The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-11-26
LETTERS TO EDITOR
BIRMINGHAM CITY GOVERNMENT
o the Editor of The Age-Herald:

interest in the observation of Mr.. Walter Moore,
recently printed in your paper. If condi-
tons have come to what Mr.. Moore implies in
the management of the city's affairs it is quite
plain that ere long the people will demand a
return to the old aldermanic plan. As an on
locker believe we are headed in that drecticl
and gaining speed every time an election is
held. Mr.. Moore pleads for a return to the
! aldermanic system because it is more demo.
cratic" The management of the affairs of the
! city should be business proposition. AS a
| good business man, which he undoubtedly is,
and head of large corporation employing many
men, Mr.. Moore knows, of course, that there is
limit, more or less definite, beyond which
democracy should not go in business. In any
business organization, matter how extern
sive or diversified, the responsibility of man.
agement must be placed on few individuals
if the business expects to pay dividends.
We should require of our city managers the
ability to determine what is best for the whole
community; the honesty to strive for and the ef-
ficiency to accomplish just that; imbued at all
times with democratic spirit. We cannot
expect any more of any city government by
whatever plan administered We should be
satisfied with nothing less.
the iniquites that damned the old aldermanic
plan. Is that same condition gradually growing
up in our present system? There are many
good men in town who will say it is so, and
that the growing is not so gradual that
magnifying glass is necessary to see it. And
to an onlooker from the sdelines it certainly
listens that way.
did not intend to mention any particulars
or details. But, being son of the first Adam,
l am falling for the temptation.
certainly would not dispute the oft repeated
assertion that some cleaning OUT was badly
needed in the department of public safety
when the present commission was elected. 1
don't know. But grant that such was fact.
We do know at any rate, according to the pa
pers, that many names have recently been left
off the pay roll, and that such omission was
ordered so soon after the present department
head took his seat-or was he still standing!--
that one would think he had scarcely had time to
learn his way about the office-if you get
what I mean. The question is, how in the
Sam Hill did he do it? I make no claims to
being fast worker but in order to learn
something about who's who," and little of
the why among couple of hundred policemen
/ should require at least three hours of observa-
ton before attempting to pick the wheat
from the boil weevis, or vice versa, If you pre-
fer. Same thing would seem to apply ir the
department of health and education. They
do say-some who involuntarily played the
star role in that highly amusing comedy (farce)
referred to by the heartless city hall reporter
'.head chopping," FAX welding etc.,--that this
department is not very healthy"
6 r. LII of
course-who opine that whole flock of Bir-
minghams male bipeds are due for lot of
education" before this department is four
years older, if YOU get what l mcfn l reckon
they have in mind that considerao'e portion of
our male citizens who kinder think in circles, as
it were, and can not seem to appreciate the
fact of inherent difference in the mental make
up of the male and female IF the species human;
those fellows VINO, seeing in water, for instance,
perfect whole" have entirely overlooked the
fact that its two halves are of radically differ
ent elements
But we are getting little too far afield.
The thing agitating our minds, prodding our
curiosity to the point of expression is what
system does our city fathers and mothers
thank the legislature there are only five of
them four and one-use in their tragic process
of elimination? Mind reading, crystal gazing,
or just plain old fashioned municipal politics?
The reading clerk announces that the latter car
ries by big majority--4 1-2 to IL. ! can
count on the fingers of one hand every person
know even by sight who is has been on
the city pay roll recently, including both old
and new commissioners. / do not know one of
the present commissioners by sight, which of
course is my misfortune, not theirs. I hear
from dsinterested parties that some of the best
officers on the police and detective force, men
who have served the city for 10 Is years,
have been fired without notice or explanation.
l know personally one man who has served
the city practically his entire business life, more
than 35 years. Not one reputable in Bir-
mingham who knows him would question his
honesty, efficiency and devotion to official
duty This man is still physically and mentally
active and entirely able to perform the duties
required of him. But he is too old to start life
all over, untitled after serving the city for 3s
years to enter another occupation. Being hon.
est and working for the city, he has, of course,
not been able to save up anything. This man
was recently discharged from the department Of
health without any sort of warning or expla-
nation. Is that the kind of treatment the peo-
pie of Birmingham wish for those who have
served them long and faithfully? / don't be-
lieve it is. The most heartless private corpora
t;or that aver defied an antitrust law nevcr