The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-30
CONSOLIDATION IS
 STILL MUCH ALIVE
Greater Decatur Bill Is Held
 to Be of Little Value
LEGAL TEST IS ASKED
Mayor and City Council of Decatur Relieve That Bill Is Unconstitu@ tiOnal and Want the Mat
 ter Decided

Decatur, January 2a.-(Specal)-A spe cial meeting of the mayor and city coun- Gil of Decatur was held In the council solidation question and the Greater De- catur' bill now before the state legisla- ture. The mayor and city council of De- catur are of the opinion that the pres cnt Greater Decatur" bill is unconstitu- tional and they agreed to pay half of the legal fees for an examination of the con- stitutionality of the bill, New Decatur to pay the other half of the fees.
 In the event that the bill is declared unconstitutional then the Decatur city council is willing that each city vote on consolidation under the present law, pro- vided the people desire it. The present law provides that on a petition signed by one-third of the legal voters of each city separately elections must be called in each city.
 In discussing the matter with your rep resentative Mayor Henry A. Skeggs of Decatur said: 'The impression has gone abroad that the mayor and city coun- cil of Decatur are opposing consolida- ton and that the delegation which went to Montgomery went there for the pur- pose of opposing consolidation. Such is not the case. We did not go to Mont gomery to oppose consolidation, but to oppse the bill as drawn. I favor consoli- Gation, If the people want it, but I want 1t on terms fully satisfactory to the peo- rle of both cities.'
 One objection to consolidation on the part of the people of Decatur is that De- catur Is more compact than New Decatur and that New Decatur covers many times more acres of ground than does Deca- tur, while the revenues of Decatur are equal to the revenues of New Decatur. This Is a problem that will have to be worked out to the full satisfaction of the people of Decatur before consolidation can take place. It is believed that if this matter can be adjusted in some way satisfactory to both cities there would be no objection whatever on the part ol anyone to consolidate the two cities.
 Mayor Skeggs is broad and liberal mind cd. He is firm believer in our dem ocratic form of government in every re- spect, and believing thus he thinks that the legal voters of each city should de- eide the matter of consolidation for them selves and let the majority rule If con- solidation takes place it is generally be- lieved that Mayor Skeggs could easily be. elected mayor of the consolidated city when the time arrived.
 The Louisville and Nashville railroad will spend over 5000 on the improvement Of the New Decatur depot, the work to commence within the next few days. This is the statement given out by Supern- tendent T. E. Brooks, who has just been here looking into the matter. The station will be graded and much filling done around the building. The building will be painted and electric lights and sew craze added to the building.
 With the Churches
 At the Il o'clock morning services at the Westminster Presbyterian church, New Decatur, Professor Kohn of South Carolina rendered a violin solo, The pastor preached at the morning and the night services.
 The Rev. J. D. Jones of Huntsville preached at the Church of Christ in New Decatur this evening at ,f:30 o'clock to a large congregation.
 At the morning services this morning ct the Central Baptist church, New De- catur, Miss Madolyn Polk rendered vio- lin solo. The services were by the Rev. Dr. Gwaltney.
 At the First Methodist church, Deca- tur. this morning the Rev. Dr. J. w. Newman preached on Parental Obliga- tions," and tonight his subject was TEX cess of the Irreligious." At the morning service Mrs. H. D. Harkreader rendered violin solo. Both services were largely attended.
 At the Young Mems Christian associa- ton in New Decatur this afternoon at 3 O clock the Rev. Dr. J. D. Gwaltney ad- dressed the mems meeting. His subject was "Befole the Judge.
 On next Monday evening the Young Mems Christian association in New De- catur will give a members social, from < to 10 o'clock, at which the public Is in vited.
 A social complimentary to the ladies of the church will be given tomorrow aft crnon at o'clock by the Home and For egn misison societies of the First Meth cdisr church, Decatur, in the Sunday school rooms Of the church.,
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