasing trying to render aid to their cit izens. Not one vacation has been taken except late yesterday afternoon Commits sioner Weatherly took a car ride to the Terminal station, Judge Lane declined to see an insistent "colored gemman,' while President Culpepper Exum, chaperoned by John L. Raul and Scudder Ryall, at tended the ball game at Redwood Field. He reached the scene of the national t-ta of4 Il. rife rate was put up to get their on time. President Exum indicated that he enjoyed the short rest. As for Scudder Ryall he fairly reveled in the almost unbeliev- able fast that once again the work of the commission had permitted the actual wit messing of a ball game by one of the secretaries.
 The past week has been fairly active from the commission standpoint and in- terviews given yesterday indicate that the forthcoming week will be of an eventful nature.
 The end of the week was signalized by Commissioner Weatherly indicating In a statement that he was in favor of municipal ownership of public utility corporations. MT. Weatherly said the progress of the times was for the mu- nicipsl superintedency of all public utility corporations and that Birmng ham was coming to 1t sooner or later The question of utilizing the North Birmingham electric plant will be taken up by the commissioners as unit Notwithstanding the report of en- gineers that the plant was not so very valuable it is stated that if sufficient funds are expended to equip the plant all electric current for operating the city, the school air exhaust fans and other power requirements will be re- ceived.
 Judge Lane, the author of the elec- tric plant resolution, is very serious about the proposition and in dead earn est to furnish the city light below the present cost if possible. Commissioner Weatherly and President Exum, it is stated, are inclined to do anything ad- vantageous for the city and will assist Judge Lane in whatever way to fur nish the city with free current.
 The commissioners will perhaps visit the North Birmingham plant this week. They will be accompanied by some en- gineers who are said to see a fine plant in the property at North Birmingham.
 The meeting of the commissioners Tues day will perhaps be among the most eventful of their history. It is stated that the question of a park commits sion to take over all the parks of the city will be taken up upon a report of Commissioner James Weatherly. He has been studying the proposition and has received a great deal of data from va rious cities. Laws of various municipal ities have been requested and received which the commission will duplicate with such notifications as suit the local sit uation.
 Indications point to the selection of former Mayor George B. Ward or Frank w. Smith as chairman of the board. Mayor Ward has been very much in terested in park conservation, the fur therance of the city beautiful plan and other movements calculated to improve the physical condition of the city. Frank Smith was mayor of Elyton, served as an alderman, was judge of the criminal court, solicitor and Is now a prominent young lawyer.
 The commissioner of public safety, Judge A. O. Lane, indicated yesterday that another shake-up would take place in the police department at the meeting Tuesday. Judge Lane has been investi gatlng his department. and will take care to displace those who. are not able to per- form their work according to his view point The result is that in his notebook Commissioner Lane has jotted down sev- eral names, including some ranking off cers, who will receive the flash of official disapproval Tuesday unless signs fail.
 Judge Lane said yesterday he intended to keep up his trimming of the police department until its personnel was above sreproach. In this connection Judge Lane has taken the medal for the number of employees released, and will probably con- tinue to lead this marathon, as his de- partments outnumber the other members of the board.
 Other questions which will come up Tuesday will be the trading stamp prop osition, the East Lake, assessment, the financial report. the fire department and various details which always accompany regular meeting of the board.