The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-09-30
PLAN ID MAKE CLOSE STUDY
 .OF NEW LAWS
No Secret That Real Friends Of Mobile Port Have Felt Great Disappointment Over Limitations Of The Act
 MEMBERS MAY DESIRE TO CONSULT WITH G0VEh.-C !
Personnel Of New Bo. ; Regarded As Such That It Has Confidence Of Entire
 State To Get Best Results

No statement of any kind has yA been issued by George Gordon Craw- ford in connection with his appoint ment last week as chairman of the state docks commission. The asso- ciate members, former Governor Charles Henderson of Troy and r. E. Blair of Tuscaloosa. nave ike wise been silent regarding thelr plans.
 This. however, was not unexpected. Men of the type chosen by Governor Brandon to carry on the work oG developing the port of Mobile are accustomed to be sparing of their words and it was naturally assumed that they would have nothing to say regarding their plans until a most thorough study of the situation had been made as well as a study of the law under which they are to operate so they may know their duties and the limitations placed upon them.
 1t is no secret that the real friends of the port of Mobile-those who have been most earnst and sin cere in advocating it's development on a scale worthy of the great state of Alabama-have been keenly disap- pointed over some of the provisions of the new law under which the docks board is to operate. Although some of the worst features of the measure were remedied at the last minute when The Age Herald called attention to them and pointed out the damend of the people of the state that sim cere provision be made for port de- velopment, the law as finally ratified leaves many handicaps which it Is felt are sure to be quickly seen and appreciated by men of the type of the new docks board.
 O O O
 Point Out Handicaps.
 Iy, T,lr fg-f rI N.e have felt that there was too much di- vision of authority and too little in- clination to give the docks commis- sion enough authority and latitude to get the work done most cXpeditiousiy and most efficiently. IL is now pointed out that with men of the type selected by the governor the people of Alabama would be willing to have placed in their hands very great authority, for there is the feel ing that if it is possible to Build up a real port at Mobile the three men chosen are capable of doing it.
 It is felt that perhaps the proposed supervisors may be a handicap. The fact that the expenditures within ;s given gime have been so strictly limited may not be in accord With the ideas Of men accustomed to meet situations as they arise in a tig way. The price at which the bonds must be sold and the maximum interest they must bring may also prove a stumbling block, it is felt. if the bond market happens to be in bad condi- tion at the time money may be Jl-- gently needed. Then there is the provision that only half of the pro posed bond issue can be issued until the expenditures resulting from thp first half have begun to yield . prSf'. It Is also claimed by real friends or the port that the board will be han .ls. Nfa.. property necessary for dock develop ment. It was hoped to have in the law a special provision on this point but as finally adopted such condem- nation must he made under the pres ent eminent domain laws. which, as sometimes serious delays before the legal tangles can be threshed out. Make Most Of Situation.
 But even with these and other han dicaps it is felt that the personnel Of the board selected by the governor is such that it's members will make the most of the situation Under the law they contribute their work to the state gratis, there being no pay at tached to the position except actual expenses incurred. The three men chosen however, are independent or any financial consideration and will be moved only by their desire to do something worth while for their state.
 It is assumed that before saying anything about their plans the mem bers will not only wish to consult with the governor in order that there may be thorough understanding but also that they will want to visit the port and make survey Of the sltua- ton At the same time it is believed that one of the first things they want to do is to become thoroughly fa- mlliar with tine law under which their appointment was made and un- der which they are to operate.