The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-11-06
Cheers Greet Incoming and Outgoing Officials as They Enter Council Cham
 Der for Ceremony
.TAYLOR'S OFFICE IS
 FULL OF FLOWERS
 AS HE ENTERS TT
President Barrett Is First Sworn in After Ward Calls His Final Ses-
 sion to Order

Though 1t was high noon and it was a ceremony that was performed and a VOW was taken, it was not a wedding
 that took place in the city
 council chamber at the city
 hall yesterday.
 For be it known that Birmingham
 in her body polite does not form al dances that man dare not put asunder, as was demonstrated on October 8, when municipal election made it
 possible for four new commissioners to take office yesterday and officially start upon their careers as city fathers today.
 Dr. N. A. Barrett is hailed today as the president of the city commission. He is on the job in the city hall, and will to- day preside over the first official meet ing of the newly organized city commits 1 sion which is. in the final analysis, the city government of Birmingham. l Dr. Barrett was yesterday sworn in, immediately following which John R.
 Hornady, not so bashful for he had pre- viousy been sworn in,' Henry Page Burruss, J. Ellis Brown and John H. Taylor, commssioners-elect, swore that they would support the government of
 these United States, the state of Ala bana and the municipality of Birming- ham. The oath was administered by Judge Thomas R. Lea of the municipal court, and following this part of the cere- mony the oath was signed and thereby began the reign of the Barrett-Hornady- Burruss- -Brown-Taylor administration.
 CHEERS GREET PRESIDENT
 Cheers arose from an audience which crowded the small council chamber as Dr. Barrett arose to take the oath of office. The blanks for the signatures of the commissioners had been prepared by City Attorney M. M. Ullman.
 Retiring President George B. Ward well comed the new commissioners into their respective offices, and pledged the CO., operation of the retiring commission in efforts for the advancement of the in- terests of Birmingham.
 The procession into the council cham Der was led by MT. Ward, and as he entered he was cheered. He stated that it was his privilege to open the meet ing. and that the business before the new meeting was the installation of the new officials. He called the incoming mem bers of the board to the rostrum to take the seats that they would in future occupy.
 GET BUSY AT ONCE
 Following the installation of officers there were congratulations all round. J. Ellis Brown busted himself with securing desk for the department of public util- ities, it having no such piece of furniture on hand; Dr. Barrett was engaged in sec ing friends who wanted to shake hands with him and wish him godspeed while John H. Taylor was undoubtedly elated over the huge bunch of chrysanthemums presented him by the police and fire de- partments, and beautiful bouquet of roses from the welfare department. This was the surprise that awaited MT. Taylor when he entered his office, which was decorated ill American flags and the desk covered with flowers. Chief Middleton of the fire department and the new chief of police, Thomas J. Shirley, presented Commissioner Taylor to the employees and escorted him into his new office
 John R. Hornady was the only one who was perfectly at home, for his hat and overcoat hung in the same place, and his office was undisturbed by the vefdict of the people.