The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-12
Urges West End Citizens to Scrap" for Bigger Allot-
 ment of Bond Issue
FACTOR IN
 CITY GOVERNMENT
SOcialistic Commissioner GratuitiOusly Injects Disposal of Bond Issue in Dealing With Delegation on
 Another Mission
By RICHARD +. LUssIER

Is the $2,000,000 school bond issue to serve as a pork barreT' for the city com missoners?
 This is the question that is brought up by the actions of Commissioner Arlie Barber, the socialist member of the board, who told delegation of West End citizens yesterday morning that as that suburb had only been allotted about $40, GOO from the school bond funds it ap- peared very lean portion for them to get. He urged that the West End citizens prepare to ask for more money.
 While you men are here," said Com- missioner Barber T want to call atten- ton to the fact that the $2,000000 school bond issue will be voted on June 5. Now, in looking over the probable distribution of the funds to be derived from the sale of the bonds I find that West End has only been allotted about 10000, which to me seems quite inadequate in comparison with the fact that there is $2,000000 avail able if the bond issue is passed.
 q am warning you to get busy. Of course, the city commission desires practically unanimous vote in West End for the bond issue, and l am tipping you off that s4O,OO0 is a very small portion of $2,0O0,00O and we should get more.'
 EXPLANATIONS IN ORDER
 This brought on much discussion and explanations from everyone of the com missioners, who practically apologized to the dozen or so of West End voters pres- ent for their lack of foresight in not hav- ing allotted the whole $2, GOO to that end of the city. However the commission as a whole promised with fervor that something will be done for West End and that they would get their share of the school bonds
 Throughout the entire discussion the question of whether West End actually needed more than $40,000 for her imme- diate needs in the schools never intruded, and the paramount issue appeared to be as to who would get the most out of the school bond issue
 As to whether this latest outbreak of patriotic zeal for the welfare of West End citizens by Commissioner Barber will affect the passage of the school bond issue next June, observers at the city hall were unwilling to make any predictions, although it was stated that unless com petent committee of unbiased citizens were selected to apportion the $2,000, 900 school funds where they are most needed, it would result in mad scramble of each suburb to get whatever fiat" ap- propriations it could without regard to merit.
 POLITICS THE GAME
 That politics is still the principal factor of the commission form of government is easily apparent every day at the city hall by the manner in which delegations of the suburbs are handled. Each commis- sioner seemingly scrambles over the other to get in a motion that will help, or few remarks that will appease and all of them are very much embarrassed when through some unfortunate demand on the part of the suburbs the commission is so placed that it must refuse it.
 It was this way with the West End del- egation yesterday. This delegation came to the commission to request an ordinance for the permanent improvement of Tus- caloosa avenue, from Sixth street to Pop lar, which was passed after brief dis cussion and speeches from the commits sioners. Then came the remarks of Com missioner Barber, who interrupted the leave taking of the West Finders to tell them that they must not forget the $2,000,- 900 school bond issue which if passed only allotted about $40,000 to West End.