The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-19
Little Co-Operation Shown in Working for Measures of Special Importance to Birmingham
EACH INDIVIDUAL MUST GO AND WORK
 IN HAPHAZARD WAY
Some Important Measures Even Yet Hang in Bal ance Because Proper In- terest Is Not Shown
By HUGH W. ROBERTS

Montgomery, September 1S.-(Spe- ciaI.)-Becnuse of the various bills pending which would effect either in beneficent or hurtful manner the county, wonder has grown in that no militant body of patriots has pitched its tents on the capitol green.
 So noticeable has been the apparent lethargy of Birmingham and Jefferson county that many have asked the ques- tion 'Is civic pride dead?" That there Is need of an organization having for it's purpose the conservation of the great city and county in all of their rights and In all their opportunities to grow and develop. is common gossip.
 Frank Rushton. well-known citizen
 of Birmingham, while a visitor to
 Montgomery the current week, said:
 We need an organization in Birmng-
 ham bound together and pledged to
 work solely for the common as con
 trasted with the individual good. It
 would be the duty of this organization
 to fight the battles of Birmingham; in
 emergencies such as exist today, to
 fall upon the legislature and demand
 the passage of bills effecting no other
 community, and insisting that no bills
 be passed which would materially hurt
 our city and county. or handicap them
 in their natural growth and develop
 ment"
 Individual Lobbyists Galore
 Every day since the legislature con- vened in July citizens of Birmingham and Jefferson county have thronged Mont gomery. But each came with an indi- vidual ax to grind. The Bessemer lobby wanted courthouses and jails, and u di- vision of the county. The antitrust lobby desired the defeat of the Bonner anti trust bill. This judge wanted an amend ment which would obviate the necessity of hls appearing as candidate within a year before the people; this solicitor want ed this or that and this constable, clerk or stenographer desired legislation which would make the road easier for him in the bearing of his burden.
 The city of Birmingham has had on the scene E. D. Smith. in the capacity of attorney, and the county has on va rious occasions sent it's attorney w. K. Terry, for the purpose of turning the trend of certain specified legislation. But neither MT. Smith nor MT. Terry has had (and they could not have had) the in- fiuence of a body of patriots, inspired with determination to persuade or fight to wrest victory from defeat, to demand that a legislature composed chiefly of representatives from rural counties re- frain from legislating. possibly through jealousy. in g. manner adverse or dele terious to the best interest of a great city and a great county. While the at torneys have performed their duty we'll according to the general admission. there is no question that they have needed aid
 Illustrating the Possibilities
 Once upon a time. as is remembered, there was grave danger lest the house committee on ways and means adverse the bill which will, in the future. give Birmingham an opportunity to increase its tax rate.
 body of patriots stormed the capitol demanding that Birmingham be given th> right to tax itself The committee re- ported the bill. and 1t Is now law. There are several other bills pending. either of which is almost as important as the tax bill. And yet up to the present time nc aid has come from Birmingham to assist those who would prevent or en- courage their passage.
 The Denson public utility bill which would transfer from Birmingham to Mont gomery the control of Birmingham pub lie utilities is on the house calendar for Monday. No one has spoken or viz orously acted against its passage The Birmingham condemnation bill. which. in the event of it's passage, would prob ably, in 1921. when the city will acquire the property of the Birmingham Water works company, save to the city $1,0O0.00O is about to die from want of nourish-
 (Continued on Page Four)