The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-05
Barber Occupies Usual Share of Spotlight, i. e. All of It-Deal With Large Figures at All Times
P E TETON TO OPEN 18TH STREET IS MADE BY PROPERTY OWNERS
Barber Continues War on Pool Rooms and Wards Efforts for Postponement
 Fail-Wants to Remove Advertising From Dailies

The city commissioners earned their salaries yesterday so far as the length of time put in on public business was concerned, more than seven hours being given over to the morning and afternoon sessions alone. Incidentally, the commits sioners dealt in large figures so far as their conversation was concerned. Com missioner Barber again brought up the matter of taking over the telephone com panies, the waterworks, the light plant, and other utilities and Commissioner Hornady brought out his proposed bond issue of $2,O00.0OO for the public schools. Not to be outdone Commissioner Weath- erly joined in the discussion by urging his proposed s5oo,Ooo light plant bond is- sue and also expressing favor with the operation of utilities by the city. Even the automatic telephone was again up for discussion, Commissioner Weatherly announcing that he had received an offer from a representative of the Independent Telephone company to install without cost to the city complete system of 100 ol tHCSS puOIoS TUT de1UOuSLrdClOn.
 AFTER POOL ROOMS
 The commissioners declared war on the railroads and other interests alleged to have blocked all efforts in the past for grade crossing and took the initial steps looking toward the opening up of Nine- teenth street from Morris avenue to Powell avenue. The movement inaugur- ated sometime ago by Commissioner Bar Der to wipe out all the pool and billiard rooms of Birmingham by June 1, was efforts of Commissioner Ward to post pone the matter until September 15 met with failure. From indications at the meeting yesterday, the pool rooms may be outlawed, effective October 1. Com missioner Barber served notice on the commission that if he was defeated in his efforts to wipe out the pool rooms at that time, he would take the matter to the people in referendum election.
 Commissioner Barber, who incidentally occupied his full share of the seven hours meeting, most of the allotted share of Commissioner Truss, as well as in- truding somewhat upon the time of the views in opposition to the publication of the citys legal notices in the daily news papers. "I have a report in my hand which shows that we have paid over $20O a month for the publication as required by law, of the legal notices of the city. I think that is entirely too much. We can get it done cheaper from some of the weekly papers. have talked this matter over with the publishers of some of these weeklies and they are complain ing because they do not get this busi- ness. They pay licenses and taxes just like the big dailies. I want to save this 
 GETS MONEYS WORTH
 "Mr Barber, I think s20O a month is dirt cheap for the amount of publicity the commission is getting from the news papers at the present tin1e,'' said Com- missioner Ward. You, yourself some times get more than that in one day." he said, and the laugn was on Commis- sioner Barber.
 'The publicity I have received has not cost me one cent,' said the spotlight member of the board.
 .You know MT. Ward" said Commis. sioner Barber, there was man from Pratt City up here the other day who said he had .ssfot seen one of the Ordi- nances we published in daily paper.'-
 .The law says that these legal notices of the city shall be published in newspa- pers of general circulation. said Com- missioner Ward Lust because one man failed to see them is no reason to be- lieve that most people interested in these matters do not see them. It certainly is true that vastly more people read them in the daily newspapers than would see them in any of the weeklies. Many of the legal notices placed in the weeklies are put there so they will not be seen, as for example. divorce notices, appli- vations for pardons and similar pub lications made simply to comply with tho law"
 STICKS TO IT
 q am in favor of giving these mo- tices, to the weeklies,'' reiterated Com missioner Barber, as he resumed his seat long enough to gather few more notes for further comments.
 The city yesterday purchased 60 feet of property adjoining the Central High school and fronting on Seventh avenue, this action being taken on the recom- mendation of the board of education The price was $10,0O0, to be paid $10N with interest at per cent.
 City Engineer Kendrick was empowered to permit plumbing work to be done when it received his approval. He was also instructed to drop other matters and hasten work on the plumbing ordi- nance.
 A petition signed by affected property