The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-08
BUILDERS PETITION THE COMMISSION ID
 RETAIN MATTHEWS
One of Largest Ever Re- ceived at City Hall-Plan to Officially Decapitate
 Matthews Abandoned
RESOURCES

The proposal of the majority of the city commission to lay on the block the official read of Building Inspector w.. o. Matthews for his alleged responsi- bility for the Steele Smith wall disaster did not occur yesterday afternoon as had been officially scheduled
 Owing to the new turn taken by af- fairs affecting the city building depart ment the step has been abandoned, it is said.
 Anticipating that such was contem- plated, however, one of the largest peti- tions seen at the city hall in some time was presented to the city commission just before the meeting by Secretary George Stagord of the Builders ex- change, asking that the decision of Commissioners Lane and Weatherly to dismiss MT. Matthews be reconsidered The petition was signed by about 250 of the most prominent men in the city, Including practically all of the build ing men identified with the building in- terests of the city.
 When the recessed meeting convened at o'clock, however. the Matthews dismissal which had been officially set for action at that time, was not even referred to. One or two ordinances were adopted, the jitney regulation ordi- nance was passed over until Tuesday at Judge Lanes request and adjourn ment was taken.
 It was immediately realized then that new development in the Matthews case had occurred The commissioners went into executive session immediately after adjournment of the recessed meet ing and after over a two hours con ference issued the formal announce ment of the proposal to dispense with the services of the offices of city build ing inspector and city plnmbing inspec- tor owing to a consolidation of these two departments with the city en- gineering department, placing them un- der the supervision of the city en- gineer.
 The petition of the Builders ex. change which. it is said. was circu' lated without the knowledge of MT Matthews, was accompanied by the fol lowing letter from Secretary Stagord
 Birmingham, Ala, May '. 1915. "To the Honorable Board of City Com
 missioners, Mirmingham Ala.
 "Gentlemen: We attach hereto a peti. tion requesting your honorable body te reconsider the tenative decision ar rived at last Tuesday looking to ths dismissal of the peresnt building in spector It was only our intention wher starting this petition to secure tho names of parties actually interested with us In the building business, but z great many of our justice-loving citi zens insisted on expressing themselve. in this way.
 'Qf little over 800 citibens who hay, been approached by the writer on tn, subject, but two have been opposed tt the retention of MT. Matthews in hi present position. The first man state, that the public demanded a sacrifice from the city commissioners, and, whil' he could see no reason for selecting MT. Matthews, somebody had to go The other stated that about two year ago Mr. Matthew% refused to permi him to use a car of cement for rein forced wall until after test had beel filed with him.
 Our action in this case is taken with out the knowledge and consent of Nil Matthews, and is prompted solely b our belief of what will conserve tn best interestsof the city. Very respect fully submitted.
 "G. IT. STAFFORD, Sect"
 The petition is as follows:
 ''To the Honorable Board of City Com
 missioners. Birmingham, Ala:
 "Gentlemen: We, the undersigned cit gems of Birmingham note with regret tn expressed intention to dismiss from hi present position the city building inspeo tor, Mr. w. o. Matthews
 While keenly alive to the recent de
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