The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-07-18
WARD ANNOUNCES ]. RETIREMENT FROM COMMISSION RACE Announcement a Surprise to Public, But Not to His
 Intimate Friends OUTLINES PROBLEMS
 CONFRONTING CITY Commission President Will Retire to Private Life to Devote
 Time to His Bond
 Business

surprise to the general public, but not to his intimate friends. was the an- nouncement yesterday by President George B. Ward of the city commission that he would not be candidate to suc- ceed himself.
 MT. Ward early Tn the year announced positively that he would not run for the office again. but was later besieged by his many friends to make the race, and finally permitted the statement that he. would be candidate for reelection.
 In his statement to the public MT. Ward points out many things of more than passing interest, one of lis most striking comments being, For the past five years Birmingham has passed through a period of danger. The future holds in store many serious problems"
 It Is MT. Wards intention to retire to private life. engaging in the bond busi- ness, to which he devoted his time be- fore he was elected commissioner.
 WARDS STATEMENT
 MT. Wards statement follows:
 Tn the month of April 1911, the legis- lature established a form of government in Birmingham with three commission CTS, with the idea that the ills from which Birmingham was suffering would thereby be largely eliminated. The first four years of experience under this form of government resulted in increased efficiency and in the solution of several pressing problems, but the Fundamental cause of our difficulties was not re- moved.
 "For many years Birmingham has suf- fered and struggled against an insuffi- cient revenue, and many expedients' and palliatives have been prescribed in an endeavor to relieve it's distress.
 Four years ago l was elected presi- dent of the commission, and one of my first efforts was to set in motion a movement looking to the permanent financial relief Of the city.
 "A committee of representative citizens made thorough investigation of the city's affairs and mapped out a pro- granlme of financial relief, which was accordingly put before the legislature. and the necessary constitutional amend ment was submitted to the people with the result of an overwhelming defeat of the measure. which, in my opinion, was fundamental and necessary to the sue cess of any administration.
 Disappointed but not dismayed, the commission continued to struggle to dis charge its most obvsous functions of carrying on the government, meeting its financial obligations, protecting the credit of the City, and going forward with programme of municipal develop ment essential to every large city
 FINANCIAL PROBLEMS
 '"rhe financial problems which con fronted the cssy prior to 1910 were inn measurably increasel and rendered more minghaln, consisting of consolidation of Il separate municipalities. covering an area Of 5Y square miles.
 .'Our people, for whom 1 feel the greatest love- and to whom have all ways desired to render efficient service, seem to be hopeiessly divided in their opinions upon the proper solution of our problems.
 "The municipal ship has been torpedoed, submarined, bombarded and subjected to various other attacks with increased frequency. Notwithstanding tkese. she has steered steady course. surviving all storms and stress, and making prog ress toward the goal of her ambition. Many problems still confront us, the so- lutiOn of which, at once ululcult ana Qan- gerous, cannot be accomplished. in by fungment. without far-reaching and fundamental chainges in the state consti- tuition.
 An earnest and exhaustive study of the financial operations of every city of similar proportions in tke United States has convinced me of the absurd insult ficiency of our revenues. This insunfici- ency is becoming more acute steadily. The burden therefrom forces tie exe- cutiye to go through daily strain of harassments and dscontent.
 T have arrived at the time in life when the spectacular in high office pre- sents no charms. My years in public service have been at the expense of my private resources, and it is now duty tn make provisions for the future. With this thought in view, December last l announced publicly a determina- tion not to seek reelection to this office The encomiums of the press, and large number of friends wLo appealed to me to become a candidate for reelection had powerful appeal I tentatively agreed and announced that would be candi- date. Within two weeks after that am nouncement, 400o qualified voters signed petitions pledging their support, which convinced me that was in for four more
 tContinned on Page Fourteen5
 r1 s1r EV&.