The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-11-06
By MRS. w. L. muRDoCK


 Der of the city commission? Well, that is a pretty big question. and in- ssmuch as our form of city govern ment is fivefold in it's nature. there are really, five departments for which one would have to say what should be done.
 think first of all I would want to know what are the revenues of the city and would want to see exactly what could be the total budget.
 Then I would certainly want to see if as a city some ordinances which would make 1t possible for the city to expend those funds as the commission saw fit were passed if We lacked such; and I understand we do.
 We are as a nation asking all over the country, What are cities for2 We want our city to be a good place in which to live and rear our children, :, that can never be done until a city realizes that dollars and cents are not the only important assets. would try to see that conservation of our children was just as essential as
 
 I would endeavor to assist as city all private agencies which showed they were economically and sanely caring for neglected children; the city can never do this as cheaply as the private organization for 1t can not command the amount of unpaid service.
 Better Health
 l would try to advance all health ts.a rem .srY1 l.. fx. do with social disease, both for the colored and the white. This Is in the interest of sound economy.
 l would carry forward the fine recreation programme already begun. realizing that wholesome recreation for all is the greatest agent to the reduction of delinquency.
 As l am always primarily inter ested in those things which affect children, I would be especially con cerned with the question of better school facilities; this Is one of the greatest needs of this city We need more money for school buildings. for school equipment, for classes for spe- cial children: We need desperately l believe, in the interest of the tax payer to stop repeaters in grades, visiting teachers in our schools; and if 1 were city commissioner 1 would try to devise some means of giving to the children in Birmingham the same chance for real education as they would have in any city of this country-all children, not some.
 I think 1t is of great importance that a city should have libraries well housed and 1t seems to me the city could do something about this; l do feel this keenly, for the present H. brary is terribly handicapped.
 Care For Streets
 There Is certainly one thing I would do. I would, whenever a street was to be paved. notify all property holders on that street that all water, gas, and other connections, were to be made. giving some definite time limit and then I would not allow the paving to be torn up every time a home is built. Do you realize that we put down pavings at enourmous ex- pense to property holders and before they are down month, often, persons building there tear up the pavement to put in gas, water or other connec- tions and the hole in the streets be- gins? 1t is never satisfactorily filled and we have this terrible condition of our pavements which obtains ev- erywhere-this Is bad management; other cities have made absolute pro hibitfons of tearing up the streets and the property holders have put connections in every 25 feet or so and then the pavements stay after they are put down-this would surely do.
 Strangers coming to Birmingham are often impressed with the dirty condition of our streets and I do think the city should be careful about this.
 MnExe Them
 One could go on endlessly and I realize perfectly that each city com mission has met all these things and has found lack of funds a serious barrier to progres. but do feel keenly that most men in office do not realize human values sufficiently and so l would emphasize better health. every boy and girl who calls Bir- mingham home.
 The one great thing I would en- deavor to do would be to try for good community spirit in this city. would seek cooperation and I would realize that city must be guided by its optomists; must value constructive citizens more than de- structive ones; I would try to get business men and earnest women who are specialists along any line to help In a great programme of com munity betterment. I would make Do 1t for Birmingham" my slogan and ask that we get a strong pun and long pull together In the com Ing four years to make this beautiful city beautiful in spirit as well.