The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-25

penses of the .state. and put an end to reckless appropriations. One of the law makers said yesterday that if he were governor. and were the legislature in ac- cord with his views. he could save sl.0o0,- 900 per annum out of the sum which Is now expended in that period.
 Perhaps the most lucid statement issued during the past week was that of ]. Fall Roberson, representative of St. Clair. We should get together, he said, and cut down expenses. We should then make appropriations only for those institutions whch are sorely in need Then we should elect a business man for governor who
 s not crazed by an issue on which he thinks hangs the destiny of. the world.
 AS @ result, the state would prosper. Foreign capital would enter our limits. And no more would we be disturbed by tho horrible cry of poverty All that Ala bama needs Is 6 rest. We do ourselves little credit in the continual paradng of our miseres."
 Jefferson county is preparing to wage war against the fee system which, it is claimed. has clutohed the throat of the people for many, many years. Organiza ton has occurred, and the disposition of the water contract issue will be fol-
 lowed by the first telling blow. Stren- uous efforts to arouse enthusiasm in a campaign against the contract between the city and the water company have utterly failed--this either being due to the indifference of the people. or Q the fact that they have already determined what the result will be-
 | The fight for the retention of the fee system will be more desperate than many at the present time believe. At hom there will be opposition on the part of tfose who hold that the man who dances should pay the fiddler and that
 Rfff rtale a1a, ha through taxation imposed on theg law abiding. And the sherins association which has agreed to remain neutral will probably get alert when It's members realize that Ian awful precedent Is about to be set in Jefferson.
 Despite this however, 1t Is. probably true that the campaign if 1t is wisely and feariessly conducted will terminate in victory. It all depends on whether Jefferson's fight is supported as unani- nously as possible by tthe citizens of this county.
 In Birminghsm. the week has been en- livened by otter moves against commits sion form of government.
 There are now three possible directions in which the opposition might move. One may be through question to be sub mitted to the people in the primary. as a result Of which 1t will be ascertained Wnetfef q nldJorliy stiA ldNoFs tue iu- novatlon or not. Another may be through bills to be submitted In the ex- traordlnary session of the legislature en- deavorlng 10 increase the number of commissioners from three 10 five. The other may be through the movement1rQf former city officials to secure salaries on the ground O. their claim that they were dismissed without authority. This will result in a test of the constitutions ality Of the bill which created the com mission
 Out of the conflict there is scarcely doubt but that the commission will emerge successful. While many people have lost their former high regard for the new system they do not relish the idea of a return to the aldermanic plan. And. as stated before the ''progressives'' ur to the present. time. have not pie tured new Utopia to which the people