The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-07
.M'LENDON BALKS| AT 1MPOSITION|
 ON EAST LAKERS|
Commission Head Breaks
 Away From Utility In Paving Row
OTHERS EXPECTED
 TO FOLLOW SUIT
Would Not Force Some thing On People They
 Do Not Want


 In statement surcharged with significance, Commission President D. E. McLendon Friday broke away from the Birmingham Electric com pany in the First avenue parking paving snarl and asserted he would not vote to force on the people of East Lake something they do not want"
 Reports at the city hall indicated other members of the commission would shortly take the same posi- tion. The days developments heightened the hopes of East Lake citizens who are bitterly opposed to parking the street car tracks be- tween Forty-first and Eighty-fifth streets.
 Congratulating the East Lake anti parking committee for withdrawing its petition for referendum, President McLendon pointed out that the parking agreement with the traction company Was entered when the utility was in the hands of receivers in an effort to prevent an indefinite delay in the i'm provement of the avenue. Now that East Lake people are plainly dissatis- fled with the contract, he declared he would vote to repeal the parking ordi- nance and then fight to secure a modi- fled contract that will meet the ap- proval of the people most vitally con- cerned."
 Expects Modification
 The commission head, simplifying his formal statement, expressed the belief that chances for modification are ex- ceIlent. He said the street car officials had shown a disposition to meet the city half way in effecting an amicable and satisfactory adjustment.
 The commission at its meeting Tues day probably will vote to repeal the parking ordinance. Negotiations with heads of the electric company will then be begun anew.
 Here is Mir. McLendon's statement in full: ..z
 T am much pleased at the action of the committee representing the. citizens oh First avenue. As fShave stated be- fore, my entire connection with this matter has been with a view to securing the best possible improvement of First avenue. I desired the best possible i'm proyement of First avenue on behalf of the citizens of Woodlawn and East Lake, as we'll as~in my capacity as resident of East Lake.
 Acting in good faith with the other commissioners, did my very best to get all that could be obtained for First avenue in the making of the agreement with the utility. This agreement was made when the utility was in the hands of the receiver and when no one knew when it would come out. l, with the other commissioners, was unwilling to wait for a year or two years or for an indefinite time for the improvement of this avenue. We wanted it improved and improved at the earliest possible moment.
 Would Repeal Ordinance
 ''Now that it has been made known that the contract entered into with the utility is unsatisfactory to the people of this section, I have said at their public meeting that for one would not attempt to force something on them that they did not want. In this same spirit am ready to vote for the repeal of the ordinance which provides for the parking of a part of First avenue, and enter at 'Once upon negotiations with the utility to secure a nodifica- ton of the contract which VIII meet the approval of the people most con cerned.
 'In referring this whole matter back to the commission with the re- quest that the commission resume nes0- tiations, the committee in my judg- ment has acted wisely. This course is calculated to save years of strife and delay, and in return for this cooperative spirit shown by the committee, am going to use my very best efforts to secure for them what they want in the way of modification, if it is at all pos sibleA .-
 D.. E. M'LENDON,
 "President City Commission.