The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-08-13
Copeland Found Time to Care for His Brother in
 Collecting Fees
WEAKLEY BATTERED
 THE SCRIP BILL GRAB
But Both Not Only Refused to Help Bills for Birmingham, But Pro- noted Legislation Inimical to
 Interests of the City

Declaring that Representatives Weakley and Copeland have been sur prisingly active in promoting bills that aye damaging to the city of Birming gham and that they are hostile to those that are designed for the financial relief of the city, '. B. Wood, member of the subcommittee of the committee of 100, In an interview defends the action of the city commissioners in retaining a special attorney at Montgomery. He calls attention to tho fact that Rep resentative Copeland promptly had a bill passed for the relief of his brother, ". B. Copeland, clerk of the criminal court. in regard to the pay ment of his fee and that Representa- tive Weakley was active in having the bill passed for the "relief' of the scrip buyers. but that ither has been in terested in the welfare of the city. MT. Wood declares that the defeat of the Weakley proposition to reduce the license of tEe water and street railway companies saves the city each year a sum largely in excess of the expense it had to incur in "begging'' the representatives to take care of their own city.
 The interview follows:
 Why Attorney Was Needed
 If there was ever any doubt of the necessity ct the city retaining legislative attorney in Montgom- cry. this doubt-bas been removed by the surprising activity of Rep resentatives weakley and Copeland in promoting various bills that are damaging to the city of BirmIng- ham, It is necessary also on ac- count of the hostility of these representatives to the bills pend ing for the relief of the city of Birmingham.
 Neither the comm issioners nor any official CT employe of the city has any private or special interest in these relief bills. If they are not passed the commissioners will not suffer more than any other citizen If Birmingham
 "The representatives from Mobile and other cities are always respon- sive and zealous in regard to mu- nicipal measures proposed by their local city government. Hence no expense is forced on these cities in obtaining needed legislation. It is strange fact that Birmingham Is not so fortunate in this respect.
 Bills Occupying Their Time
 Notwithstanding the important general bills considered by the present legislature, Representative Copeland has managed to get . bill passed authorizing the board of revenue to take care of fees of his brother, the clerk of the criminal court. About the same time the bill raising the salaries of the board of revenue went through splendid1y.
 Representative Weakley also succeeded in getting through the house the bill by which the scrip buyers would have reaped . large fortune out of the county treasury if Senator Judge hnd not held this bill up in the senate.
 "Various large corporations, in- cluding the Birmingham Water works company and the Birming- ham Railway, Light and Power company, are keering attorneys. in attendance upon the legislature. Their work is most effective. but the defeat of the Weakley prop osition to reduce the license of the water companies and street rail way companies alone saved Rir- minghap b0 times In one year the total expense it has had to incur in begging cur delegation to take care. of it's own city.
 'Ihe omnibus bill. which was agreed on after long conference, is being held up. Included in this bill Is provision for the regula- ton of telephone rates and other important legislation curing de- fects in. the municipal code
 'I am sure the commissioners feel that in preparing and urging the passage of these much needed bills they are discharging their duty to the people of Birmingham.
 ''If any members of the Jeffer- son delegation feel that the inter- ests of the scrip buyers or water works or street car companies are paramount to that of the general public. the responsibility must rest with them"