The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-25
Some of the Speakers Get Personal, But Discussion Is in General Good Ma tured
WEATHERLY MAKES LONG ADDRESS IN
 BEHALF OF ISSUE
Others Dissent and Running Fire of Questions Adds Unusual Element of In- terest to Meeting

Enlivened with personalities and in terspersed with much rough and tumble debating, a three-hour citizens meeting was held in the auditorium of the Cham Der of Commerce last night for a discus sion of the proposed issuance of $5O000O city bonds for extension oe the municipal light and power plant.
 The meeting was called as an adjourned session of the Real Estate Exchange, but following a discussion of the propriety of the exchange taking action on the matter, it was decided to call the gath ering citizens meeting.
 Commissioner James Weatherly was the principal speaker, discussing at consider able length the question of the municipal ownership of utilities and the advantages which he said would accrue to Birming- ham from the proposed extension of the light and power plant. T. H. Motion, M. P. Messer and Robert Jemison, Jr., made more or less extended talks, while Com missioner Arlie Barber, I. Groom Beatty, Gen Louis V. Clark and numerous others or remarks from time to time.
 CITES FIGURES
 Commissioner Weatherly cited the rec ord made by countless other cities of the country of various sizes in the matter of municipal ownership of light plants, as showing that the city would save con- siderable money on it's own lights as well as being able to give the citizens generally much lower rates than they were now receiving.
 T. H. Motion indorsed the speech of Commissioner Weatherly, added other facts and figures in favor of the munich pal bond isue, and introduced the reso- lutions favoring the issue.
 M P. Messer opposed vigorously the resolutions, as well as the proposed is- suance of bonds. It was during the speech by MT Messer that the meeting became so lively MT. Messer predicted that the school bonds would be defeated. because They were weighted down with this inn practical dream and declared in rather dramatic manner that even if the bonds were authorized, there was no man in the country who would buy them.
 
 V. Clark, amid much applause and laugh ter.
 Mr. Messer declared his belief in the patriotism of General Clark but said he would prefer to see the color of his money.
 q am willing to take the word of Gem eral Clark that he will buy the bonds" :" said Commissioner Weatherly. "But. as 8 matter of fact, the bonds are already sold, if the people vote for the issue
 "But even if the people vote the bonds, we may not want to sell them,' declared Commissioner Barber. "The city may buy them out of the sinking fund. We have almost enough money in this fund to take the bonds"
 MANY VIEWPOINTS
 The case of Birmingham, Whats the matter with our city and our ,district?" these subjects were thoroughly diagnosed at the meeting last night. The various viewpoints as to why the city and the district are not receiving more small in- dustries were aired, and sometimes the feelings of other members present were not spared.
 In the course of his address Commits sioner Weatherly declared that in his opinion the usefulness of the Chamber of Commerce in the past had been great ly hurt because the organization stood too close to the railroads and the interests and did not give enough consideration to the needs of the community as a whole. He expressed the opinion that the Rotary club stood in danger of being injured from the same condition The commissioner spoke feelingly of the peo. pie in the suburbs, and pleaded for recognition of their rights.
 In a colloquy between MT Messer and l. Groom Beatty. general manager of the Birmingham Realty company, MT. Messer charged that one trouble with Birmingham was the fact that the Birmingham Realty company had not aided the city and that it had con-
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