The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-07-24
Criticise Manner in Which
City's Affairs Are Be-
ing Conducted
SOMEONE WILL HAVE
TO COME TO RESCUE
Moore Says Old Board of Aldermen
Could Not Have Been Imposed
Upon by Corporations as
Has City Commission
ny HUGH w. ROBERTS

by HUGH w. ROBERTS
AS a dangerous vagary, the apparent
fondness of which is superinduced by the
intense heat of the July sun, the plan
| to divide Jefferson county has been char
acterized.
The two citizens who so severely GEN.
sured the scheme for the financial relief
of the city of Birmingham were Henry
B. Gray and Walter Moore, both of whom
in the palmy days of aldermen were
powers in the affairs of municipal gov
eminent.
ut is simply a matter" said Mr.. Gray.
'as TO whether or not we are selfish
enough TO hold the advantage that We
have, or unsehsh enough to yield our
strength to Bessemer and Warrior. The
move would be disastrous to Birmingham,
and the amount of money which would go
to the capitals of the other counties as
a result of trade detected from Birming-
ham cannot be estimated"
Mr.. Moore was. If anything. trife
more emphatic. IF It is wise to slough
OFF portions of Jefferson county. it is
wise to slough off portions of Birming-
ham. There has been advanced no sane
reason why we should split up Jefferson.
And no man has been quoted as favoring
the proposition who has ever had great
experience in the matter of government"
The Avenue of Escape
When asked what in their opinions
should be done to obviate the deficit of
s2So,o0o which Birmingham, 1t is claimed.
suffers through necessity every year,
both men gave similar answers.
Mr.. Gray averred; THE municipal gov
eminent should be operated Just as eco
nomically as possible. The deficit should
be held to no more than 100000 Within
five years the growth Of the city Will have
brought about increased revenue suffl-
Client to wipe out gradually enough OF
the Indebtedness to permit the city to
continue business without embarrass-
ment."
Mr.. Moore said: Everything will be
all right when the people of Birmingham
get down to actual work, when they pull
together for increased pay rolls, and de-
cline longer to chase after vagaries and
isms.' When we get over that period
Bile, or taking up and fighting for every
bubble which for the moment pleases the
public fancy. Birmingham will grow to
such an extent that there will be no
longer the distressful cry of Poverty,
poverty We need a rest. We cannot
go abroad buying parks at fancy prices
dreaming Of ZOOS. fighting for and
against contracts, tearing up all that we
have In the past constructed. and at the
same time be cheerful under the Jingle
of coins in public Golfers. If we get to
work. Birmingham will be all right.
have never seen Birmingham run after
a scheme so ridiculous as this, so abso-
lutely void of reason and merit"
Efficiency of the Government
Both men In their discourses referred
with faint praise to commission gov
eminent In speaking of the manner
In which the three gentlemen in charge
have conducted affairs, Mr. Gray said.
THE commissioners are honest but no
more honest than the aldermen. and
they are not as efficient. For instance,
under the aldermanic system there
would never have been the consolida-
ton of the telephones which Is even
at the present time causing criticism
And no such contract as that pending
now between the city and the water
works company could have been put
over the aldermen. That contract is
outrageous and, In my opinion, will net
| the company about s250000 per an
mum more than the company is clear
ing today"
Mr.. Moore. in the same vein, said:
when the commission government was
advocated so strenuously In Birming-
ham we were told that as soon as the
grating aldermen were relegated to
the past the city's income would be
more than sufficient to operate the
government and pay off all previously
assumed Indebtedness. And now we are
told that the necessary deficit of tho
city is s250.000 per annum. Surely, some
mistake was made; some little mistake,
TO say the least.