The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-21
REVIEW OF TERM RENEWING HOPE
 OF COMMISSION
All But One Believed Re- luctant To Retire To
 Private Life
 THOUGHT NO MORE
Outside Names Looming As Possible Entrants
 In Coming Race

A silver lining nas appeared in the clouds to the members of Birmingham city commission who are reluctant to retire to private life when their terms expire next year.
 The awful shortages have been checked the municipal market is com ing out of the hole; the auditorium is finished and ready for dedication pub lie improvement projects have set new high record, and action to force the construction of one viaduct and three underpasses at downtown railroad grade crossings is about to be started. These things have been discussed by commission members more than once during recent days, and they are more optimistic than at any time since Will liam l.. Lehman, youthful comptrol- ler's clerk, was jailed in connection with the first raid on the city treasury.
 A short month ago, there was not a commissioner who figured a campaign for reelection would get anywhere. Now, with normalcy restored, at least temporarily, four members have their eyes and minds fixed on the 1925 cam paign. The fifth member, Mrs. Mary Echols, does not want another term, her close friends assert.
 Hatchet Is Buried.
 Fractional lines within the commis- sion have been virtually obliterated lately, according to surface indications. It now is nothing unusual to find Will liam l.. Harrison with his feet on D. E. McLendon's desk, discussing proposed ordinances or swapping funny stories. In fact, all the commissioners visit each other almost daily and the shafts of satire that were so numerous a short time ago have gone out of style, even in closed conferences, not to mention open sessions.
 The truth of the situation is just this:
 The commissioners have gone over the doings of their administration and reached the conclusion that their rec ord, on the whole,. is constructive.
 If it hadn't been for the shortages and few other bad breaks, we would be sitting pretty" they reason. And, frankly, there are many close observers who figure the same way.
 Wherefore, the members who want to serve another term believe that if they can keep things running smoothly from now on, the voters will consider we'll before repudiating them.
 Audit Awaited.
 Stalking in the comptrOller's office to worry them, however, is a big ledger on which many entries are being made by F. Hopkinson Smith and his staff of accountants. When the auditors sub init their final report, it will show the exact status of the series of shortages. Nothing has been given out for several weeks, and nothing will be given out until the check-up is completed. If the audit reveals no new sensations, the commission members will give thanks to high heaven. They are hoping that the wrost already has happened.
 Again, the movement to change the city's form of government is causing some concern at city hall. Present doings of the mayor-aldermanic forces are cloaked in more or less mystery, and this is aGling to the anxiety.
 If commission government stlll exists in 1925 only three commissioners will be elected, as the last legislature slashed the size of the governing body. Thus, if four members of the present com mission announce for reelection, at least two of them will be pitted against each other.
 Names Mentioned.
 At least one 'outsider" already is an avowed candidate for a berth on the next commission, if any. He is M. A. Dinsmore, attorney and pugilist, who has announced that if he is alive on election day, his name will be on the ticket.
 John H. Taylor, former commissioner of public safety, is another certain en- try, according to his friends. William L. White, young business man, also will be a candidate, according to indi- cations. His friends are saying. they will put him in the race early and wage a vigorous campaign for him. with edu- cational and health expansion as his major blanks. Many other names are heinz heard. but campaigning days are a full year off. The news at this time is that most of the present commls- ,sioners will be out for reelection run ming on their records"