The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-08-22

John H. Taylor, commissioner oi public safety is the latest member of the present board to offer for re- election. While friends of MT. Ia ylor have known for some time that he would be candidate to succeed him self and much active work has been done in his behalf, his formal an- nouncemeht was withheld until to- day.
 In entering the race, MT Taylor states that he bases his claim for reelection upon his record as com missioner of public safety during the past four years. The efficiency of both the police and fire department for, has been greatly improved since he took office in 1917, and despite ha udicaps due to finances, rapid strides have been made in improving both these important departm which come so close to every citizen.
 When MT. Taylor took charge of the department of pubic safety, the city had only 128 firemen and the maximum pay was $90 per month. The men were on duty 24 hours each day. Under his administration. the iiuilpci Ol lifeInen ndS been increased to 227, nearly double the number four years ago. the men work on a 12-hour shift, and the maximum base pay of firemen has been increa sed to s125.
 Sixteen pieces of the most modern motorized fire fighting equipment nave been added to the fire depart ment during his term of office, mak- ing the local department one of the pest equipped in the country both as to apparatus and personnel The standard quota of men has. been added to handle this equipment, giv- ing Birmingham hign rank. During the last year. there was decrease in fire losses in Birmingham of F per cent and as soon as the new depart ment is finished and the alarm sys- tenn is completed within the next 50 to 90 days, there will be a reduct 10 |. in the Insurance rates charged here. which will mean the saving of many thousands of dollars annually to the property owners.
 Increases Made
 Despite the fact that lack of funds mas forced Commissioner Taylor to operate the police department with fewer men than any other city of the same size or population, remarkable
 
 ing the efficiency and effectiveness of the force. He has been able to increase the number of men in the department from 12S to 1S0 and the maximum base pay of patrolmen has been increased from $90 to $1e5 per month.
 He also inaugurated the system of paying policemen full time when in- capacitated through injuries received In line of duty, half time during ordi- nary illness and free hospital and medical attention when injured in line of duty. Commissioner Taylor also had the lives of every membe r of the police and fire department in- sured at the expense of the city through means of a joint policy a, little expense. which has recently | paid $S.000 to the wives and families of eight members of the two depart | ments.
 While MT. Taylor expresses a pride in the improvement in the police de- partment, he is by no means satis- l fled and has plans for still further | improvement and enlargement. His programme calls for an addition of 100 uniformed policemen during the next >Aree years. which Is the mum Der needed to bring the local force up to the maximum of efficiency and effectiveness. Of this number Se are to be added at the beginning of the fiscal year in October and 3s more each year for the next two l years.
 | The fact that there have been four large strikes In Birmingham during his term of office. that. the police department has handled these and e serious riot without bloodshed and in . manner which won the thanks and praise of all classes, Is a source ol considerable pride to Commissioned Taylor and the members of the police department. Despite the abnormal conditions during and following the war. there has been no disorder oi any importance and no bands o1 criminals have been able to operate Tn thls city for several years.
 Thugs Avoid Bfrimngham In Tact; it is known that criminals of the ordinary thug" variety as l well as the higher class gentlemen crooks and confidence men have found Birmingham sn unhealthy vi. cinlty in which to operate and they have generally avoided this city fol several years. Of those who did come here. an unusually large mum Der have been captured by the loca officers and turned over to other 1 cities of ehe country,
 When I took charge of the policS department in 1s17. the war was or and most of the young men who were suitable for good policemen were 1T the army or some auxiliary brancf of the national defense or wal work" said Commissioner Taylor Available material was scarce Nevertheless, I notified every man or the force that if he entered the serv' ice, he could have his same job whei he came back. regardless of wht might have held 1t in the meantime lived up to that promise to thu letter, and any man who did no take his old position after comin, out of the service failed to do so . his own yolitien.
 ! Despite the handicaps which vi labored under for sometime. I fee that the people of Birmingham ma, well feel proud of the record their DO llice department has made during tn past four years. I really believe thA Birmingham is the best city in Amer iea. morally, and that despite ou l handicap because of too small nun ber of policemen and detectives. ar lgAnized criminals have found this on' of the most dangerous elites in tn country in which to try to. operate While organized banda of<rriminal