The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-11-09
ROAD PROGRAM
 MAY CAUSE ROW IN NEW BOARD
Conferences Fail To Elf feet Agreement On
 Y Superintendent

Jefferson county's new board of rev enue, composed of Lacey Edmondson s. R. Batson, Eugene J. Reed, John A Lewis and w. J. Waldrop, will be swbin in and organized for four-year tenn next Saturday.
 After naming Edmondson as it's pre- siding officer and Clyde Sullivan as itsf chief clerk, the board will face q lively fight over the selection of coun- ty road superintendent.
 Conferences of the members have failed to bring an agreement over the highway post. E. NJ. Wheeler, the pres sent superintendent, is certain to be nom- mated for reelection and is said to have the active support of Reed and Waldrop.
 Would Combine Job
 Batson wants to combine Wheeler s lob with that of County Engineer Claude Rogers and give it to M. C. McCalia, one of, the engineers of the state high way, department at Montgomery: Bat sons plan is to pay McCalla S6,OOo year-S1, ,O0O more than he draws from inc state, and place him in charge of all public improvements, including roads. sewerage and maintenance work.
 Edmondson and other board members with whom Batson has broached his plan. have opposed it, it IS learned. Neither Edmondson nor Lewis nave committed themselves as to Wheelers s reelection, but there are growing lndi, cations that at least one of them Will vote with Reed and Waldrop, thus ln- surfing his continuance in office.
 Wheelers present salary is $3,6OO a year. Members of the incoming board admitted Saturday that large numbers of sWheelers friends have called on them and urged his reelection.
 Edmondson Chairman
 Edmondson will be board chairman, because of his feat in the May primary of leading the entire field of candidates. Suuiyan's election as chief clerk, suc- ceeding Eugene J. Reed, who becomes a meHlher of the board, IS sad to De foregone conclusion. Sullivan has been a clerk in the revenue offices TOT number of years.
 A number of candidates have been trying for the chief clerkship, but It is declared that the board members have already agreed that Sullivan deserves promotion to the post
 The board has considerable patronage to dispense, but it's members. in SC ries of conferences, have decided to go sIow, and consider carefully" in making changes, 1t is learned.
 .njm County To Build Roads
 Batson and Edmondson will join in a resolution to terminate the practice of awarding contracts for road projects and requiring the county highway forces, with the aid of convict labor, to do all of this. work. The accepted view IS that, this resolution will be adopted. It has the backing of MT. Wheeler, the present road superintendent.
 Simple ceremonies will attend the in auguration of the board. Edmondson is the only member of the present board who holds over. Those retiring. are Chairman D. 0. Ball, w. B. Copeland. Thomas B. Huey and Jerry Gwinn.
 Several weeks ago there was much talRl of a plan to place Gwinn in full charge of road building and all engi- neerihg projects, but it now appears that the members-elect have made no steps in that direction. It also is re- ported that MT. Gwinn has made other plans for the future and would not 'ac- cept such an offer if rendered.