The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-31
JUDGE LANE SAYS !. POLICE FORCE WILL NOT BE INCREASED No Amount of Agitation Would Swerve Him From
 This Course CITY HAS NOT THE MONEY FOR PURPOSE Commissioner Weatherly Says That He Would Like to See the Force
 Increased, But No Money
 Is Available
ny CLYDE W. ENNIS

That any request of the people for ad- ditional policemen to help stem the wave of crime in this community would avail
 nothing was what Commissioner A. O. Lane said yesterday He added. that he was preparing a statement which he
 would issue next week, showing that in
 many suburbs the police force had been l increased and further that the efficiency was beyond dispute. Moreover, Commits sioner Lane said that even should the people offer an initiated petition to in
 crease the force he would disregard such
 suggestion.
 There is absolutely no use for this az
 itation to be kept up.' declared commis-
 sioner Lane rather hotly yesterday. T
 do not intend to employ any more police
 men"
 What if the people petition you by in
 itiative, judge?' he was asked
 '"It will do no good while I am com
 missioner" he replied. You see, we have
 no money to pay them and I shall not | increase the hours from to 12, as now constituted"
 1 Later in the afternoon when Commits
 sioner Lane had been through the tur-
 moi of a meeting he again discussed the police situation and said
 T have directed officials of the depart
 ment to prepare for publication certain data in reference to the police depart
 ment. I assure you that I can show
 where the department has actually been increased. I am told that some com plaint has been made about the protection afforded the outlying territory. In my statement, which will be issued next week I will disclose that the department is en- tirely efficient for this time and will also show that better service Is being given the outlying district than ever before.
 This department Is entirely competent and l shall not hesitate to protect them as far as lies in my power" It was suggested to Commissioner Lane that no comment had been made as to
 the efficiency of the present force, but on the contrary all those citizens who had spoken referred to the very fine talent at present employed.
 We are hard up,n continued the com 1 missioner of public justice, "and any in dividual or corporation which incurs debts
 without any reasonable hope of paying same commits a very unfair and unwise act That applies to this municipality" | Commissioner Weatherry, although not directly in charge of the police, said as commissioner that he admitted every thing that had been said about the small number of the police and admitted that increases should take pface. But" said MT. Weatherly, with his characteristic engaging smile. what are we to do? We are now running behind
 the budget. If we go in debt we will be turned out in disgrace. Men of character do not incur liabilities to be inherited by. other fellows. I wish we were able to improve the police department, fire de- partment streets, sanitation, garbage. auditing, and everything, but we cannot do it. The only remedy is to cerate a sep arate taxing district in order that we may enjoy and spend that money we pay in. Make a separate county OF Birmingham and our income will more than take care of us in every department. I see no remedy for the situation as 1t now stands"
 As for an exercise or the alleged initia- tive which is the companion of the recall and referendum. MT. Weatherly archly observed:
 There is nothing like an initiative in our commission. That reactionary legis- lattlre cut that out. We have no inita tive in the bill which may be exercised by the people.
 We have only the recall and the ref erendum."