The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-10-09

 day made the city meaningless, muse mentless, churchless and schoolless in the name of the public health of the , city. The commission voted unanimous ly to adopt the resolution prepared by the committee of health, which. though drastic almost to the point of great finan- cial loss to the operators of theatres, and especially the Alabama State Fair, was sanctioned and accepted as reme- dial measure of the moment absolutely necessary to the stamping out of the epidemic of Spanish influenza which has taken hold upon the population or Birmingham with such a tenacitv thai quick, far-reaching and unquestioned ac- tion was imperative.
 There was not a murmur. That same , patriotic spirit that has always charac- terized Birmingham as 100 per cens American in all things rose above per sonal interest, and ere the discussion had concluded before the four members 1 of the commission in attendance upon the session, it was evident that those present had accepted the decision or the health experts who had aided in
 drawing the resolution as being final,
 necessary and expedient to fight off the dread disease that is making inroads upon the city's health.
 DIR. BARRETTS POSITION "The first thing, as I see it, as my duty as president of the city commits sion of Birmingham, is to take care Of the people of this great city,, said pr. N A. Barrett, president of the city commission, in addressing the citizens assembled in the council chamber to dis cuss the closing of all places where gath erings were held of a public or private nature.
 'I mean by that, to take care of the people mentally, morally and physically. Next comes the taking care of their property and their holdings and making them safe Then comes the doing of all things that we can for their comfort and convenience, such as rendering them ser vices of a public nature that are ma
 terially beneficial to them. Last, we are to furnish them with such luxu- ries as we can afford for them. That being the case, I feel I would not be doing my duty if did not vote for this ordinance to close every place Of a pup lie nature that has been pointed out by the committee of the board of health as disastrous in this crisis when we are
 confronted with this dreadful epidemic
 that is going to take it's death toll. l
 will, therefore, vote for the ordinance,
 making no exceptions of anything
 Commissioner Burruss made forceful
 speech in which he stated that he was
 greatly pleased with the attitude of all
 of the speakers as to the adoption oI the resolution, especially the directors of the fair who presented the case of the Alabama State Fair in manner that made their case clear, yet showed their willingness to bow to the verdict of the 1 commission with good grace and act ac- cordingly. should close everything in the city that is considered a menace to the pubic health. and I will vote that way" said Mr. Burruss.
 HORNADY SPEAKS "I am sure," said MT. Hornady. If I this question was left to the directors or | inc State Fair to the owners of the theatres or the operators of any places | that we contemplate closing. that they would close them up jus, as we are go- ;np to do say this because I know I that they have the interest of Birming- | ham and her people at heart the same as we have, and would pursue the same l course"
 | II am not the speechmaker of the commission" said Commissioner Taylor l ''and am not going to make any speech but I will say that I am ready to vote ! for the ordinance as read, without single amendment"
 l Dr. Colburn. Dr. J. Ross Snyder. Dr. | H. s. Ward, Dr. J. D. Bowling and pr. | D. F. Talley made statements and fur nished information with reference to the l ordinance. each giving some vital rea 1 son for the emergency measure that they, as members of the board of health com mittee. had assisted in drawing. They | were asked several questions by the I commission and by other speakers. l B. NJ. Allen addressed the commission ] in the interest of the Lyric theatre. giv- | ing reasons why this theater should not l be closed. citing the ventilation and san i itary conditions that surround patrons Of | the theatre.
 FAIR DIRECTORS POSITION | Directors of the State Fair stated that 1 they were not seeking to influence the commission one way or the other, but l they wanted to make the commission l conversant with the situation as it con cerned the fair, and that they would ! then leave the case to the commission I and abide by their ruling. as they real 1 ized that the board of health commit i tee was more competent to judge as to ] the necessity of closing than they were. l w. $. Mudd of the Mudd-C Colley Amusement company, owners of the Trianon. Rialto and Princess motion picture theatres, said:
 T do not think the public is quali-