The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-24
Best Interests of Common Masses at Stake, Says Candidate for Legisla-
 ture From Jefferson
STATE AND COUNTY
 STAND ON EVE OF 2 GREAT DEVELOPMENT
Good Roads, Compulsory Education and Child Labor Law Important Plank in Platform-Stresse Relief of Birmingham
 From Financial
 Difficulties

From Financial
 Difficulties
 , To the Public-This is the age of the important considerations which should count in the present primary election for representatives to the next Legislature
 In entering the race for that high office | am impeiled by a sense of duty and an earnest desire to give whatever ability I may have to the advancement of the best interests of the common masses of the people.
 Broad generalities and high sounding phrases mean nothing when weighed in the scales of accomplishment. programme Of constructive legislation should be adopted by the people and men able 10 enact jaws carrying that programme into operation, should be selected as members of the next legis- lature.
 Our state, county and city stand upon the eve of their greatest devel- opment. Wise and conservative laws are needed. My platform and pro- gramme include the following declar- afon of principles:
 1. State aid for good roads in every county, whereby the farmer may bring his produce to market without the loss of time, money, energy and ex- cessive wear and tear upon his equipment.
 ?. Compulsory education in the free schools established and maintained by the state, county and municipalities together With term of such length as to fit every boy and girl for the battle of life, and including the right of local voluntary taxation for the sup port of such schools.
 3. An effective child labor law which will take from th. mines and cotton mills children unde age of 16 years.
 1. The creation of a public utilities commission with full power to regulate all public utilities, including street railways, gas and electric companies waterworks, telegraph and telephone companies, raxicab traffic transfer companies. public mill and elevator companies, cotton gins and cotton com presses, and all other industries affect ed with a public Use
 5. A new viaduct law giv- ing to Birmingham the right to compel the construction of via- ducts and underpasses and to abolish the deadly grade cross ings and including such neces- sary powers of condemnation ot all property as may be neces- sary for the plenary exercise ot the powers granted, and the furnishing of such legal rem edies as may be necessary for the enforcement of the orders of the city commission relative to the construction thereof.
 6. A law granting to the city of Birmingham full power to regulate telephone and tele- graph rates, lights, gas, water and street car fare and trans fers.
 ' The adoption of a state revenue bill which will furnish sufficient rev enue to properly maintain the neces sary state off cials and abolish use- less and unnecessary offices and place the burden of taxation upon those best able. to -benr it; but more especially to repeal section 36-F of the present rev. enue bill exempting waterworlks, street railway and electric companies from municipal licenses.
 8. Giving to the city of Bir. mingham permanent relief from the financial difficulties confronting it, resulting from insufficient revenue to properly carry on the necessary func- tions of a modern municipal government.
 9. Giving to the city of Bir- mingham full power to acquire by purchase or condemnation at it's option the waterworks plant together with the right to acquire water and power rights and to build and operate its own municipal water and power plant with such neces sary rights of condemnation of rights of way for pipe and power lines, reservoir and fiji. tration and qualification sites and power dam sites as may be necessary or convenient and the right to issue bonds redeemable in 20, 30, 40 and 30 years for the purchase, construction or con. demnation of tho same.
 If the foregoing principles seem necessary for the advancement of this state and city, the undersigned pledges himself to loyal service as far as in him lies. to the enactment of such laws as Will put into operation the principles above stated and win ap- prectate tho vote of every patriotic good citizea. Respe ctfully, {, -- WALTER s. BROWER.