The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-20
DARLINGTON MAY Be
NEXT HEAD Of THE
ALABAMA POWER CO.
Understood That Washburn
Took the Place Only
Temporarily
RETRENCHMENT is
NEW WATCHWORD
Land Department Abolished and Legal
Department Has Been Trimmed.
Washburn Continues His
Policy of Silence
BY CLYDE w. ENNIS

ny VII Dh W. ENNIS
Frederick Darlington of New York,
consulting engineer for Sperling & Co..
will probably succeed NJ Webb Offut
of the Alabama Power company. That
he will be In active charge of the COM
mercia1 department for the Alabama
Power company was generally under
stood yesterday, 1t even being said that
Mr.. Darlington Will become president
of the company to succeed Frank
Washburn of Nashville. who is ex-
pected to retire soon.
The announcement yesterday OF the
resignation of Mr.. Offut and the state
ment that w. w. Freeman had also
resigned were the topics of conversa-
tion In industrial circles. That other
shake-ups were pending was also a
speculative proposition that caused in
tense interest in local circles.
Washburn Came Yesterday
President Frank Washburn, accom-
panied by his private secretary. reached
here from Nashville yesterday morn
ing He retired Immediately to his
offices in the Brown Marx building
and refused to see any newspaper men
under any circumstances. He sent
word that he did not have any circular
to give out or any information as to
the shake-up that had taken place
within the ranks of the Alabama Power
company. His policy of anti-publicity
was carried straight through the day
and even late yesterday afternoon he
was determined not to give out any
Information and remained uncommuni- :
cative.
In industrial circles 1t has been
thought probable that some changes
were imminent In the power company.
1t is known that New York interests
resented the widespread publicity that
had been given the company affair here
especially in reference to an agreement
said to have been signed between the
company and the Birmingham Railway,
Light and Power company.
To Resign in Few Months
Mr.. Washburn, who, is president of
a chemical company which was TO have
been brought here, but which was
gives to Canada when President Taft
vetoed one of the power bills, was, 1t Is
said, importuned to become president and
was selected after an agreement that he
is to be allowed to retire within the
course of a few months. 1t is
presumed in the light of recent devel-
opmnts that Mr.. Worthington succeeded
Mr.. Freeman when the latter recently
left here, ostensibly on Sperling & Co.
business in Mexico Mr.. Washburn, so
Dame Rumor has it, will retire about
January / and will be succeeded per
haps by Frederick Darlington although
this was left unconhrmed or denied
yesterday by Mr.. Washburn.
In connection with what has hap
pened and what Is expected to happen
in the ranks of the Alabama Power
company, it was learned yesterday
that the entire land department of the
company was abolished some weeks
ago. 1t is said that the legal depart
ment has been pruned to point almos.
unrecognizable and that further re-
trenchment in that department is immi-
nent. The engineering forces, 1t is
said, are scheduled for pruning, while
other departments are to be either
abolished or considerably trimmed OF
course it is impossible to give exact
the recent silence policy of President
Washburn.
Other Avenues of Retrenchment
Aside from decreasing the payrolls
as far as officials went, the Alabama
Power company has, it is said, gone
into other. avenues of retrenchmen MT
The company for while operated It's
own private garage and its seven auto
mobiles, according to the general idea.
The garage has been closed. 1t is said.
The company has now a contract with
a well known tayicab line for auto
mobiles at SO much per hour or day.
as the case may be. considerable
amount of money will be saved in that
way, according to the general opinion.
The upheaval in the power company
has affected the whole organization,
it ia said. Secretaries. clerks, stenog-
raphers and others who are at present
retained are all said to be uneasy.
Offutt Confirms Resignation
In connection with the resignation
of M. Webb Offutt, an engineer of wide
experience, he confirmed yesterday his
resignation lust before leaving for
Canada on a short rest trip. He Will
return in about two weeks. Mr.. Offut
was unwilling to confirm his resigna-
tion at any time previous out of re-
spect for the new president who is op-
posed to- anyone talking about COM
pany matters, except himself.
1T Is true that I have left the Ala
bama Power company" said Mr.. Offutt.
II am leaving today for Maine and Will
return here in about two weeks. l in
tend to return to Birmingham at some
future time to reside permanently. as
like this city more than any | have
ever lived in and want to stay here for
good. I have no further comment to
make as to my resignation