The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-10-10
BOARDS PLIGHT DUE TO PHILLIPS
 HARRISON SAYS
Advocates Cutting Appro- priatiOn Until Mem 7-'
 bers Agree

Hopelessly deadlocked, the park board kan do nothing but meet and adjourn until way is found out of the slt1a- tion now confronting it, Chairman Will liam l.. Harrison said Thursday. /
 Harrison told his associate city com missioners during conference on the 1925 budget that M. F. Phillips is "en- tirely responsible" for the prevailing strife. He asserted that "real trouble might develop unless the situation is clarified, and frankly admitted that the board, as now constituted, should not be given a large appropriation, as the chances are it would do little but light over the manner in which 1t should be expended"
 President D. E. McLendon and Com missioner w. E. Dickson expressed themselves at the conference as favorlng a sharp curtailment of the boards ap- propriation for the coming year. This year, the board had an appropriation of $102,000 for all purposes, but in 1925 it will be fortunate if it gets over S75,0OO.
 Must Trim Down
 "The commission" McLendon ex- plained after the conference, "does not want to interfere with the Sunday wu- sical concerts, the Ensley swimming pool, or some of the other projects of the board, but we feel that the public would not want to see the board given funds for expansions and Improvements under present conditions. It looks like last years appropriation will be trimmed down considerably"
 As officials viewed the situation Thursday, even the Sunday concerts are doomed. The city legal department hat held that only the park board can con trol activities of this nature, and yet there now seems no possibility of ar agreement on this. or any other plar ameng the board members.
 Since the boards Wednesday meeting when Lewis Bowen was busted by tht votes of M. P. Phillips and Elmer Thus ton, there are only four members. On' of these, Mrs. Charles J. Sharp, is out of the city and may be away severa weeks. Thus, if a meeting were helC before her return, Phillips and Thustor would be in control, with Chairman Harrison in the minority.
 However, Harrison intends to see tC it that no meetings are held until Mrs Sharp is back on the ground. Phillips and Thuston may demand that a meet ing be called, but 1t takes three mem bers to constitute quorum, and liar rison probably would be toe busy witf the new budget and other matters tt attend. By themselves, Phillips and Thuston could transact no business.
 Harrison said Thursday he would re. sign from the board if it were not fo1 the fact that he is an ex-officio member appointed by law. He said the city'i interests would be benefited if MT Phillips would accept Mrs. Sharp's in yitation and "step out before he com. pletely wrecks the park development of this city"
 Petitions urging the resignation oi Phillips were being circulated in va rious sections of Birmingham. Tuesday It could not be learned how many sig natures had been obtained. Meanwhile the city commission awaits an official report from the park board secretary that Mir. Bowen's nomination was Ire iected. The commission will promptly fenominate him, and when his name reaches the board, another tie vote will result. This situation appears likely to continue indefinitely.