The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-24
WEATHERLY GROWS |RONECAL ABOUT MITCHELL WORDS Asks the President of Ala bama Power Company
 Several Questions SUCH AN ATTITUDE
 IS TO BE EXPECTED Doubts Whether Mir. Mitchell Would Be Willing to Favor Municipal
 Ownership Under Any
 Circumstances

City Commissioner James Weatherly grows ironica1 in his reply to the in . terview of James Mitchell. president of the Alabama Power company, which was published in The Age-Herald yes- terday Mr. Weatherly declares that Mir. Mitchell, being president of gi- gantic and monopoly seeking corpora- tion which enjoys exemption from tax ation in all forms except for uninl- proved lands, is in an admirable posi- tion to advocate the same imnunities for all the other corporations and smaller industries seeking investment here.
 The city commissioner takes Presi- dent Mitchell to task for recent statement made by the Alabama Power company president in which ne de- way. Light and Power company already had it's investment in light and power plants here, it would not be right for the Alabama Power company to con- pete with it by selling direct 10 con- sumers. MT. Weatherly intimates that this is a kind of gentlemen's agree ment as to the division of the spells of monopoly.
 ASK FOR RATES
 Commissioner Weatherly asks Pres ident Mitchell to take the people of Birmingham into his confidence and tell them what rate per kilowat the Birmingham Railway. Light and Power company is paying for power, informa- tion which the commissioner charges he has been unable to get from the lat ter company He further asks the pres ident of the Alabama Power company if he does not hold the opinion that any form of municipal ownership Of public utilities Is socialistic.
 Referring to the statement of Pres ident Mitchell regarding the reasons his company refused to purchase the Tidewater. Commissioner Weatherly asks if this help the power company was called on to give the Tidewater was not in reality plan to enable the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company to acquire the com peting system. The commissioner de- clares that President Mitchell, erred when he said that some of the com- missioners were socialistic since all of them had voted as a unit on all mat ters relating to municipal ownership and the Tidewater proposition.
 Commissioner Weatherly twits Pres
  real estate speculation in Birmingham, declaring that the real estate men had shown themselves in many instances to be loyal supporters of the plans of the Alabama Power company and the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company.
 REFERENCE TO SOCIALISM
 The statement of Commissioned Weatherly follows:
 MT. James Mitchell, president of the Alabama Power company, has been wrestling with the question, Whats the matter with Birmingham? and aft he has brought forth the startling prodigy in the shape of fancy that 'Birming gham is the most socialistic city in America Further travailing. he says the constant efforts of some of the members of the city government is re- tarding the city's growth and cites the example of other cities which by con- trast advance their own growth by giving to these corporations free sites free franchises, freedom from taxation, and everything free so as to encourage instead of exploiting them. as bad Bir- mingham does.
 MT Mitchell is in every way quali- fled to deliver to the people of Bir- mingham the ten commandments of right living, including the command ment, Thou shalt love the corporation as thy self
 AS president of the Alabama Power company, the gigantic monopoly seek ing corporation, covering the state, which now enjoys perfect freedom from taxation of all kinds. except as to un- improved lands, he is in a very admira- ble position to advocate the same inn muities to all the other corporations and smaller industries of the country, seeking investment in the state and in the city of Birmingham. This qualifi- cation as teacher is further empha- sized by the fact that MT. Mitchells S great corporation does not sell kilo- watt of electric current out of the mill lions created by his wonderful plant, directly to any consumer in the city of except through the exist ing monopoly, Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company. although his could afford to sell direct to the consumers of Birmingham as cheap ly as it sells to other consumers else- where.
 REGENT LOCK 12 SPEECH
 "Mr Mitchell was quoted in one of the newspapers as saying in his speech recently at Lock 12 on the occasion of the entertainment by him of the Bir- Rotarians that he did not think it right for his company to inter- fere with or embarass the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company by
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