The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-20

would be the result. With a probable 75 to 15o candidates, merit absolutely would be sunk in personality
 "Arain. I don't think the salaries of the commissioners are too high. They volun- tarily reduced them $1o00 each in view of the financial condition of the city They should be commended for this act of self sacrifice. The law itself fixed these sal aries before either of them were elected or appointed. The salary is not too large for the type of men who ought to fill this cffice. Again, what do we save by re- ducing the salary and increasing the num- ber? We are merely cheating the per sonnel and dividing the duties between five instead of three. If 1t could be shown that 1t was necessary to have hVe men to do the work, it would be different, but experience proves it to be untrue lhree men are able to discharge the duties or the office. five would therefore. be super fluous.
 But if anything in the pending bill is without excuse, it Is the attempt to pull the public schools system of Bir- mingham into politics. It is conceded upon every hand that we have as good and efficient schools system in Blrmlng- ham as any in this country and the facts show that we have less money per capita of children In attendance than any city
  change this system?
 Senator Judge Slips Up
 "Senator Judge says that the board cf education is f-perpetuating. This is doubtless a slip of his, for, of course, he knows that the board of education is not self -perpetuating. He knows that the board is elected new one each year by the city authorities.
 By this arrangement the election Of | member of the board of education takes place each year months after the municipal election and only one at a time, and Is kept absolutely free from politics and undue influences. Men are chosen who are interested in the sub ject. and who are supposedly qualified; men of character and standing have aGorned the position and have been glad to serve free of charge. Many men have been obtained in this way whose services could not have been obtained if it had been thrown into the vortex of politics, and men expected to scram- ble for an office without pay but the duties of which are enormous and ex- acting. Men of high character and standing would accept an office of this sort when 1t comes as an honor and compliment, and when 1t insures no ex- rense in getting it and involves no humiliation of fear or threat of de- | feat at the polls.
 "If they have got to run before 2 community of 175,0O0 people for ar office which does not pay. the result | Is that they have got to tie up with some candidate or faction or suffer de feat. Self respecting men would prefer | the latter.
 ''The board of education does not re- elect itself. They have nothing to dc with the election of its members, mol | | even tiiia the filling of vacancy whicf arises in the interim.
 l They have obtained excellent re suits. The school system of Birmingham stands as a monument to the efficierc, md wisdom of the present plan. Tn, | friends of the present school system | of Birmingham who do not want to 6e, 1t degraded into the mire of politics should stand firm on this matter an, | assert themselves.
 "The election ought not to be, il any event. connected with, or a by product of an election for other mat
 ters. It should be completely disasso ciated from the election of commission CTS.
 There would seem to be no objec tion to that part of the bill which make the president of the city commission
 member of and president ex-offici of the board of education, bll all the rest of the provisions wit "The provision of the pending pil wholly bad
 "The provission of the pending bll is that the terms of all the member
 of the board of education shall expir
 at one time, and shall be filled by tn
 new commissioners all of whose term
 expire at one time. immediately afte
 the election for commissioners
 "If this would not graft the schoc
 system of Birmingham onto politics | Gods name what would?
 If we are going to trade and traffi
 in politics, for the sake of future gen lerations. as well as those now livln.
 let us keep the school system of Sir
 mingham out of It."