The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-10-15

Rammage was 10 years old at the time
of her death and is survived by her
coerce the august tribunal, which has the
destiny of Birmingham in its hands.
Therefore the commissioners sent for
Bodeker. The chief of police very mod
estly but earnestly told the commission
ers that he was far too good a. soldier
to criticise a general and whatever the
reporter secured was certainly not criti-
cism, but simply a frank discussion OF
the regrettable situation. The chief went
on to point out that in the statement
CT edited to him he said that realizing the
financial straits Of the city lie had moth
ing to say about the cut effective Sunday.
He simply specialized upon what might
possible come about. He explained In
tull his real attitude and it is believed
lie has escaped the wrath of the board.
Having dispensed with the reprimand
episode the other development in the po-
lice department cut was an utter denial
by President Culpepper Exum of an in
terview in which it was intimated that
he felt that G. Ward must solve the police
ills of Birmingham. lie issued this state
ment which was dictated by him.
The Dictated Statement
"The report on the first page of The
Age-Herald emphasized by cartoon. All
references to statement made by me is
incorrect. The only reference to Mr..
Ward or the administration after l
retire was when ] was asked in ref
erence to budget for the coming year
referred to a statement accompanying
the tentative budget That statement
is embodied in statement issued by
Mr.. Weatherly and myself which fol-
lows:
The statement in morning paper
under flaring headlines concerning the
alleged reduction in the police force
from lao to 112 men. including detec-
tives, was purely sensational
''In adopting the budget for the cur
rent year, the commissioners issued the
following statement in explanation
thereof;
I'm view of the fact that Judge
Lane is absent, Commissioner Wealth
erly being the only commissioner pres
ent who will actively participate In the
carrying out OF this budget for the en-
suing year. we have decided for the
present to adopt the recommendations
of the city comptroller as a tentative
budget, and await the return of Judge
Lane and the incoming of Mr.. Ward to
take final action on the budget for the
current year. These figures are based
approximately on the operations of the
past year
From this it would seem that this
budget is purely tentative and was in
tended to stand only until the return of
Judge Lane and the incoming of Mr..
Ward. so that the life OF this budget
will only be about three weeks. The
idea of Mr.. EXum and myself in adopt
ing this item of the budget relating to
the police force was to adhere as near
ly as possible to the amount appro-
priated at the beginning of the last
fiscal year. to-wit: $4,000 per month.
The amount appropriated this year in
this tentative budget Is a trife in ex-
cess Of that of last year, viz: $1S,750.
During the past year, for various
causes, the force of the police depart
ment was added to to meet extraor-
binary contingencies only. 1t was never
intended to permanently increase the
force. The action of the commission on
other items of the budget relating to
other departments followed practically
the same lines, the effort being to keep
the expenses down as much as post
BILE"
when / was asked to comment on the
carnival of crime refused to be quoted"
"Cut" Effective Sunday
Mr.. Exum apparently did not resent
so much the interview as he did the
apparently clear impression that he
was showing work upon George b.
Ward, the incoming president. Mr.
Exum said he was not accustomed to
shirk and would not at this late day
start Sinking.
The other development was the an
nouncement that after the fair closed
the budget appropriation of the police
department would go into effect That
means that the police department cut
will SO into effect. No specific refer
enoe was made yesterday to the police
department. However, the budget as
tentatively arranged until Mr.. Ward
takes office. contemplates the reduc-
ton in the police department which is
only held up until the fair is over.