Birmingham age-herald., 1894-08-17
TIE POPULAR OPINION As Expressed Regarding the City
 Fathers
WORK OF INFRINGEMENT
Seems to Be Generally in the Line of Approval of
 the Action.

Wltn, pernaps, posslDle exception Ill IaVor of the hawes riot, has there been such cause for comment as was occasioned by the printing by the AaE- HERALD yesterday morning of the full proceedings of the board of aldermen.
 The fact that card had been formulated to the striking miners announcing the end of the strike as pertaining to the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railway company, whereby thousands of men would be given employ ment paied into insignificance. Every one had something to say on the subject, and without exception the sentiment of the AGE HERALD's editorial was agreed with.
 The announcement of "Retrenchment All Along the Lines' came like thunder bolt from clear sky or hail storm from the heavens when fair Luna and all the satellites and minor worlds were shining and twinkling down on the earth. It was truly the unexpected, though in sense 1t was by many accepted as pure business proposition. A merchant, when he sees his income is decreased, cuts salaries and incidental expenses to meet the deficiency. It is either that or ultimate financial disas- ter
 Resolved to ascertain the feelings o: the general public the AGE HERALD staff was instructed to interview the general public, and here is partial list of the results:
 GEORGE Ross: ''They didn't do any more than should have been done.'
 ROSCOE MCCONNELL: "It was decidedly a good move, and should have been in augurated months ago."
 WILLIAM RECKLINa: "According to the way some of our landlords voted they didn' cut deep enough"
 A. GINZLER: "I think the council did right in reducing the expenses of the city government. Economy is necessary.
 LEE BIvINGs: ''It was right; cut the expenses down. They had to do it and it was unnecessary to hesitate about it."
 WILLIAM BERNEY: "l think it was the best piece of work done by the present a0- ministration since it has come into power.'
 D. B. ULSTER: .'I favor heartily the move. It should have been done three years ago. 1t can be termed move in the right direction.'
 ' W. ST. PIERRE: "It was undoubtedly a wise move. The board of aldermen should have the commendation of the entire pop. ulation of the city'
 j.. w. STRAIN: "I am an advocate of re- fprm, and advocate it until 1t Is carried too far. However, think the city fathers have done good thing" IL ID. B, SHoENFIELD: stIt is good move and should be continued provided the grass should not be allowed to grow in the mid- dle of our principal streets.
 J. P. MUDD: "rhe action of the board of aldermen was the proper thing. It was in line with the existing state of affairs, and should meet tine hearty approval of every one.'
 F. CAHEEN: s'I indorse fully the senti- ments expressed editorially by the AaE- HERALD. They cover the ground com pletely. It was an absolutely necessary move and good one.'
 b E ponuN. think the hoard of aldermen did right in cutting the expenses of government down. They haven't gone far enough, however. They should make a cut in every department" B. M. JACOBS: ."I think the move was right one. You can make nothing out of it save plain business proposition. The expen ses of government exceeded the reve- hue, and it was therefore necessary to re- trench"
 1 w. s. BROWN: "I heartily approve the action of the city council in abolishing certain offices and reducing the salaries Of others, only l think they didn't go far enough. The mayor should act as re- corder.'
 D. R. DUNLAP: .sssI advocated on the streets twelve months ago, along with many others, this much needed retrench- ment. l really believe public sentiment was the main instrument in bringing about the movement of the board"
 s. M. HANBY: ssThe city is doing what all the citizens should and possibly have been doing during the past financial strin- Reucy. If the movement formulated last night can be carried out without materially affecting the city's forces it is indeed good thing"
 OLIVER CHALIFoUx: 'I think it was good move and purely business like. If man cannot manage his businese with the income he is deriving therefrom he begins to cut expenses to meet the requirements. This is in order to avert inevitable disaster, and the city government is working upon the same plane.'
 J. D. CHICHESTER: .fI can only say that I have advocated retrenchment for the last two yeare.s l have contended that there were number of offices connected with the city government that ought to be dis pensed with, and therefore heartily ap- prove of the action of the board. It should be the aim of the administration to keep the expenses of government within the limit of the city's reveuue.o
 Ex-MAYoR A. o. LANE: "I think the action of the board wise. The times are such as to demand every possible economy on the part of the government, aa well as Individuals. This necessity is emphasized by the failure of the school amendment and the diminution of the city's revenues. There Is but little doing in the way of city Improvements, and it was well to Top of those offices no longer needed for proper administration of the city government."
 B. STEINER: "Now, as the times are depressed, am glad to. see that the city administration has made certain retrench- ments. They were necessary and timely, and not only are they 80 in the city admin