The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-11-23
MANY COMPLAINTS |. ID COMMISSIONERS First Suburban Meeting at
 Ensley Largely Attended CHURCH LICEN SEES Citizens Decide Against Charging a
 Church for Privilege of Serving
 Dinners in Ensley Busi- ness District
CHURCH LICEN SEES

A large crowd was present at the meeting of the city commissioners in Ensley yesterday afternoon and a num- Der of complaints were registered by the citizens but no action was taken. President George Ward, after calling the meeting together, stated that the commissioners had two purposes in meeting in the suburbs the first was to have the citizens of the various sec tions great deal of inconvenience and tho second that the commissioners may get in closer touch with each district. MT. Ward also stated that his secretary would take down all complaints and that the commissioners would go over these matters at one of their regular meetings.
 Commissioner Arlie Barber followed fdr. Ward and thanked the citizens for their support of him in the recent elec- tfon and assured the people that he would render his services to all of the people for the upbuilding of Birming- ham.
 Commissioner James Weatherly made short talk and stated that the com missioners since August 1, had been As.A~iiiAss tiic Clty Wltuln US income and they were going to do so from now on.
 Dr. E. W. Averyt thanked the com missioners for holding their meeting In this city and then mentioned the movement to reduce licenses which the local merchants are complaining about. pr. Averyt stated that the last legis- lature passed @ bill allowing the city authorities to graduate the licenses to he an thnt Ensley felt that they should have their locenses reduced The commissioners stated that they would take some ac- ton on this matter as soon as possible.
 ASKED TO FIX ROAD
 John Angwin was the next speaker, and asked that the commissioners fix the road leading to Oakland cemetery from Fairfield. He stated that only about two blocks of this road was not completed and that it is impossible for vehicles to pass over this route The commissioners asked Frank Gafford, who was present, to look over this road and to report to them the condition of this place.
 Tom Roe spoke next and asked the commissioners in regards to partial payment of fines imposed on persons in the local police court, whereby those not able to pay their fines immediately would be given a chance to pay it without going to jail. Commissioner Barber explained the matter and stated that first they should always make the city safe in getting the fines paid and that the judge or the clerk Of the court should pass on this mat ter before releasing the person on this installment plan.
 j. J. Chisholm, president of the Ems icy club, asked for the completion of Inc fa .Ir work on which was begun several months ago The matter was turned over to MT. Gafford who will make report to the commissioners later.
 c. c. Burke then brought up the pro- posed viaduct over the steel plant crossing and stated the great need of a vladuct at this point. He asked the commissioners to take the mater up With the railroad companies, the Ten nessee company and the board of rev enue and to use their influence to have this viaduct built as this was consid- cred the most dangerous crossing in the Birmingham district. Mir. Barber stated that he was in favor of the viaduct. but did not think that the city should have to pay to have 1t built He stated that he thought this was left up to the railroad companies, the Tennessee company and the board of revenue. Commissioner Weatherly stated that he would gladly go with the committee appointed by the Ensley club before the board of revenue and the various companies and see if some thing could not be done in this matter The commissioners assured the citizens that they would use their influence in trying to get this viaduct built.
 NEGROES BLOCK SIDEWALK
 Mir. Chisholm also spoke of the ne- groes blocking the sidewalks in front of the express office and suggested that the commissioners have the ex- press companies open a rear entrance for the negroes or make some other the express companies ought to have some way to handle this matter and that there is a law where the companies shosld keep their customers in the building and not on the sidewalks. He stated that he would leave the block ing of the sidewalks up to the police department He also stated that he found the local police department the best in the Birmingham district and highly praised Captain Donlon and his men for the manner in which they are handling affairs in this district.
 Commissioner Ward asked the citizens of this city if they were in favor of the churches holding suppers and bazars in this city without license. He stated that the commission had passed a law which applied only to the heart of Birmingham for all churches to pay a license, and that the commissioners would leave the matter up to the citizens of Ensley as to whether Ensley would be included in this law or not. A vote was taken and the entire body of Ensley citizens were op- posed to charging the local churches any license for their suppers.
 MT. Ward also asked the citizens about the complaint on the local office of the Birmingham Waterworks company. Mir. Burke stated that MT. Horner of the Birmingham waterworks had called on him yesterday morning and asked a lit- tie time to work out the proposition for the people of. this section and that he was awaiting Mir. Horner's reply before mak- ing any other statement about the hours of the local branch.
 MT Burke also asked the commission CTS to repair Avenue F, which connects Ensley with Pratt City, stating that this road was in very bad shape.- Several others in attendance asked the commits sioners in going back to Birmingham to go over the road and see for themselves the condition it was in. This matter was also turned over to Mir. Gafford, who stated that he would have the road re- paired as soon as possible.
 Alex Poss asked the commissioners to have the sidewalk on Eighteenth street, between Avenues F and G, relaid as it was all broken up from trees tearing it up and number of people had fallen and injured themselves while passing over this block. Jack Thomas stated that he had notified the property owners of this block of the condition of the about two weeks ago, but they had paid no heed to his warnings