The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-23
Sentiment in Birmingham
Practically Unanimous
in Favor of 1t
NAMES COMMITTEE
TO SEE GOVERNOR
Will Present Birmingham's Reasons
for Desiring Extra, Session at Con-
ference This Week-Ward State
ment Arouses Property Holders
BY RALPH n. SILVER

Judge A. o. Lane, city commissioner,
states he is confident that easily four
fifths of the members of the state Leg
islature are in favor of an extra session.
Judge Lane is one of the leading figures
in the second movement in this city to
secure an extraordinary session of the
legislature to remedy the financial ailr
ments of Birmingham and put into ef
feet the anti-fee system amendment.
Sentiment in favor of the extra session
has practically become unanimous in Sir
mngham. The conference of the Cham
Der of Commerce committee. appointed
by President w P. G. Harding yester-
day with the governor, is awaited with
intense interest The next step in the
movement depends upon the result of this
conference, which is expected to occur
in Birmingham the first part of this week.
Harding Names Committee
Mr.. Harding, acting on the authority
vested in him by the citizens at the
mass meeting held last Thursday yes
terday appointed the committee which
will call on the governor to present Bir-
mingham's reasons why an extra session
of the legislature should be called at
the earliest possible moment. The conf
mttee is made up of representative cit
liens from all sections of the city. Its
personnel is as follows: Judge A. o..
Lane, Robert Jemison, Sr., w II. Kettig,
Otto Marx, Col. Tom o. Smith, R. S.
Munger, w. w. Crawford, Phares Cole
man, Dr. N A. Barrett, East Lake; G.
c. Ellis, Avondale c. B. Rogers, North
Birmingham and e. w Averyet, Ensley.
1t is understood that the governor will
pass through Birmingham the early part
of this week, probably Tuesday or
Wednesday, and the committee will make
arrangements to see him at that time.
The members of the committee will be
notified by mail as to the exact time Of
the governors arrival.
H. U. Sims, chairman of the taxation
committee of the Chamber of Commerce,
will, it is understood, be present at the
conference between the committee and
the governor. The Jefferson county dele
cation to the state legislature will also
be present, it is said
1t is stated that the spectacular oppo-
sition of Arlie Barber at the meeting
Thursday to the plan for an increase in
the Birmingham tax rate has served to
greatly strengthen that plan. The argu
ment that under the increase in tax rate
plan every extra dollar i'll taxes will SO
to the city, while under the increased
assessment plan, as advocated by Mr..
Barber ii will be necessary to to give
81. 30 to the state for every extra dollar
given to the city, has been brought out
with emphasis by Mr.. Barbers opposl-
ton, and is convincing everyone 1t is the
only feasible plan,
Property Owners Aroused
One of the most SOLDERING agencies in
cidental to the present extra session move
ment was the clear-cut financial state
ment of President George Ward of the
city commission, as published in last Sun
days Age Herald. Mr.. Wards statements
that the city is now in debt approximately
to the amount of $1,s00,OOO and instead of
prospects of getting out is still going in
debt at the rate of $1,000 day in spite of
all retrenchments and department cuts,
the city officials can possibly make,
brought the citizens face to face with
what they had been considering for the
past few years from a more or less i'm
personal attitude.
The citizens of Birmingham, speaking
generally, have realized that while the
financial crisis in a way is collective in
that it concerns all, at the same time
it actually is individual in that it con-
Germs every propertyholder and loyal
citizen of the city This has been realized
and every man has thrown himself into
this extra session movement with a de-
termination that will count.
The fee-system side of the proposition
has always been fully realized by the ma
jority of the citizens. The fee system
and the financial crisis are now being
linked together for it is felt that the
fee system is a drain on the community
and is, therefore partially responsible
for the financial condition. The citizens
have lined up behind the dual PROPOSE
ton. With what effect, remains to be
seen.