The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-05-20
CITY HALL AGAIN
IN L|MEL|GHT AS
REUNION WAVES
By-PrOduct Gas Will Be One
of Live Issues Next
Week
WARM FIGHT FOR
BONDS WILL BEGIN
Recall of Barber May Be Sought,
Though Commissioner Says He
Welcomes Contest
With Enemies

With the Confederate reunion an af-
fair of lovable memories. the stage is
being reset at the city hall for the
city commissioners to take their ac-
customed places before the calcium of
public interest.
The issue of the moment is that OF
by-product gas, although the threat
ened recall of Commissioner Arlie
Barber and the regulation of the pool
rooms are also attracting attention in
other quarters than the city hall. The
proximity of the election on the bond
issues for schools, civic auditorium and
municipal light plant which will
amount to 100000, forms also the
basis of much speculation
The issue of by-product gas will un
doubtedly be settled at next Tuesday s
meeting of the city commission. Com
missioners George B. Ward, John r,
Hornady and J. r. Truss will vote to
accept the proposition of President j.
S. Pevear of the birmingham Railway,
Light and Power company, which
means the imn ediate reduction of the
gas rate from 95 cents thousand cubic
feet to 70 cents with the additional re
duction of cents whenever the gross
receipts of the gas company amount
to 100000 as they are at the present
rate of 95 cents thousand feet. In
other words, the reductions of the gas
rate in the future will be based on
the consumption of gas The more gas
the public uses the cheaper the price.
WILL HAVE OPPOSITION
The Pevear by-product proposition
will be opposed by Commissioners Ar
lie Barber and James Weatherly. This
minority of the board want the Bir-
mingham Railway, Light and Power
company to accept the offer of the
city on by-product gas. This offer was
that the rate of 95 cents be reduced
to 70 cents Immediately. After year
at 70 cents the rate was to be re-
duced to 60 cents for another year and
then to so cents. where it would re-
main during the life of the present gas
contract, which expires in 1921 Com
missioner Barber would also like to
negotiate with President Pevear of the
Birmingham Railway, Light and Power
company on the lowest possible flat
rate on gas for the next five years
In commission circles the views of
both Commissioners Barber and Wealth
erIy on the by-product gas franchise
are given much weight but the ma
jority of the board feel that as the
Birmingham Railway, Light and Power
company will not accept the terms OF
the minority it would be a decided
gain for the citizens to take the reduc-
tions offered which did not vary great
~ from what the city originally de-
manded. 1t is ALSO possible that Com
missioners Weatherly and Barber may
reconsider their stand before next
Tuesdays meeting and avoid being in
the path of the we'll oiled steam roll er
which is scheduled to pass over their
PROSTATE forms if they oppose the will
of the majority
RECALL OF BARBER
In regard to the recall of Commits
sioner Arlie Barber, gossip is now at
white heat concerning the petition which
is alleged to be in circulation among
the voters. Certain prominent citizens
who were recently fined and given Jail
sentences in the recorders court upon
conviction for speeding are said to be
behind the movement to recall Mr. Bar
Der, who, however, is smiling at their
efforts
Really said Commissioner Barber,
yesterday. II wish the law was so that
only 1900 names was necessary for calling
a recall election on any public official
AS it is now 5000 names are required
which makes it difficult for my speed
ing opponents to get up the necessary
petition and If | could l would make
things easier for them. 1t only takes 1906
names to call referendum election and
it should require no more for recall
election. / am very much in favor of
the recall feature of the commission act
and think it is one of the fundamental
arms of our selfg government"
AS to the regulations of the pool rooms
Commissioner Barber is confident that
his ordinance will be passed at next
Tuesdays meeting. This ordinance
makes 1t possible for the city commission
to forfeit the license of a pool room upon
conviction in the recorders court that
minors have been allowed to play pool OF
that gambling has been permitted The
pool room operate are not opposing this
ordinance as it is in accordance with
their promises to the city commission
some weeks ago.
Every commissioner at the city hall is
preparing to enter energetically into the
can aigns to put the bond issues over.
Commissioner John r. Hornady is in
charge of the campaign for the 81, 600, 900
school bond issue, and is the most ener-
getic of the lot. Commissioners James
Weatherly and Arlie Barber are making
preparations to enter actively into the
campaign for the 100000 municipal light
plant, while Commissioners Ward and
Truss are speaking good words for all
three bond issues and are very active in
favor of the auditorium bond issue of
S50g000, which will also be voted on
June s.
The decks are now cleared for action,
and the fur is due to begin to fly about
al