The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-18
HARRISON INSISTS PHILLIPS G|VE: UP
Gives Out Full Correspond ence Showing Origin Of Park
 Board Differences

Unconscious of having started any thing, St. John Waddell, secretary to the mayor of Memphis. Tenn, in a letter to City Commissioner w. L Harrison, stated that Memphis authorities are in receipt of letter concerning park matters from M. P Phillips, chairman of the Birmingham park board"
 The letter was read with no little interest by officials in the city hall Saturday morning and resulted in Commissioner Harrison preparing for publication statement on the park board membership controversy.
 MT. Harrison had little to say about the letter except T did not think he would go quite that far"
 The letter from the secretary of the mayor of Memphis is as follows:
 Memphis, Tenn. Nov. 16, 1923. Hon. William L. Harrison. Commis-
 sioner, Birmingham, Ala.
 Dear Sir: After receiving your let ter of November 15, regarding dats on the organization of our parl board, l communicated with MT. Bot OBrien. secretary of the park board
 Mir OBrien informed me that he has received a similar request from MT. M. P. Phillips, chairman of the Birmingham board. He is now com piling the data required. and will forward it to MT. Phillips as soon as possible. Yours very truly,
 ST. JOHN WADDELL.
 Secretary to the Mayor. Gives Out Correspondence.
 In regard to the membership of MT. Phillips on the Birmingham park board. Commissioner Harrison issued Satugday morning the ollowing statement:
 I herewith submit correspondence that passed between Mir. M. F. Phil lips and myself and which confirms my position that his attitude from the outset has been one of dietating threats and of browbeating towards me. This correspondence was passed after the bill was drawn and agreed to, in which he requested me to notify him if any attempt to change the bill by amendment or otherwise was made.
 August 8. 1923. MT. William L. Harrison, City Com
 missioner, Montgomery, Ala.
 My Dear Mir. Harrison: The Kiwanis committee, together with their associates, have decided to ap- prove the prepared park and recrea- tion board" legislative bill, as sub mitted to us in the enclosed bill, that was last prepared Tuesday, the 7th instant, with the proviso that you agree to obtain the other commis- sioners' cooperation with you In ap- pointing high class, successful and experienced citizens on this board, of which three. at least, are to be men. We are agreed that if the city oom- mission does appoint board com posed of citizens of such character as herein stated, who will insure Bir- mingham a worthy park system, that We and the associated organizations interested with us in this park de velopment will line up in an election and work for an extra tax to be voted and levied for the use of the board in the development of parks and that we will also line up and work in an election for the issue of bonds. the proceeds of which are to he used for the development of parks but it is further agreed that in the event that the park and recreation board" is not composed of citizens of the tyne named herein, we and our associates will oppose an increase in taxes or the issuance of bonds fot the use of the park and recreation board
 N request ludL IL dllN DOi AiOii O' this bill is changed in committee or elsewhere that we be notified and given an opportunity to be heard in connection with the proposed change
 This confirms our conversation over long distance telephone to yo ] at Montgomery today.
 Wishing to thank you for your pa tient consideration in working with the committ>e and ttss associates l am ReSpecttullV yours,
 M. P. PHILLIPS, Chairman. Harrison's Reply.
 August 10. 1925, MT. M. P. Phillips. Chairman. Com
 mittee on Parks and Playgfo
 Kiwanis Club, City.
 Dear sir: Your letter of Sth inst. sent by special delivery, ad----Ssed q to me at Montgomery. Ala received.
 I have read this letter with un- usual interest and the contents of it are of such character that it be- comes necessary that l make reply to it.
 I am glad the Kiwanis committee have approved the park and play ground bill. which we have intro duced in the legislature As YOU know l have strtVen hard and faith fully in many conferences and un- ter trying circumstances to work out a bill that would meet the req ; sonable satisfaction of all parties in- etrested. 1 feel that the blll which has finally been drafted and now n- troduccd is a very considerable inn provement over either of our bills or our original ideas on this subject
 However, must express my amazernent at the conditional ac- ceptance which you impose With re-
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