The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-24
NAME SPEAKERS FOR TRAVELLERS BANQUET Exum, Means, Jackson, Jones and Others on
 Programme


 Programme Sidney Lazarus and his committee on entertainment met yesterday in the directors room of the Chamber of Com merce to arrange for a list of speakers for the Travellers banquet, which the Chamber of Commerce is giving to the Birmingham commercial travellers next Edsriday night In the Efillman hotel Aft CT much deliberation by the committee, the following list of speakers was named:
 Chairman, K. W. Ewing.
 Toastmaster, John W. sibley. "Fertilizing the Town Spirit Gull pepper Exum.
 Pulling Together" Frank W. Means, president Alabama Div, T. P. A.
 Birmingham Products" r. NJ. Jack son.
 That Reminds Me-" Harry Jones. Putting It over," George NJ. Plai- sance, past grand councillor U. c. T. Travellers as Town Builders" E. Wilkinson.
 Side Lines,o ". R. MaBry, secretary Alabama Div, T. P. \.
 Delivering the Goods" E. r.. StovalI
 The glad hand committee will be: C. Murray Brown, chairman, II. E. Ken nedy C. NJ. Tardy, o. P. Fontaine, Jesse Wright, Oscar c. Turner, w. H. Maxim, Harry Jones, w. M. Cosby, Zach Talley, w. R. Mabry. A. Jax Davis. Herman Beck, R. T. Anderson, E. Wilkinson. --------------~---~~--- that the Interstate Power company has acquired influential stock in the Ameri- can Cities company. which controls the existing monopoly in electricity in Bir- mingham--the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company.
 Price of Franchise ''11e will not deny that his franchise was obtained from the city at nominal price on the distinct plea that 1t would result in an independent system l in competition with the existing mon | opoly If he stated to any of the com missioners, as he says he did that he was going to try to get the Interstate I Power company interested in his fkan- chise, (which none of the commission 1 CTS recalls that he did), he could not possibly have done so with any other purpose than to assure us of the fact that this particular franchise would bring competition.
 since the Interstate Power company has acquired firm foothold az large shareholder in the great interests back of the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company It is manifest that n sale of this outstanding franchise would certainly not result in competition with the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company. but would simply af- ford the Interstate Power company an- other medium for operating in Birming- ham without the necessity of itself ap- plying for a franchise from the city Tried to Profit
 "AIr. Dewberry obtained his franchise on March 22, 1912. upon the condition that actual work should be begun in good faith before the end of the year on sys- tenn and plant for the sale and distrlbu- tion of electricity in Birmingham He has apparently spent this time in trying to sell at a large speculative profit the franchise which he was to utilize In the development of an independent competing system. At the eleventh hour he rushed into the commission, first for an extension of time which he immediately found he could not get, and then 1t was he made his play of compliance with his franchise by. hurredly getting up some plans and specifications, which with little bag containing 5000 in gold and bond for 5000 he presented to the commissioners. This he did a week ago or more. and we promptly turned him down, but held up our action to give him time to prepare and submit some more plans and specifica- ticns, but the commissioners made 1t plain to MT Dewberry that they were from Mis- souri. and that he would have to show them he was in the act of beginning the construction of a sure enough independent plant and system.
 Now. right here, l wish to lay par ticular stress on the fact that this was all before MT. Freeman entered into the arena 1 never saw MT Freeman in my life until last Friday nor did Judge Lane and l know that MT. Exum re- ceiv ed no disclosure from MT. Freeman oe dlckerlngs between him and MT. Dew berry until last Friday morning. Hence Mr. Dewberry's statement that the action of the commission in rejecting MT. Dew berry's tenders of plans. money. etc., were the result of MT. Freemans disclos- ures, is absolutely untrue. MT. Freeman merely told us what we suspected. and what Mr. Dewberry admits to be true. that he has been speculating on tine ctys franchise for private gain.
 This franchise requires that the cons strrction of the proposed system and
 
 to plans and specifications which shall he in consonance with the purposes and terms of the franchise itself. In spirit 1t forbids the mere setting up of few poles and stringing few wires al the eleventh hour just to hold the franchise for speculation When work Is begun it means that this work shall be pushed 10 the practical result of completed power system by December 3i, 1913
 No Trifling Allowed
 "The city commissioners do not propose that the interests of the city shall be trifled with. If any work goes in the. clty limits it will be without the city's permission. The attitude of the city is simply that 1t will give no further aid or encouragement to MT Dewberry until 1t shall become clear that this franchise is going to be used in the interests Of the city.
 "If MT. Dewberry goes on with this work without the authority of the city he accepts the responsibility for his acts, and he must take the consequences. "If however. he Is right in his conten- tlcn that he has compiled in good faith with all the requirements of his fran chise, and that this work he Is proceeding