The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-10
COMMITTEE HEARS ARGUMENTS ON
 COMMISSION BILL
Weatherly Leads the Fight Against Movement to Change Local Govern
 ment System
By l.. $. BETTY

Montgomery, February 9.-(Spe- cial. )-Arguments for and against Senator Judges bill providing for five commissioners of the city of Birming- ham were heard tonight by the house committee on municipal organizations. Action on the bill was deferred until tomorrow night, at which time another public hearing will be had.
 The hearing of the Judge bill. which rassed the senate last week, precipitated one of the liveliest debates that has yet taken place in committee meeting on local masure. Every member of the Jefferson delegation in the legislature, with the exception of Representative Scott, chairman of the committee, was heard regarding the subject, as well as James Weatherly member of the present commission; Romaine Boyd, city attorney of Birmingham; E. w. Averyt, J. E. John- son and John Turner
 Weatherly Leads Fight
 Commissioner Weatherly lead the fight against the bill and took the floor sev- eral times during the evening In answer to arguments or questions raised by per- sons present. He based his opposition to the bill upon the fact, as he stated, that the people of Birmingham do not want five commissioners, and that an in- crease in the number ot commissioners will mean d decrease in efficiency.
 Commissioner Weatherly inti,nated that reptajr, Sir7ie fl,sf t,p.pl of the proposed measure, indicating that With five commissioners there would be more difficulty in enforcing the prohibit ton laws than under the present sys- tenn.
 He declared that there are not 100 people in Birmingham who are familiar with the coRtents of the Judge bill and asked postponement until July before final &C., ton Is taken on the measure.
 Senator Judge, author of the measure, followed Commissioner Weatherly and de- nied that the prohibition question entered iato the merits of the case. He stateo that his race for the senate was on a plat form calling for five commissioners.
 In the opinion of J. R. Hornady. who was the next speaker before the commit tee the commission form of government in Birmingham has been an improvement over the old system, but commission gov- ei nment has not yet reached It's highest efficiency because of the fact that there arc not five commissioners. He spoke at length in favor of the bill.
 Do you not expect to be a candidate9" Mir Hornady was asked by MT. Averyt just as the former was preparing to take his seat.
 ''I do not know, was the reply, "but that does not have anything to do with the question
 Prohibition Not Involved
 Representative Copeland of Jefferson said he did not believe the prohibition question was involved, and stated that he thought the people want five commits sioue:s.
 Representative Tarrant said ''I haven't heard of any clarnor for five commission CTS l have felt. the pulse of the people Of the city during the last few days and do not believe they desire a change"
 Representative Hogan refused to com init himself as to the merits of the bill. but objected to an amendment offered by Representative Scott providing for the election by the commission of a new board of education when the new gov- ernment takes effect. He thought the amendment would cause an upheayal in the school system.
 Representative Shapiro said he favored the bill because of the amendment, and offered another amendment, providing for the initiative, referendum and recall He said without these two amendments he was opposed to the bill. He charged that the present educational system in Bir- mingham Is conducted by political ma chine
 The debate was closed by Representa- tive Weakley, who spoke at length for
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