The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-13

1'OdChCl3 WCiC dObdiiCo LOI StINlC
duct the campaign the city commits
announced in yesterday mornings
1t is freely admitted by observers that
every move tends as plain as day toward
the elimination of Chief of Police George
II. Bodeker. Principals on either side Of
the situation, however, decline to talk for
publication.
Detective William Burge resigned, Civ
ing as his reason 81 could not work in the
detective department under Mr.. Steve
Virgins and look my wife and family in
the face" His resignation was accepted
by Commissioner of Public Justice A. o.
Lane with great regret. Judge Lane
stated that without a doubt he believed
Burge to be one of the best and most able
men who had ever served the city in his
line of work. The other two commission
ers stated substantially the same thing.
While official information is lacking, it
is generally known that other members of
the department are contemplating resign
irg. Some sensational developments have
appeared in regard to the police depart
ment in the past week, but they are moth
lIb W hIdt 10 BOiuB W lldpptIl, dttOIulDS
to indications at the present time
Bodeker is not going to resign. If the
chief is to be eliminated from the police
department, the city commission will be
compelled to discharge him, although
neither Chief Bodeker nor the commits
sioners will discuss the question.
The present situation, to the careful OBJ
server of city hall affairs. with official
knowledge lacking, can only be summed
up as follows
One commissioner is determined upon
Bodeker's elimination; one commissioner
is just as determined against Bodeker's
elimination, and one commissioner is un-
decided which side to take
The commissioner against Bodeker and
the commissioner undecided are RESPONSE
BILE for the recent developments in the
police department situation, namely, the
establishment of a detective department,
the election of Chief Detective Virgins,
the election of Lieutenant Detective
STREET, teh placing in the hands of the de-
tective department and out of the hands
of Chief Bodeker the control of the gam
bling conditions, blind tiger conditions,
vagrant conditions and houses of i'll re-
pute.
To look at the situation from the other
end: What is there left for Bodeker to
do?" Any man who can answer that
question cannot fail to see which way
blows the wind.
One of the most spectacular internal
contests among the members of the COM
mission is undoubtedly imminent. On its
development and it's outcome depends the
fate of Chief Bodeker as chief of the city
police department.
Developments in the police department
situation In the past week have been
quick and fast. But they're not over by
any means.
temporary, and we propose to shortly be-
gin the reconstruction and enlargement
of our plant When this has been accom-
plshed, we will then be able to make an
additional voluntary reduction.
We desire to call to your attention at
this time the fact that the above rates
which the company is offering are the
lowest at the preesnt time obtaining in
any municipality in the south.
Following the discussion with you COW
ering the taxes to be paid by the COM
pany. we agree, in view of the financial
condition of the city. to waive that pro-
vision of Section 36-F of the revenue law,
which authorizes us to take credit as
against the privilege of license taxes
which may be assessed against the COM
pany by the city for the years 1914 and
1915. the amount of taxes paid by the
company to the city on it's intangible
property. This action will involve the
payment by the company to the city OF
not less than $4,000 for taxes, from which
we are exempt Very truly yours.
b. r.. L. & P. CO.,
A. II. FORD, President.
President Wards Answer
Mr. A II. Ford, President Birmingham
Railway. Light and Power Co., Birming
ham. Ala:
Dear Sir Replying to your comunica-
ton to the board of commissioners of date
December IL, 1913, relative to reduction in
gas rates effective December l. 1913. and
waving the limitations of section 36-F
of the state revenue bill. this is to advice
that your Offer as contained in said let
ter, has been accepted by the board OF
commissioners Yours very truly,
GEORGE b. WARD. President