The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-10-03
TRUSS COMPLA|
 HIS HANDS ARE TIED
Subject of Truck Wheels Causes Verbal Tilt at
 Commission Meeting

It looks to me like my hands are tied and that there is no chance for me to do anything with my department" stated Commissioner J. D. Truss at the session ot the city commission yesterday in re- sponse to a refusal of the commss to grant him authority to purchase wheels for a White truck which the city has on hand, now incapacitated for service.
 MT. Truss, stated Mr. Ward q think that ] have done more for your depart ment than any other commissioner. In fact, 1 have stood by you stronger than l have any other man on the commission, for l know the needs of good streets. don't think your remarks are well taken. and I don't think this is the time for such remarks. We should get rid of all of this personal feeling and transact busi- ness without even trace of it."
 That's a campaign speech that he is making, l think" said MT Barber in view of the fact that MT. Truss had touched upon the matter of executive cle- mency, stating that during last year 79.S1 days of labor had been lost to the city for every working day, on account of the executive clemency shown prisoners by Commissioner Barber and indorsed by the commission.
 It may be campaign speech, and if it is I am going to make some more of them before the election comes off, snapped MT. Truss
 ASKS MINUTES CHANGED
 MT. Truss asked that the minutes read, that he was present and not voting, in- stead of showing, as they do, that he had voted in favor of the ciemency pe- titions. He said that he did not know what the men were charged with, for dis orderly conduct could mean anything from arson to assault.
 If you wanted to be recorded as vot- ing no, you should have so informed me at the time," stated Clerk c. B. Lloyd, instead of allowing your vote to be re- saying nothng."
 MT. Ward stated that MT. Truss could make any kind of statement that he cared to, and that it would be so recorded in the minutes of yesterdays session relative to his vote on past questions, but that the minutes could not be changed now.
 They should be changed if there is 8 mistake" said MT. Truss.
 You should never have signed the min utes if they were incorrect, but you did, and you signed them every week, too, as the records show" said MT. Barber.
 'sGentlemen, this kind of talk will have to stop in the commissions This is q business meeting, and We should elimi- nate such personalities and get down to business" said MT. Ward.
 q heartily agree with you, MT. Pres ident,' smiled MT. Barber, and the incl dent was closed.
 TRUSS RECORDS STATEMENT
 At the afternoon session of the com mission MT. Truss, by a motion, had the following statement recorded into the minutes.
 "On October S1, 1916, I announced to the board that I would not ratify or vote for any case of executive clemency or remission of fines unless a list show ing names of prisoners and offense com mitted was submitted. This was not done in an intelligible way and as the consequence I have been present but not voting for the ratification of any cases of executive clemency with the ex- ception of one, and in few isolated cases which were brought up and dis cussed before the commission The min- utes from that date should be changed showing me present but not voting ap- proval in any case of executive elem ency except as stated above
 "J. D. TRUSS. "Commissioner Public Improvements"