Birmingham age-herald., 1894-07-29
To the Voters for the Birmingham
 Tax Amendment.
A CRY FOR YOUR HELP
An Address by the Commercial Club and the Mayor
 and Aldermen.

The Commercial club has framed and adopted an address to the voters of Ala bama, appealing 10 them 10 yote--4Ss the Birmingham tax amendment. The board of mayor and aldetmen last night unani- mousy joined in the appeal. They ask all newspapers, regardless of party, to pub fish it this week and help Birmingham to save her credit and the honor of her peo- pie.
 To the Voters of Alabama:
 On the 21st day of February, 1893, an act of the general assembly of Ala bama was approved, which was enacted for the pur- pose of submitting to the people of this state at the next general election pro- posed amendment to the consultation by which the city of Birmingham will be em- powered to levy a special tax of L of per cent on the property in said city 10 pay the interest on it's bonds and to create a sink ing fund to pay off said bonds at maturity. The object of this paper is to call the atten- ton of citizens of this state to the proposed amendment, and to show to them the necessity of the adoption of that amend ment.
 At the present time the city can not levy a tax of more than 50 cents on each S1O0 worth of property. This is not sufficient to pay the ordinary running expenses of the city government.
 In 1SS2 the assessed value of the property of the city amounted to between $21 ,000, 900 and $22 ,000, ,000. In 1893 the assessment fell down to about $17 ,000 900, and in 1894 the assessment is estimated at about S15 ,000, 900.
 The city has bonds outstanding to the amount of $1 ,630 900. The annual interest on these bonds amounts to $91 1000. The estimated expenditures for the general ex- penses of the city for 1894 amount to $N8,- GOO. This added to the interest on the bonds amounts to the grand total of s339,- GOO. The very strictest economy would only reduce this estimate few thousand dollars. The revenue from all sources for the year 1894 will not exceed the sum Of $166, 1000.
 These figures show that one of two things must be done, either the city must be al- lowed to increase its taxation or it must de- fault on its bonds and go into practical bankruptcy.
 This amendment will affect n part of the state except the city of Birmingham, so that Birmingham is simply asking the privilege of taxing herself and no one else, in order that she may meet her obligations and pay the expenses of her city govern ment.
 There is no other large city in the state that is now limited to the tax rate of 50 cents on the $100. Mobile, Selma and Montgomery each levy much larger tax to run their governments and pay the interest on their debts.
 We appeal to the voters of the state to vote for the proposed amendment, and not to overlook it.; a failure to vote for it is equivalent to a vote against it, and the de- feat of the amendment would be serious blow to our city.
 The official ballot, as prepared under the Sayre law, will contain the following re- garding this amendment:
 For the Birmingham amendment. Yes.
 For the Birmingham amendment. Mo-.
 cross mark in front of "For the Bir- mingham amendment. Yes." will be a vote in favor of tue amendment.
 COMMERCIAL CLUB OF BIRMINGHAM, By B. F. Moore, President; N. F. Thomp. son, Secretary.
 MAYOR AND ALDERMEN OF BIRMINGHAM,
 By David J. Fox, Mayor.