The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-23
PLAN REFERENDUM
 ON GARBAGE CANS.
Walter Moore Says Voters
 Are Signing Rapidly
JUDGE LANE SERIOUS
Thinks Referendum Would Make the City Laughing Stock--Weath- erly Is for Referendum if
 the People Want It

One of the livest issues in Birmingham
 today concerns that contract which is to
 be entered into by the city and the Ma tional Civic Street Cleaning company In reference to garbage cans. The idea of
 the city permitting this company in return for the use of the cans to display ad- vertising on the prominent streets of Bir- l mingham has not met with any degree
 of general favor.
 | In the meantime the petitions for a referendum election on the subject are still in circulation. Walter Moore, former al- derman, stated last night that he could not tell how many names had been signed to all the petitions, but the one which he ], is circulating has been readily signed by
 1o7 qualified voters.
 l Commissioner Weatherly, who fathered
 the contract, and who has already stated that he is in favor of referendum elec- ton, said yesterday; "As a matter of fact a referendum election is more prop erly held concerning the disposal of a street franchise than concerning any other
 subject. The granting of the contract is | identical with the granting of a street franchise. It is proper to hold a referen- l dun election if the people desire it.
 am in favor of such course of procedure l ii the people are.'
 Judge Lane, when asked concerning the petition for a referendum election. spoke
 in more serious vein. Said he: well I think the talk about a referen- | dunn on the trash cans is merely a tenn l pest in a tea pot. If thousand citizens of Birmingham can be found who would l petition for referendum such a question, of course I would be perfectly willing to have it submitted to the voters of the city, although it would make Bir-
 mingham the laughing stock of the coun- try.
 "No observant person who sees our streets daily in the business centers can
 fail to note their lack of cleanliness, ai- though they are thoroughly cleaned every
 morning by the street department, not excepting Sunday, but before night they are strewed with papers and trash of
 various kinds. The cans proposed are of improved patterns, and, I am informed, | they are much in use in other cities. The
 proposed experiment with them is simply movement on lines of civic pride and improvement,
 'It is hoped to educate the people 10
 throw trash into the trash cans instead of on the sidewalks and in the gutters. believe with proper and well directed efforts this can be done, and if done, 1t will add greatly to the attractiveness of | t~ l... 1rf.. h.. chants and all other citizens. and even visitors.
 "These cans cost the city nothing, and they can be removed by the city at any time, at it's option. or course, 1T they
 do not work we'll or are objectionable,
 they will be removed.
 f"Certainly the city could have cans, of of dollars, but where would be the ad- vantage over the proposed plan- "It seems to me idle to talk about sell ing the privilege to local men, for no one would buy it, with the reservation on the
 part of the city to have the cans removed i at any time, and that reservation would be retained by the commissioners, judging from expressions of the several members. Tt would not be desirable to have local advertisements on the cans. The advc-- tisements proposed are of products In gen eral use, and show no discrimination as among local merchants.'
 | Commissioner Exum stated that the con tract had not been signed as yet. Since the commission agreed to award the con tract nothing has been heard of the rep resentatives of the National Civic Street Cleaning company, the manufacturers of most novel and highly improved gar haze can.