The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-20

CTS. The old water contract was made by the aldermen. The telephone rates were advanced by the commissioners.
 Both were bad.
 q voted for commission government be- cause l thought 1t would concentrate busi- ness matters and facilitate their adjust ment-and economize in the end. l am disappointed in commission government, because it has fallen short of what ex- pected It does not appear that the com mission has either facilitated business op- erations or economized in the administra- ton of the affairs of the city.
 Commissioners Have "Haggled"
 For instance, the water contract or or dmance has been haggled over for several months and no conclusion as yet has been reached. It is useless for the public con tinually to criticize and abuse quasi pub lie utility corporations when the eorpor- ,ations do not do what the people think they should do. when the members of the commission, even among themselves, can not agree on what should be done.
 Tn case the commission is of an opinion that any public utility corporation, such as the waterworks company, the street railway company, or the telephone con- pany, needs to be regulated by ordinance or otherwise, the commissioners should thresh the points over among themselves m executive SeSSloll, feacn tth dsieeilleh' and stand unanimously.
 Tn the eyes of the public, one of the greatest troubles with our commission is that on important matters, two or three ordinances are generally presented in open session before a conclusion has beer reached by the commissioners.
 An Unnecessary Delay
 The laying of Belgian blocks has beer sdprad for nearly year. The con. tract for this work was let some weeks ago Nothing has been done as yet to- ward carrying out that contract.
 About four months ago committee of business men called on A. H. Ford president of the Birmingham Railway Light and Power company, and requested him to reroute bis cars from the west 'sc that they would be turned on Twentieth street or Twenty-first street. This re quest was promptly granted by MT. Ford although he expressed the desire to take the matter up with the commissioners before definitely agreeing to reroute his cars. This matter furnished new material for a squabble. All summer the point has been fought and haggled over, and l no tice that now it has been referred to the city engineer.
 Asks Pointed Question
 There are other important matters which might be mentioned in the adjust ment of which the commissioners. through disagreement on their parts have delayed indefinitely and have tried the patienc, of the public which thought that three men could perform in u day the tasl which required a week for the aldermen to perform In reference to the commis sioners referring the rerouting of cars tC the city engineer I must admit that 1T my mind and the mind of other business men, no doubt. the question has arisen will in the future important transactions be accomplished by the building inspec- tor, the police department, the fire depart ment, the plumbing inspector. the engi Ineer, the electrician, or the commissioners themselyes?
 T regret deeply to repeat that I an thoroughly disappointed in commission form of government