The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-03
Will Attempt at Once to
Have Bill Passed Over
Presidents Veto
UNDERWOOD is NOT
GOING IN CABINET
Senator Here Yesterday Says Bir
mingham's Postoffice Should Be
But One Story and Should
Cover Entire Block

| That Immediately following his arrival
In Washington he would endeavor to pass
over the veto of the President the bill
providing for the development of the
rover of the Coosa and other Alabama
rivers, that Oscar w. Underwood would
not enter the cabinet of Woodrow wilson
| as long as he retains his mental facul-
ties, and that the Birmingham postoffice
should be building one story in height
extended over an entire city block were
statements of Senator John II. Bank
head in Birmingham yesterday
The senator yesterday afternoon re-
turned to Jasper and this afternoon will
begin his journey to Washington. He ap-
pears to be in excellent health for the
grind of Congress in the completion of
the current term, and the beginning of
the extraordinary session which Wilson
viii call Immediately following his in
auguration as President.
we will be in Washington for a long
while' stated the senator eve cannot
possibly get away before March 4, and,
thereafter, there is no way OF telling Just
how long we will be detained. There is
every reason to believe that the demo-
Gratis in power will so conduct them
selves that their term of office as the pre-
dominant party will endure for many
years.
Water Power Development
Senator Bankhead feels that the most
important matter confronting Alabama
today is the development of the water
power of the state. AS is remember cd,
some time ago Congress passed bill
providing for the improvement and de-
velopment of the Coosa and other rivers
of this state, and that the bill, because it
did not contain a clause under which the
national government could share in the
profit of power developed was vetoed by
President Taft.
The question of states rights is again
brought TO the FORE said the senator.
1T is of the greatest Importance to Ala
bama that this bill be passed. | feel con-
fident that | will be able to put it through
the Senate over the veto of the President.
In the House, however, there seems to
be some doubt of ultimate success.
The President has made a mistake in
vetoing the bill, in my opinion. The river
Is the property of the state and the reo-
pie of the state, and the government has
nothing to do with its control regulation
for each unit of power developed the gov
.ernment should receive a certain sum of
money. We cannot agree. because what
ever toll is enacted, the people will have
to pay-this in defeat of the object Of
the bill that the people might have power
at the very cheapest rate possible"
Underwood's Strong Position
The senator does not believe Mr.. I'm
oerwood will enter the cabinet of Wilson
if he is invited to do so.
There are a great many people," said
he. who are hoping that Underwood will
enter the cabinet and bury himself. These
have axes to grind Some want him re-
moved from the leadership of the party.
Others want him eliminated as a A3resi-
dental candidate in 1916.
'rhe position held by Mr.. Underwood
is next in Importance to that of the Pres
ident. He is the leader of the democratic
party, and is known in every village in
the United States. Should he enter rhe
cabinet he would disappear from the
world, is it were. The change would not
be a promotion. Who in Birmingham
and the people here are above the aver
age-knows the Secretary of the Navy
or of the Interior?
1T has been said that the House will
be turbulent, and that for his reason
Underwood should go into the cabinet.
Ill Tie llOul VI llit bSHl IL 10 llOt tiit tliut
for Mr.. Underwood to run away. He is
not built of such flimsy material. In case
of a peaceful House he might not be
needed. But in case trouble does level
op there will be all the more reason for
his remaining at his present post. There
is no doubt but that the country needs
him, and that no other man can take mis-
place. Underwood will see matters in
this light. | believe, and will stand ready
to cope against any possible emergency"
Postoffice of One Story
The senator does not believe that Bir-
mingham should endeavor to construct
postoffice that will be a monument.
Birmingham" said he needs to build
a workshop. I have been on postoffice
committees for 20 years, and have seen
city after city make miserable mist
by building edifices of many stories
Birmingham should be given q block
on which to build. The building should
be IN height just single story. 1t should
be constructed so that the best work POS
sible could be accomplished with the
greatest facility possible The top should
be of glass, or practically of glass. 30
that abundant light could be obtained,
''The present building should be retained
for the federal court rooms, and the Of
fees of other federal officials. At any
rate we should not endeavor TO construct
a monument for the Identification of Pir-
fningham We should construct, on the