The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-11-02
REVIEW OF WORK
ACCOMPLISHED BY
HIS ADMINISTRATION
With Cordial Cooperation of Com
missioners Weatherly and Lane,
Birmingham Has Accom-
plished Much Since the
Change Was Made
nv RALPHlR. SILVER

COMMISSION.
The businessman mayor and the first
member of Birmingham's first city COM
mission will tomorrow be succeeded as
president OF the city commission by the
first commissioner the people of Birming-
ham have ever chosen-George B. Ward,
Mr.. Exum in reality served his last
day as an official of the city yesterday,
and this being Sunday. he will have no
| more official duties, although as a mat
ter of fact he is still president of the
commission and in case of any emer-
gency would today act as such.
1t is stated there will be no formali-
ties when Mr. Ward tomorrow moves
into Mr.. Exum's office at the city hall
and becomes the official head of the city
of Birmingham As is remembered. the
Inauguration of Mr. Exum and the other
two commissioners two years ago was
marked by no ceremony or demonstra-
ton, but was merely short legal proce-
| dure.
In his little over two years of public
life Gully Exum has become one of
the most prominent and popular figures
In Birmingham. 1t has been his first
public office. He says 1t is his last.
Many of his friends say otherwise.
Has Been Success
Mr.. Exum as commissioner has been
a success. He was elected mayor of
Birmingham on a business administrat.o on
platform He gave 1t. Mr.. Exum is a
| business man. In the business world
he has been success. To the official
affairs of the city of Birmingham he
brought his business knowledge and ex-
perience and with his associate commits
! sioners, James Weat' erly and A. o,
Lane, gave the city of Birmingham what
| 1t has most needed and still needs-a
business administra ton.
In view of the act that this marks
tine end of Mr. Exum's official connec-
ton with the city of Birmingham for
the time being, a word picture of Gully
Exum. the man, and the official, and
a Swimming review of his administra-
ton might be here fitting. Contrary to
the case when a mayor was the head
OF the city government q review cannot
| be given of Mr.. Exum's administra ion
without transgressing upon the off al
actions and labors of Mr.. Exum's col
| leagues Mr. Weatherly and Mr.. Lane.
The three commss oners as an offic al
body have acted as such a composite
| whole In their government of the city
that 1t would be tedious and almost i'm
possible to pick out what Mr. Exum
might be responsible for, what Mr.. wea h :
erly might be responsible for or what
Judge Lane might be respons BILE for
Therefore, in an attempt to review Mr.
| Exum's administrat on, 1t Is necessary
| to review the administration of the en-
tire commission. but as this marks the
retirement of Mr. Exum. his connection
with affairs will be kept to the front.
Experiment Is Over
Birmingham's experiment with commits
| sion government is over. Culp r err
Exum, as president of the first commits
sion, conducted the experiment. 1t has
been success Commission government
Is now part of Birmingham. for with
the passing of tire first ADMINISTERS ton
the experimental stage Is passed and the
form of government becomes an actually.
Commission government In Birmingha nam
has enemies. 1t has made mistakes. But
| commission government fs not an alb
stract spirit; 1t Is a pulsating living,
governmental machine which takes it's
life from men and men-are human.
There are those who would return to
the old aldermanic form. The great ma
iority of Birminghams citizenship, how
ever, without a doubt. are satisfied and
are enthusiastic In support of the new
government
Commission government and Culpepper
Exum found Birmingham standing on the
brink of a financial abyss from which
it seemed there was small chance of es-
cape. But today the light appears to
be breaking. the face of the city has
| been turned about and II would seem
that the first tren bling steps are be ng
taten away from the threatened finan-
cia crisis.
The restoration Of confidence In the
financial world as to the ability of the
city to meet its financial obligations has
proba bly, been the most Important and
far-rea hing single result Of Mr.. Exum's
administration. The city now has ar
rangements with financial institutions by
which 1t can secure money for civic in
provements at lower rate of int est
than ever before in its history and at
lower rates than many other munic.pal
tiles.
! Ore of First Official Acts
1t is well remembered that one of the
first Official acts of the new admins
traton was to make a cut In the pay
rolls of the city amounting to over $685.
O00-a clear saving in single year. With
a business man at its head, elected on
an aNoW ed business administration plat
form and with associate commissioners
whose ability probably Is unsurpassed by
any men who ever held public office In
Birmingham, the new commission took
charge of the city's affairs and conduct
ed them like board of directors would
conduct the affairs of great ind lstr! al
corporation. With an oblivion to Sc It'll
ment and personal feelings that was won
oerful the AK swung right and left and
official heads which long had been part
of the city government fell in the bas-
ket and at the end of the first year OF
commission go eminent the city was $685.
ooo less in the hole from salary savings
alone.
| some of these retrenchments have been
s.roncly criticised and still are. Cuts In
the police and fire departments ha q
hce, particularly attacked. But the COM
mssir ners have held to their purpose
and there Is no doubt but that the great
ma ority of the citi ems stand heh nd
them in their efforts to place Birming-
ham on a sound financial footing.
Many Needed improvements
In spite of this serious financial con.
dtion, the new GOV ernment restored the
| financial confidence In the city and a
| TIE same time made some of the mos
needed and extensive improvements IL
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