The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-20
LEMON IS SURE MISTAKE WASMADE
Commission Has Long Con- ference Over Comptroller
 Taylor Situation

'Tt is all very regrettable but
 excusable mistake" was the state ment of President D. F. McLendon of the city commission regarding the report of Dr. A. w. Bell, president of the Woodlawn Savings bank, con- corning the withdrawal Of municipal
 funds from that institution by City Comptroller H. M. Taylor. "It Is quite natural for an inter- ested enploye to speak of the insti- tuition for which he works as my company, to refer to himself as me
 when he Is speaking for the institu-
 tion for which he works. It was natural for Dr. Bell to think Mir Tay- Tor meant himself when he said me in business conversation, and it was just as natural for MT. Taylor to use that pronoun. I think the whole business is much ado about noth- ing"
 MT. McLendon stated that pr. Bell had reported to members of the com mission that in discussing interest on deposit that MT. Taylor had said in effect:
 q want you to give me .oS36 per cent interest on the deposit of the city money as Is given by some banks on county deposits"
 When MT. Taylor said that he meant the me as indicating the city" said MT. McLendon, "and not himself personally. Dr. Bell, hear ing what he considered a most un- usual proposition, brought the mat ter to the attention of the commits sioners.
 T worked near MT. Taylor in the court house for many years Mir McLendon went on, saw him handle the county's money in the hundreds of thousands, observed his scrupu- lous attention to the county's inter ests and for that reason wanted him with the city when I took over the city's financial department as It's head. Mr. Taylor is man of un- questioned experience, ability and in tegrity."
 Taylor Not BOthering.
 MT. Taylors manner Friday when asked if there were any new devel- opments indicated that he was not bothering about the matter. He said the subject was being handled by the commission and he simply had noth- ing to say about 1t.
 Other commissioners appeared to be very much upset by the incident, saving that such reports having been made, the best interests of all would be served by a very thorough in vestipation. Commissioners w. l.. Harrison, w. B. Cloe and w. D. Dick son appeared to form group on the question. They called on President McLendon during the morning ana asked that the commission be called in conference Friday afternoon. This was done, the hour for the meeting being set at 2:30 o'clock. And at that time the members of the commission gathered and remained in conference until after 6 o'clock in the evening. When they left the conference IL was announced that as the tollo"lne business day was Saturday, the meet ing had been adjourned until Mon day, when the consideration or the subject will be resumed.
 Not long after the meeting started Mir. Taylor was called to confer with the commissioners and renamed With them for around two hours. It was said the subject was very lhorouSn ly discussed.
 After the meeting of the commits sion adjourned Commissioners Cloe, Dickson and Harrison gathered In the private office of Commissioner Cloe where they were behind closed doors for about half an hour.
 wants Both To Appear.
 After this impromptu meeting Com missioner Cloe stated that 1t was ms opinion the best thing to do would be request Dr. Bell and MT. Taylor to come before the commission al the meeting Monday and make their statements in the hearing of each other. for, said MT. Cloe, when discussion of this kind arises matters become far more clear when poth principals are present.
 There was evident during the day 2 slackening of the tensity which was apparent Thursday, but, although the meetings were of an executive nature. the commissioners when they came out appeared tired, with re- turn of the tenseness as through they had taken part in sustained argu- ment.
 Commissioner Harrison said after the meeting that he advocated further investigation because the as well as MT. Taylor were stewards of the citys affairs. the report was of a grave nature. regardless of it's authenticity. or the of a misunderstanding, and that it behooved all concerned to make the investigation thorough and clear the atmosphere so there could be no lingering doubt
 It was pointed out by members of the commission that the boards at titude is only for clearing up the matter, that MT. Taylor retains his status with the city in every respect and that this is clearly indicated by the raising the salary of the position he holds from $4.000 to $5,000 year after pr. Bell had made his report to the cornmi SsiOnerS.