The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-21
NEWS OF ENSLEY

The secession of Ensley from Greater Birmingham was unanimously indorsed by the Ensley club at rousing meeting held last night at the inferior courtroom, and by the Ensley Merchants association At the meeting last night J. J. Chsolm presided and called on Fred G. Moore to fire the first gun on Fort Sumter MT. Moore stated that a crisis had come in the municipal affairs of the city of Birmingham that it's floating debt had been increasing rapidly during the past five years, and was now s2,500, 900. He referred to the several bond issues that had been voted and still the city's indebtedness kept increasing. He de- clared that something was wrong with the city government.
 Prior to being absorbed by Birmng- ham MT. Moore stated that Ensley was elf-sustaining. that it had not near ap- preached it's constitutional limit of taxa tion ,and that it's indebtedness was com paratively small. He declared the city administration kept the streets in good repair without additional cost to the citizens and that it had spendidly
  partments.
 Without any criticism of the present fire department Mir. Moore stated the in surance rates in Ensley had increased 40 per cent He declared the vast indebt- edness of Birmingham hampered the progress of Ensley. and expressed the belief that the city had no right to tax Ensley's citizens to pay Birmingham's in debtedness. In reference to the cutting out of the Vivian station, he stated that 1t might be illegal as Wylam came into E.rsle" under contract which guaran- teed paid fire department. He spoke of the fact that Ensley had always had a Eine months school and could have it again if freed from the incubus of the greater city. He urged the citizens to fight for their freedom through the leg islature and the courts. MT. Moore was loudly applauded at the conclusion of his secession" address.
 Dr. E. w Averyt stated that if the citizens decided to put up a fight they would have to resort to the courts as the Jefferson county delegation was in favor of Greater Birmingham. He stated that 1t would be a paying proposition for the business men of the Steel City to pay attorneys to fight the case through the courts as at present they were pay ing a heavy tax rate to pay off the in debtedness of Birmingham.
 Dave Kelso stated that the c1tizens or Wylam were strongly in favor of with drawing from Greater Birmingham, and pledged their aid to Ensley- in the fight whether through the courts or egisla- ture. He also vigorousiy protested against the discontinuance of the Vivian fire department Henry Keller stated that the Merchants association had voted to withdraw. and that Onie Mackey, J A. Smith and himself had been ap- pointed to cooperate with the Ensley club in their efforts and were given full power to act.
 At the close of the discussion com mittee was appointed to take up the se- cession movement and devise the plans for the fight for the independence of Ems ley The committee is Fred G. Moore, Thomas Roe, I. A. Dupuy and Dave Kelso with the merchants committee added.
 Other matters of routine nature were discussed and club indorsed local pa per to be published for the first time on July 30 The following resolution was unanimously adopted: "Be it resolved, that the Industrial Record, the weekly pa- per to be published in Ensley and for Ensley be given the hearty indorsement and support of the Ensley club.'
 Tony Chicerilla was arrested for the second time yesterday afternoon by Of- ficers Granger. Brown and Givens on a charge of violating the prohibition law