The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-26
Commissioner Holds Floor Until After 6 O'Clock in Trade for Benefit of the Press
SAYS YOUNG PEOPLE
 ARE BEING RUINED
 BY THE DANCE HALLS
Claims Domino Players Are Biggest Gamblers of All. Commission Grants All His Requests

In a prolonged commission conference yesterday Commissioner Arlie Barber caustically arraigned the Standard Oil company the local dance halls, domino dens and pool rooms and held the floor until after o'clock last night.
 T am not only speaking to the com mission as commissioners" said Mr. Bar Der, 'but I am also speaking for the benefit of the press All of my state- ments this afternoon are for publica- tion."
 The first attack of MT. Barber was on the dance halls. He stated that upon close investigation, he had discovered that no matter under what strict super vision they were conducted the public dance halls of the city of Birmingham were detrimental to the public health; welfare and morals.
 RUINS YOUNG PEOPLE
 We have got to abolish them," said Commissioner Barber, "as young sons and daughters are daily being ruined, morally and physically for life, at di- rect economic loss to the community. Supervision is worse than useless, as the dances themselves are degenerating in their influences and therefore I ask the commission to wipe out all the dance halls.
 "In place of the public dance halls let us open the public school buildings at night, where community dances can be conducted"
 Commissioner George B. Ward then stated that he would summon the pro- prietors of the two dance halls under attack by MT. Barber for a conference.
 We don't need a conference" said MT. Barber, we need to put them out of busi- ness.''
 We will confer first" said MT. Ward.
 AFTER DOMINO PLAYERS
 Commissioner Barber then started tirade against domino playing in pool rooms and stated that he would offer an ordinance next Friday to abolish all domino playing in pool rooms and clubs.
 The biggest gambling in the city" said Commissioner Barber, is now being con dutced over the domino tables, scattered about the billiard and pool halls of the city"
 The commission voted to consider the domino ordinance next Friday
 While on the domino gambling idea Commissioner Barber also served notice that before next January all the pool rooms in the city would be abolished,
 A pool room," said MT. Barber, lis nothing less than school of gambling and den of crime. None in this city can escape that stigma and as we know it, let's put them out of business. So I am serving notice on you commissioners that l am determined that the pool rooms of this city shall be legislated out of business before the first of next Jan uary. I am determined to urge upon YOU gentlemen not to renew any pool room licenses. Let us be firm in this and wipe out the pool rooms"
 Commissioner Ward stated that he was willing to have MT. Barber think it over until next January. The other commits sloners however, appeared to be very much impressed with the speech of MT. Barber
 Commissioner Barber also urged that a poolroom license at Acipco be revoked, owing to the fact that everybody in Acipco except the proprietor of the pool room was kicking against it. Commission CT Ward directed Secretary Lloyd to sum- mon the offending poolroom operator to explain the situation
 GETS AN AUTOMOBILE
 After the poolroom scramble Commits soner Barber informed the commission that it would take sS50 to repair Chief of the Fire Department Sidney Middle tons automobile, and urged that a new one be purchased
 Commissioner Ward moved that a new automobile for Chief Middleton be pro- vlded at once. The vote was unanimous.
 Commissioner Barber also brought up before the board a proposition from the Young Mems Christian association to glVe the police officers and flremen of the city course in the "safety-flrst,' training. Commissioner Ward suggested that the commission allow Mir Barber to take advantage of the offer at his dis cretlon. The motion carried
 A horse and buggy at present in the hands of the city commission, said Com missioner Barber, should be turned over to the detective department This sug- gestion also carried, on the proviso that the detective in whose care the horse would be should also feed 1t at his ex- pense. Commissioner Barber stated that this was his understanding of the mat ter.
 Commissioner Barber then brought forth complaint from the coal dealers of North Birmingham against certain indi- viduals buying coal by the carload and selling it to consumers without paying any license to the city. This was or dered investigated by MT Barber, with power to act.
 AFTER STANDARD OIL co.
 It was then that Commissioner Barber launched his attack on the Standard Oil company.
 "The Standard Oil company" said MT. Barber, is the United States govern ment. We all know that. It is foolhardy