The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-01
OPENING GUN IN
 TELEPHONE FIGHT
Fired by Barber at Commis- sion Meeting Yesterday
TO PROBE CONTRACT
City Attorney Instructed to Ascertain Whether Existing Contract With Telephone Company Is Valid and
 Precludes Change in Rates

This is the opening gun in the fight for lower telephone rates"
 Commissioner Arlie Barber made the above statement to a reporter of The Age Herald at the close of the com mission meeting yesterday afternoon and in which the following action was taken:
 Instructed the city attorney to make report to board as to whether or not the alleged contract with the tele- phone company is valid existing con- tract such as to preclude a reduction in telephone rates prior to 1916.'
 Commissioner Barber would make no further statement in the matter. but it is understood that this is the pre- liminary step toward reducing all tele- phone rates. 1t is well known that Commissioner Barber made his election fight on the telephone issue" but it had been expected that he would walt until the first of the year before start ing any action against any of the pub- lie utilities.
 The particular fight at this time s merely to ascertain from City Attorney Romaine Boyd whether not the five year contract made in 1911 is a valid contract If the contract Is not valid, such as to preclude reduction in tele-- phone rates by the state public utility ] commission prior to December, 1916. then steps will be taken to secure front the public utility commission a re- duction in rates
 ROUTINE BUSINESS
 The summary of the official pro-
  follows;
 Authorized president of board to eX- eoute contract with the Alabama Great Southern Railroad company for crossings at Ffty-second and Fifty4sixth streets. Woodlawn.
 Confirmed assessments under improve ment ordinance No S1-C, providing for the construction of certain sanitary sew CTS in Acipco.
 Ordered discontinued the following street lights; Twenty-fourth street and Fifteenth avenue, north; Twenty sixth street and Thirteenth avenue, north: Twenty-sixth street and Fifteenth ave- nue, north.
 Approved requisiton of the engineering department, $79 for additional filing cabi- nets.
 Appropriated the sum of s10 payable td w. A. Hood on account of alleged in-A juries on october 1. 1915
 Instructed city clerk to give notice of the intention of the board to redeem Si5,- GOO city of Woodlawn public improvement bends.
 Approved vouchers and pay rolls.
 Authorized the city comptroller to ac- cept partial payments on certain dein- quent suburban assessments.
 Adopted resolution dispensing with thc service of the following members of thu police department: w. E. IEubanks. R. D. Crenshaw M. G. Smith. R. c. Williams.
 Adopted an ordinance creating the office of chief of detectives and plain clothes< men
 Appointed T. J. Shirley chief of the de- partment of detectives and plain clothes men,
 Appointed G. J. Lyons city detective. to serve during the pleasure of the board.
 Adopted ordinance regulating the sale of solutions of Jamaica ginger.
 Approved claim for wages of certain members of the police department, ac- count work at the State Fair. amounting to S164.5S.
 Appropriated Sl0 per week for period of 20 weeks payable to W. R. HiiIie ac- count of injury by fire engines resfiitiffs in the loss of one leg and permanent in jury to other. This appropriation is not made on account of any liability of the city, but on account of the destitute cir cumstances involved in this case.
 Instructed the city attorney to make re- port to board as to whether or not the al- legged contract with the telephone com pany is valid exising contract, such as to preclude reduction in telephone rates prior to 1916.