The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-09-06
POPULAR ELECTION 0F CITY SCHOOL B | \ R ] FAVORED
Committee Makes Favorable Report By ' To 5 Vote
 After Fight
STATE CAPITAL BUREAUl
 THE AGE-HERALD

Representative Mark Jeter's bill providing for the election of the city board of education by Birmingham voters was given favorable vote by the senate educational committed here Wednesday afternoon.
 Appearing before the committee was delegation of Birmingham citi- zens who declared the people of the city were against passage of the Jeter bill. It was shown that every member of the Birmingham delega- tion in the legislature favored the measure except Henry Howze, and although an effort was made to table the committee said they were not certain they would support the measure on the floor, an effort to table motion to report 1t favorably failed and motion to report 1t favorably was adopted to 5. The were Bonner. Carmichael, Hutson, Horton, Slone, Johnson and McNeil, while Ellis, Inzer. Randall, Brooks and Duncan opposNd it.
 R. A. Porter, representing the Bir- rningham Chamber of Commerce, dee clared that the present amer of choosing the school board was satis- factory and that he knew the people of Birmingham did not care to change to a system that had no cer- tainty of being successful. Victor H. Hanson urged defeat of the measure, saying he thought 1t would be best to let things alone. W. C. Bonner and J., II. Hodges, representing the Kiwanis and Rotary clubs, respec- lively, said those two clubs had opp posed the passage of the measure in resolutions adopted at their lunch cons. Others who spoke against the bill were Mrs. John w. Allen, pr. Burbecker, Frank Spain, Mrs. J. F. Hankins and B. F. Moore.
 Says Citizens Want 1t.
 Mark Jeter declared that he was of the opinion that the bill Is want ed by the citizens and urged that It b reported favorably. He said Rep resentative Howze was the only member of the Birmingham delega- tion who did not favor the bill and he had barely been elected.
 Mrs. N. G. Bagley said she was sure the Birmingham people, as whole. wanted the change, as every one she had talked to had urged pas sage of the measure. Telegrams to MT. Jeter from prominent business men of Birmingham were in taVor or the measure. Mrs. Bagley declared that if one system was good enough for the county 1t was good enough for the clty Cniiuiou
 Senator Brewer closed the argu- ment for the bill He asserted that it was clearly shown by the Birming- ham legislators that Birmingham wanted the measure or they would not have been elected. He denied MT. Porter's statement that the majority of the people opposed the bill.
 O Q O
 Brewer Backs Bill.
 Certainly the people have the right to say who shall handle the moneys of the school" he asserted, "and that is all members of the board do. They do not elect the teachers. The same people who are fighting this bill are the ones who are try ing to say how our park commis- sion in Birmingham shall be chosen" j The statement was made that ap- proximately $250,000 had been spent on building 8 negro school in Birmingham. This announcement caused Senator Bonner immediately to declare for the bill.
 Senator Hutson moved that it be reported favorably, but Senator Ran dall moved to table the motion. Ex- pressions were heard from all mem bers of the committee except Sena- tors Inzer and Slone, and Senators Horton and Carmichael said they would vote for the measure so as to have 1t reach the senate, but reserved the right to change vote. Senator Ellis declared himself firmly against the bill.