The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-12
Voters to Decide on Bond Issues to Purchase Light Plant and to Build and
 Repair Schools


 city commissioners, who were all elected on a municipal ownership of public utili- l ties plank.
 The municipal light plant ordinance was 1 followed by an ordinance calling for an election on June 5, to submit to the voters whether the city commission would issue l bonds to the sum of $2,000,000 for the con- struction and repair of public schools. This bond issue ordinance also passed with the unanimous vote of the commits l sion.
 1 And came the "dry closets' ordinance which has hung in the balance for sev- in which Commissioner Arlie. Barber, the socialist member of the board, was signal I ly defeated.
 RIDICULES ORDINANCE Commissioner Barber started by ridi- culing the ordinance and making minor amendments. His colleagues as the de- bate progressed also offered amend ! ments but in a serious vein, until the "dry closet ordinance was all marked up with corrections, sections that were | to be left out, and it had a very patched up appearance. In that condition Com ] missioner Barber boasted that he hope to | so amend it that 1t would be unrecogniz- able and it would then be thrown in the waste basket where it belonged. How | ever, he recokoned without Mayor-Com- missioner George B. Ward, who stated l he was ready to vote for the dry closet'' ordinance and called for vote. rr1.- 1ol | Der was the only commissioner that voted against it.
 I The "dry closet'' ordinance as amended pleces under the supervision of the sani- tary department all the "dry closets" of I the municipality. The city will clean | these closets and charge a fee of 5 cents I month for doing so, which is the esti- mate of the city engineer of the actual cost of doing the work. Incidently the I ordinance makes it mandatory for all l persons who have "dry closets on their | premises to have a permit for same is- sued by the city comptroller. The ordi- nance also carries many penalties for in fractions of it's various sections. Now watch for the storm to break" said Commissioner Barber, after he had l been defeated, 'the public will never stand for that ordinance and you are in 1 for it now"
 That's all right" answered Commis- 1 sioner Ward, i've have weather ed many a storm before, and I recokoned we will weather this one if it materializes." Following is the summary of the routine matters that were passed by the city commissioners yesterday: SUMMARY OF PROCEEDINGS
 
 Adopted ordinance No. 366-C calling an election for the purpose of sub hitting to the qualified voters the ques- ton whether or not the city of Bir- mingham shall issue $500,000 of bonds for the construction of municipal electric light plant. Adopted ordinance No. 367-C calling an election for the purpose of submit ting to the qualified voters of the city the question whether or not the city of Birmingham shall issue bonds to the amount of $2,000,000 for school pur- poses
 Instructed the city engineer to draw an ordinance for the paving of Seventh avenue and Forty eighth street to Forty first street. Wylam; thence along Forty first street to Ninth avenue; thence along Ninth avenue to Thirty fourth street; thence along Thirty forth street to Avenue E, Ensley. Adopted resolution instructing the city attorney to report to this board the proper regulations for the opera tion of pool rooms. Adopted resolution postponing ac- tion on subject of prohibiting opera ton of pool rooms in the city of Bir- mingham.
 Instructed the city clerk to give notice by publication of intention of board to redeem certain public im- provement bonds.
 Authorized the city comptroller to ac- cept partial payments on certain de- linquent assessments. Adopted ordinance No. 36S-C rela- tive to the inspection of oils, gasoline, benzine, etc.
 Adopted resolution relieving the city's lien on lot 1. F. o. Sherrod sur |vey, upon the payment of SASS with interest from January "A, 1905. Authorized the superintendent of the North Birmingham plant to extend light service to premises of H. G. Fletcher, 1720 Thirtieth avenue. north, at a cost of not to exceed $15. Ordered installed tungsten light at Eighty third street and Sloss avenue. Accepted bid of the Fruitticher Elec- tric company for rewriting certain DOT tions of the city hall. the work to- be done under the supervision and ap- proval of the city electrician. F Adopted ordinance No. 369-C regu- lating the handling of dry closets.
 Authorized the payment of $5 to Louis Pizitz in full settlement of claim against city on account of in jury to mule.
 Confirmed action of Commissioner Barber in releasing certain prisoners from the city jail on probation.
 Adopted resolution authorizing president of the board to acquire by purchase or condemnation right of way for sanitary sewer in Martins addi- tion, Failview.
 Declined proposition of J. D. Scruggs for the sale to the city of certain prop erty in West End.
 Instructed the city attorney to take the necessary steps to have torn down and removed old houses at East Birmingham, located on Copeland prop erty.
 The following matters were referred:
 To Commissioner Truss: The matter of sale of junk on the city's property at Avenue and Sixth street, for re- port.
 Complaint of R. H. Hagood with ref erence to the opening of Canal street, West End.
 To Commissioner Barber: The mat ter of establishing municipal employ ment bureau in the city hall.
 Disposition of case against R. c. r- N