The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-28
Exum Simply Announces
That Existing Laws Will
Be Rigidly Enforced
FORMAL NOTICE TO
BE GIVEN INMATES
Fight Against District Began Two
Weeks Ago When Property Onwer
Claimed He Could Not Sell
Because of Proximity

w men Inp CITY cOiffJnlSSlOD COilNtiltu 90
terday afternoon, President C. Exum
arose and in barely audible voice said a
dozen words, seated himself again and The
city of Birmingham no longer had a rec
ognized restricted district.
The small crowd in the room stared be-
fore 1t fully realized what had happened
and then. gave way to a ripple of excite
ment.
ANY one here who wishes to bring any
thing before the commission?' asked Pres
ident .Exum. There was. and it was all
over.
Contrary to expectations, there was no
formal vote taken on the question. As far
as will ever to known by the public the
action of The city commissioners was
unanimous. rhe body had scarcely con-
vened when President Exum arose.
MIR. Burr" he said, Il presume you
are here in reference to the matter of the
restricted district?,
"Yes, sir. said attorney Borden Burr,
who has been acting as counsel for the
parties who have been leading the fitsnt
lagainst the district.
well" said Mr.. Exum "the commission
has investigated and we are well aware
of the conditions under which it exists.
The laws are already on the statute books
and the commissioner Of public justice will
see that they are out into force October l,
this year.
To Send Formal Notice
Commissioner of p bile Justice A. o.
Lane stated after the meeting that for
nal notice would be sent to the inhabi-
tants of the district today through the
police department. and that they would
be given until October /, 1918, to discof.-
tinue their hu mess. Other than this,
rome of the commissioners nor any of the
other parties interested on either side of
the question desired to make any state
nent yesterday.
Weatherly's Statement
Commissioner Weatherly stated that
there had been some doubt in the minds of
the commission as to how long time to
give the inmates of the community to va
cate. "It was claimed that they should
have until the first of the year. said Mr..
Weatherly, and .fere was considerable
merit in this contention. IT was believed
by us. however, that the postponement of
final evacuation that long would give
cause for private Citizens to bring other
action for relief and we therefore decided
upon October l."
The commissioners held a couple of con-
ferences on the question yesterday before
the meeting They realized that it would
place them IN more less of ridiculous
light to get I'D Whrn they were in session
and take formal vote on whether or not
laws that already are on the statute BOOKS
should be enforced They therefore de-
cided on the plan which was pursued in
President Exum's short statement ard
which was as effective as any other
method.
How the Fight Began
The fight against the district started a
couple of weeks ago when petition WIS
presented . the commission by Pres-
dent White of the Amzi-Godden Seed COM
pany, claiming that the sale of property
owned by the company was hurt by tie
proximity of the community and therefore
asked that it be abolished From this un-
pretentious petition, made purely on Pc
cuniary motives, the agitation gathered
force until the moral, legal, social and re-
form phases of the case were brought out.
Talented attorneys were engaged by both
sides and several cry important hearings
were given by the commission on the
question Besides the attorneys, Borden
Burr for the abolition and b. NJ. Allen
against, numerous private citizens and
social workers made arguments to the
commission The last hearing was mad
last Monday afternoon and lasted for
three hours. Since that time the commits
sion has been examining data submitted
by the attorneys.