The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-24
QUE:ST|ONOF CHANGE IN CITY GOVERNMENT : IS WIDELY DISCUSSED The Indications Are That
 Change Is Desired in , Present Form
CITIZENS SHOW KEEN
 INTEREST IN MATTER
Many Favor the General Manager Plan, While Others Contend Com mission Form Has Not Been
 Found Wanting"

Y Birmingham, individually and collective ly, continues to discuss the question of change in the city government. While majority of prominent people inter- viewed lean toward the city manager plan, there are many to be found who are in favor of returning to the old al dermanic form of government.
 However whether they are for the com : mission, the aldermanic form, or city manager. the people of Birmingham have demonstrated during the past few days that they are interested keenly In the form of government under which their city shall operate. Practically every man interviewed has shown that he has given much thought to the subject, and while some of them refuse to be quoted for personal and business reasons few have been encountered woh have acknowledged not having given the matter thought.
 The editorial in recent issue of The Age-Herald has evidently stirred the peo- pie to a realization of the fact that a crucial point in the city government has been reached, and many commentators of the stand taken by The Age-Herald In this movement have been heard.
 OWEN GILLESPIE TALKS
 Owen Gillespie, the county auditor, stated frankly yesterday that the people of Birmingham were wearied of perform ances at the weekly meetings of the city ~ commission.
 Tt is easily apparent" said MT. Gil- lespie. that the intelligent people of this city are becoming extremely weary of the performances at the weekly meet ings of the city commission and this will eventually force the return of the alder manic form of municipal government. h. cidentally, the aldermanic form of gov ernment Is more representative and 1t Vgives the average man an opportunity to air his problems at least to his ward alderman, without having to march to the city hall and face the various city commissioners, who sit on high in the midst of their lordly authority
 FAVORS PRESENT FORM
 John c. Henley of the Birning- ham Publishing company, stated yes terday that he did not believe the city commissioners were such a hardened lot and was heartily in favor of the commits sion form of government.
 "Of course," said MT. Henley, T am not familiar with the official records of the commissioners and what they have accomplished but it seems to me that they are not such a hardened lot, and it is possible that they have done things that we do not even suspect. As for the ieommission form of government, I am heartily in favor of it, and believe that the city commission as it stands today will match fairly well with the average office holders of the county or state." 
 WANTS A CHANGE Julius Jaffe, a well known jeweler stated with emphasis yesterday that the aldermanic system should be returned as the present method of governing the city , did not appear to be giving general sat- \ isfaction.
 { Naturally, the city commissioners are (defending the commission form of gov sernment," said Mir. Jaffe. "If I got S4000 Va year I might also be impressed favor ably with it, but without any other in spiration than the weekly 'spats' at the city hall must admit that l would pre- fer a return to the aldermanic system. believe as taxpayer that I would get more for my money with the mayor and aldermen than from a city commission. There is too much concentrated power in a city commission which sometimes leads Ito concentrated arrogance with resultant public dissatisfaction.
 WANTS CITY MANAGER
 T should like the oportunilty of ex- pressing my sentiments in regard to the commission form of government" said Billy Fincher, who travels out of Birmingham. And here's what I think about 1t: I think it's joke. Why, do you know, l go all over the southern territory, and everywhere I go I hear people laughing at Birmingham and her present government. Just as soon as l tell a man I am from Birming- ham he asks me, Well, what are they | trying to do over there? As soon as they say that, I know who they mean by they However, they usually en- tighten me. Those commissioners of yours, when are they going to get tired of pulling this comedy stuff, and settle down to business? It's the same old story everywhere I go, until honestly, I have gotten to where I'm almost ashamed to tell man that I come from this town. What we need is a city manager. I've seen 1t in other ] places, and I know it works And it's cinch it couldn't be any worse than what we have now. At any rate, it's | worth trying. We need a change MAJORITY ALL RIGHT
 While I am not particularly against the personnel of commissioners at the city hall, I am, nevertheless, in favor of the aldermanic form of government" said