The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-15
Present State Contracts Ex- pire With School Term and Commissioner Has Been Spending Much Time at Montgomery Recently
LONG ASSOCIATED WITH
 WORK FOR EDUCATION
Dickson Has Been Storm Gen.
 ter During His Term Be- cause of Important Matters Which Have Come Before Him for Its Solution

William E. Dickson, city con- missioner of public improvements, will resign in the near future and re-enter private life as representa- tive of publishers who expect to obtain contracts to furnish text books for use in schools of Ala bama when the present state con- tracts expire at the end of this school term, The Age-Herald learned Wednesday on good au tnority.
 MT. Dickson has been in Mont gomery for the last two days for the reported purpose of negotiat- ing the contract referred to. He has made other trips to the capital in the last six weeks for the same purpose, it is understood. MT. Dickson was formerly connected with the Educational Exchange company of Birmingham, it is un- derstood, his connection dating back prior to his election as city com missioner. Then he was reported as considering an offer from this organization.
 Although he has been in public life for several years, as member of the Alabama lower house, as jury commissioner for Jefferson county and in his present berth, MT. Dickson for years has been identi- fled with the public school system. When he entered the race for as- sociate city commissioner in the fall of 1921, he resigned as prin- cipal of the North Birmingham school.
 Experiences Stormy
 Experiences as a member of the city commission have been stormy for MT. Dickson, in whose department one of the most sensa- tlonal cases connected with municipal government broke just before Christ mas of last year, ending with dis missal of George c. Moore, city street commissioner, by the commits sion for alleged padding of pay rolls. Moore was handled by D. E. Me- Lendon, president of the commission, with Dickson defending his employe. who had been active in Dickson's be- half during the race for city commis- sion. Moore Was assistant coroner of Jefferson county at the time.
 Then came the latest auditorium developments, with sensational dis closures threatened in connection with awarding of a contract to D. E. Manasco. building inspector, who had openly boasted. 1t was said at the time, that he was in charge of inc auditorium and could do as he willed in handling the project. The contract was awarded to Manasco for the building inclosed." after several checks of plans and specifications had been made secretly and after Dickson made tabulations on bids. which tabulations were accepted by other members of the commission excepting w. l.. Harrison.
 Not Lowest Bid
 Publications by The Herald followed, showing that Manasco's bid was not lowest and the commission then reversed it's action in giving him the award. Employment of E. B. VanKeuren as special consulting engineer to check engineering fea- lures of the auditorium plans was a sequence. of this action by the commission. although yanKeuren had already been called into consultation regarding steel specifications Action of four members of the commission Wednesday in declaring for a new deal. believed foreseen by Dickson, is thought to have been responsible for concentrated efforts at Montgomery on his part this week.
 It is known that Mir. Dickson re- ceived telegram Monday afternoon at the city hall calling him to Mont gomery. It is not assured that this telegram related to his future plans, however.
 Members of the city commission called by an ge-Herald representa- tive Wednesday declared they, of course. knew nothing definite regard ing MT. Dickson's plans. although they had heard rumors that he was cS~aidsr1hg some action.