Birmingham age-herald., 1894-12-09
OUR CITY AFFAIRS.

The new city administration has dlffi- cult problem 10 solve, and that is how to preserve the credit of this municipality and satisfactorily sustain the government in its several parts.
 The estimated income Is inadequate to the apparent demands. The power of Birmingham to issue bonds, or to ind market for them should legislative au- thorjty be granted to issue them, is ex- hausted. The city has far outgrown itself in it's necessary requirement for money. Likewise has its credit been diminished by increase of debt and natural depre- ciation of values. What then is to be done?
 Every new administration that Birming- ham has had since it became a city of inn portance has gone into service resolved to stand at the door of the treasury and guard it against unnecessary drafts by the use of the pruning knife aud by an apparent penuriousne ess which at fr.t always com- mended itself to the average tax payer. These retrenchments have been short lived. Conditions have arisen which called for ad- ditional expenditures, and it was soon dis covered that there was such thing as false economy.
 Mayor Van nHoose and his Board of Al. dermen will find the people first to con- plain of any curtailment of expenses, if such curtailment in any way affects their health, pleasure or safety; they will also find the people first 10 complain of an empty treasury or an increase of debt. But it is said the people are always right, and as the city belongs to them they must be allowed the privilege of entering com plaints, while the administration must guide the city's affairs with it's best possi- ble judgment and direction, regardless of adverse public criticisms.
 First, Birmingham must meet interest on her bonds. She will be compelled to do 7 this for the reason that every coupon is receivable for all taxes, license or other dues to the city; and the first failure to meet with prompt payment of these inter- est coupons would flood the local market with them and every tax payer would be ready to purchase them at moderate dis count and turn them over to the treasury in discharge of his obligations. This would estop the payment of little less than S100, ,000 in cash and deprive the adminis- tration of a distribution of this vast sum annually. The meager residue of amount due the city is thus left for current ex- penses. There can be no such thing as re- pudiation or receivership with Birming- ham. Her bondholders knew that when they made the investment. To them the whole faith, credit and revenues of this munich pality are sacredly and irrevocably pledged.
 Pirnn gham's hope is in the future. We have here most remarkable city, Her health and vigor are bound to tide her over all misfortunes of the past or present, but this administration is going to have q rough road to travel. To them the people have committed the care and sustenance of a weI-established public school system, a wel-equipped fire department, well-or- ganized police force, and sanitary system which cannot be neglected. Their object must be not to build more, but to sustain what they have.
 The AGE HERALD has full confidence in the business tact, honesty of purpose and general ability of Mayer VanHoose and each of the sixteen aldermen, who, with him, constitute the board, and it only means to enlighten the public mind on the conditions which confront the new admin istration that the people may not expect too much of them.