The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-16
FIGHT IS NOW ON FOR COMMISSION Percy Bill Provides for
 Three Members OTHERS FAVOR FIVE Five Members of Jefferson Delegation Are Urging Commission of Five
 To Be Named By the
 Governor
OTHERS FAVOR FIVE
By HUGH W. ROBERTS

Montgomery February 15.-tSpecial,)- While the commission form of govern
 ment bill of Representative Walker Per
 cy has been on the active calendar for
 seevral days, tonight for the first time the
 impression is abroad that within very
 few hours on the provision of that bit
 of embryonic legislation there will begin
 some heavy firing. | From the activity of the leaders for and against the Percy bil one judges that the fight might begin tomorrow. At
 any rate, the comir . the pitched battle
 is expected at any S t lent.
 | In reference tf Q 2; mission form of
 government, onf = mingles with the members of th' = q stature is impressed with the idea .; me innovation for the
 opera ton of e 0 os exceedingly popular. l To commiss :<sorm of government, in other words, r ,JA seems to be no oppo-
 istion wort Q consideration. In their
 apprval. m IS of the legislature are | as unanim s weer the people of Bir- l m;ngham election last fall. Eut the1 .. marked difference of opin-
 ion concerns the modus operandi. Each | faction has its own idea to how the
 new government should be applied. l The fight Is expected to be close one,
 litter and brilliant one.
 Cause of Opposition
 In a general sense, the Percy bill is a general bill but in a technical sense. in
 a.much as by Its provisions 1t can apply | orly to cities of 100, ,000-or to Birmingham fit Is a local bill.
 Mr. Percy is leading the fight for the ador tion of his bill The opposition Is led | hx,d Ave hor of Taff dalena- | on--Representatives Judge, Mcdonald, | Eastis, O'Neill and Barnard Represent
 tative Motion is aiding Mir. Percy in his | efforts.
 | The opposition of the five members of | the Jefferson delegation Is due to that | provision of the Percy bill which limits l the number of commissioners to three, and which makes the three, with the exception of the chairman, who Is 70 1 be Mayor Culpepper Exum, elective. 1 The majority of the members of the | Jefferson delegation state that they are willing to vote for every other provision of the Percy bill They what five coni- missioners and would permit the gover- 1 nor to appoint them. They express them selves as willing that Mayor Exum be appointed chairman of the commission. l Each side has been exceptionally busy | lobbying during the day and each side ! announces itself as satisfied that 1t will | be victorious in the fight.
 O'Neal May Veto
 The five members of the Jefferson dele- 1 gation who are determined that there shall be five commissioners for Birming- ham are determined to battle to the very edge of the water.
 They have gone on record as being
 determined to make a personal appeal to Governor O'Neal in case the Percy xf tc poe the legislature
 They will 20 in body to the office of the governor and there represent tn him that they compose the big majority of the Jefferson delegation, and that they are opposed to the bill.
 They will tell the governor that the
 corporation of Birmingham is too big to
 be successfully operated by three men, and that they want him to appoint i've It Is considered probable that the governor would veto the bill were 1t to pass the legislature. As to wether or not it could subsequently, obtain a
 three fourths vote Is problematical
 Aqe-Herald Editorial Effective When the bill Is introduced-pro- vided that no previous compromise is effected-an amendment will be offered by one of the five Jefferson members who are in opposition, substituting the words, five commissioners to be named by the governor" for the words, three commissioners to be elected by the people" The vote will be upon the substitute. of course. and the fate of the bill depends on that vote. MT. Percy will contend that with three commissioners the expense of the city will be greatly decreased and that with three the honor of being mem
 Der of the commission will be greater and that this fact will induce better
 men to make the races.
 The sentiment in the house Is di-
 vided and from can be judged at this time, practically evenily divided.
 The lobbying Is being continued to-
 night, and the editorial in The Age
 Herald of this morning Is proving an
 effective weapon ir the hands. of the
 advocates of the Percy bill.