The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-10-08
DICKSON CLAIMS BONDSMEN MUST COVER SHORTAGE
Will Fight To Finish
 Against City Stand z ing Loss

Surety bonds of City Comptroller c. E. Armstrong and H. Marvin Taylor, former comptroller, each for $5O,OOO, were turned over to City Attorney w.. | Wynn for examination late Tuesday, after Commissioner w. E. Dickson had stirred sensation in a commission meeting by demanding that their bonds men be required to make good the sums embedded from the public improvement department, which now stand at $37 ,OO0 and may 20 much higher before the audit now under way is finished.
 Dickson based his demand on Section 635 of the city code, which says the bond of the comptroller shall apply to and cover the acts and duties of such comp troller fin the matter of collecting and accounting for all moneys collected by such comptroller and his deputies
 Asserting that this law clearly au- thorizes the commission to proceed against the bondsmen of the comptroller under whose administration the short age occurred, Dickson introduced q resolution calling for immediate action. His colleagues voted him down and re- ferfed the situation to the city attorney for investigation.
 Would Protect City
 Dickson said he would fight to the finish against any city appropriation to cover the shortage until every other re- course is exhausted. He said he meant no reflection on any official or employe, but merely wanted the law strictly com piled with. :. sons under him and vesting him with mission that before he would be willing to stand responsible for the acts of his employees, he would want the right to .-hire and fire" and otherwise run his department as he thought best.
 T think it is unjust" Armstrong said. k .'to place men in my department and tell me to work them and be responsible for them, when I don't trust them. If l am to be held fully responsible l should te given full charge of my department" :" sile Dickson replied to the comptroller by offering a resolution gviing him au- thority to employ and discharge all per sons under him and vesting him with full authority of the office. However, the last sentence of this resolution read Subject to the recommendations of the city commission" which left affairs in exactly their present status.
 Wants Authority
 Armstrong conferred with Commis- sion President D. B. McLendon after the meeting, and also with City Attorney Wynn. It was plain that he intended to demand full authority" if he was to be held entirely responsible"
 Most of the shortages thus far un- covered by the auditors occurred during the time H. Marvin Taylor was comp : troller. Like Armstrong, however, Fay Tor did not have free hand in the oper. ation of the department, and is expected to resist any effort to make his bonds men pay the shortage,
 However, the law, as cited by Dick son, seems to indicate that the bonds of the comptroller are good for the money, no matter who got it.. < The axact amount of the shortages which occurred under Armstrong has not been revealed. However, it Is com paratively small. Dickson has said he will press his fight for action seand probably will force q decision at the commission. conference set for Wednesday Afternoon.