The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-20
Favors Five Commissioners
at $4,000 Salary With SUI
burban Representation
WANTS CITY TO HAVE
EFFECTIVE RECALL
Thinks His Candidacy Is in a Measure
Referendum on Certain Pro-
posed Changes Which
He Advocates

John r. Hornady. managing editor of
the Birmingham Ledger, and who is gen
orally considered as one of the leading
promoters of the idea of municipal gov
eminent by commission, has formally an
nounced himself a candidate for the pres
idency of the commission.
Mr.. Hornady declares that certain
changes are necessary before commission
form of government can be highly sue
cessful in Birmingham, and declares that
his candidacy will be in effect a refer
endum as to whether or not the people
favor the changes which he suggests and
for which he stands.
Briefly put, he favors five members of
the commission, each of whom is to be
paid $1,000 per annum, four of whom to be
elected from four integral parts of Bir-
mingham to be created, and one to be
elected from tie city as a whole. lie
favors what he terms an effective re-
call, one which can be obtained by a
petition signed by % per cent of the
voters who participated in the next pre-
ceeding election. lie also favors the in
PRODUCTION of the initiative into muniei-
pal government, and offers the thought
that the people are entitled to legislate
for themselves.
The Formal Announcement
Mr.. Hornady,s formal announcement,
addressed to the people of Birmingham,
follows:
"On September Is you will fill one of
the most important positions among your
city employees, that of president of the
board of commissioners, and / herewith
enter my application for the place If it
receives favorable consideration at your
hands, / promise to devote my attention
wholly to the affairs of this office and
no part of my energies or of your time
will be expended upon private enter
prises.
This is an age of specialization and
in urging my application for this posi-
ton >it is proper to say that [ have for
a number of years made a close study
of the system of municipal management
under which your affairs are conducted,
carrying my Investigations into numerous
cities where this plan is in successful
operation If intrusted with the duties
of this position | shall do all in my
power to make the commission system
q success in Birmingham, and, more
over shall endeavor to bring our plan
of government TO higher state of eff
cheney.
"There are some fundamental changes
that must be brought about il we are
to have thoroughly contented citizen
ship Zone of the greatest assets of any
community and develop that degree of
cooperation which is essential to the
enjoyment of the fullest measure of COM
munity progress.
More Commissioners Needed
birmingham occupies an unusual po-
sition among commission cities. 1t is not
a single community, but collection of
large communities, and it is confronted
by problems more complex and more diff
flcult of solution than beset the average
municipality of like population. 1t is
the first city of considerable proportions
that has attempted to govern itself with
a board of three men, and in my judg
ment experience has proven the error of
this course.
birmingham, with a population OF 15O,-
900 or more is trying to manage its af-
fairs under a system fitted for a COM
munity of 10000 $1,000. Instead of fol-
lowing the example of Houston, Dallas,
Des Mones Memphis and other cities
of similar size and Importance, we have
followed the example of the small town.
Birmingham should have a board of
commissioners consisting of five men and,
owing to the unusual geography of the
city, with its many widely @eparated
communities, / am convinced that our
plan of government should be so changed
as to give to these various communities
direct representation upon the govern
ing board. Therefore, / favor, and shall
urge the creation of four districts in
the city of Birmingham, with an amend
ment to our law requiring that the board
of commissioners. with the exception of
the president, shall be chosen from these
districts, the president to be elected from
the city at large. These commissioners
should be subject to recall by the people
as a whole, thus insuring on their part
an adequate appreciation of their duty
TO the entire community
Reduction in Salaries
s.No city in America pays its commits
eIoners as much as is paid in Brmng-
ham and 1 favor a substantial reduction
in this item. Pittsburg, with its large
population and great wealth, pays its
commissioners only $1,000 per annum, and
believe $1,000 a year ample for the people
of Birmingham to pay.
sI also favor the substitution of a real
workable recall for the impossible ar
rangement now in force Instead of re-
uuiring a petition signed by 5000 voters
in order to secure a recall election, L
favor an amendment making a recall pos
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