The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-18
JUDGE DEFENDS HIS BILL IN FAVOR OE , COMMISSIONERS Contends Suburbs Have No Representation Under the
 Present Plan THINKS THE SALARIES ARE NOW TOO HIGH Cites Present Referendum Election As Example of Arbitrary Power
 Possessed by the Com
 mission

ferson county in the state senate, in letter to Walker Percy. gives as his reas- on for supporting the five-commissioner bill his belief that while the commission of three members is not representative. a commission composed of five would make the government thoroughly representa- tive
 In full his letter follows:
 Hon. Walker Percy. Biamingham:
 My Dear MT Percy-Answering your open letter regarding the pending five commissioner bill, I wish to say that on my part the introduction and fight for this bill is in response to what l deem sound public sentiment for change in the present form of government in two fundamental principles; rnat Is. an in- crease in the number of commissioners so as to make the city government thor oughly representative, and reduction in the salaries paid to commissioners that will make their salaries commensurate with the duties and dignity of the off, f1ce. and in keeping with salaries paid other officials.
 Tt cannot be claimed by the champions
 
 present government is representative. Two of the commissioners reside on the same street on South Highlands within a few blocks of each other; the suburbs are and have been a'sens to the city government since the adoption of our commission form of gov rrment. The people in the suburbs constitute Il large and splendid portion of the citizenship of our city, and by every reason of justice and according to democratic principles of government they are entitled to that representation in the city government which is now denied them. Who, may I ask, on the present commission knows and is in sympathy with the conditions, wants and wishes of the suburbs of Ensley, Pratt City, Wylam, East Lake, North Birmingham, East Bir- mingham. Woodlawn, Elyton, Avondale and West End? Who represents them on the present city commission? Who voices their ideas? No one. Is this fair? Is this representative government? Is this just?
 Salaries of Commissioners
 T disagree with you as to the amount of salaries which should be paid com missioners. I believe that s7000 is en- tirely too high. Why should commits Alabama only received s50Oo prior to this administration, and my information is that the present legislature has passed a bill to pay the next governor only 5000. The chief justice and associate justices of the supreme court receive salaries of only S5O00; all other state officials receive salaries ranging from $1200 to $S600 Until very recently United States senators and congressman received only 5000, and our supreme judges, until recently, received much less than $5000. I know that you viii agree with fIie that that judiciary has not been improved by the increased salaries. The dignity and responsibilities of the office of city commissioner are cer- tainly not greater than the dignity and responsibilities of thees offices. An in- crease in the salaries of United States senators and congressman has not inn proved the type of men who hold these offices Morgan, Pettus and Pugh re- ceived salaries of only 5000 when they served the people of Alabama in the United States Senate. I believe that public office should offer a reasonable compensation, but the main incentive which does and should actuate men in seeking public office is the honor and the opportunity to render public service, and not the remuneration. Your sugges- tion that the next legislature might in- crease salaries of commissioners Is not borne out by the facts of this particular bill. The commissioners have not been able, so far, to prevent reductlon Tn salaries; not able to keep what they have, much less obtain an increase.
 Not An Untried Experiment
 "In the bill providing for an increase in the number of commissioners and a decrease in the salary paid. we are not offering an untried experiment. but are following in the footsteps of a hundred or more progressive American cities where commission form of government has been on trial, and if reports are true, has been a great success. This Is no innovation but only the adoption of that which has been tried and stood the test If I am correctly informed, Bir- mingham is the only city to adopt the three e-commissioner plan, and Birming ham is the only city which pays salary of $7000 to commissioners, although larger cities than Birmingham are oper- ating under commission form of gov ernment.
 -."rhere is greater reason for five com other city within my knowledge, as Rir- mingham is made up of several munich palities; some brought into the greater city against their will. and covering a great area of territory; municipalities differing from each other in their citi- zenship and in their views and require ments. Certainly Montgomery does not offer a precedent or a parallel to Bir. mingham.
 "ro fortify my position on this aues-