Birmingham age-herald., 1895-05-13
THE c1rY,s DEBT.

When a tWo-by-fOur 16 to mockefy or newspaper gets on a sliding scale of general debt repudiation there is little chance of it's salvation. for 1t recklessly endeavors to carry everything down with it. Hence there is no surprise at the at titude of such a paper in the matter of Birmingham debt. Perhaps the holders of Birmingham bonds may favor sound money. and that some moving spirit of the Twenty-first street morning sheet de- lights in the possibility of the "d-n gold bugs" losing the money they loaned Bir- mingham in order to teach them les son.
 Some fellow concealing himself under the nom de plume "Tax Payer" writes In publication yesterday some eriti- cisms of the Age-Herald's editorials in advocacy of honest dealing with the city's creditors. which contains such pal pablo misstatements of facts as to de- mand reference to it in these columns
 The statement that 'Mr. Frank P. OBrien, the owner, editor and general manager of the Age-Herald, voluntarily appeared before the Mayor and Alder men" at any time to present his views on the question is untrue. MT. O'Brien at tended meeting by request of members of the board and presented his views by invitation. MT OBrien was then and is now in favor of paying the interest cou- pons. as was then suggested by him, provided the bondholders will accept such terms, fully appreciating the fact it takes two to make a bargain, but he favors affording full satisfaction to the bondholders, who purchased these secur- ities, relying upon the faith and credit of this people.
 Xro I,Ix Der that MT. O'Brien primarily suggested to him while in Montgomery that his pro- posed bill for refunding the city's debt might prove dangerous to the credit of this city, and that it should be very care fully considered in all it's details.
 The statement that the associate ed itor of the Age-Herald at any time or un- der any circumstances appeared before the City Council, or by written or yer bal communication made any proposi- tion to the City Council to take charge of the refunding of the city's debt for any sum is absolutely unqualifiedly and basely false. The only apparent connec- tion the associate editor of the Age Herald has had with the matter was this: A gentleman of this city approached MT. Evans and asked him if he would go East with him and assist in the work of re- funding the bonded debt of the city, pro- vided the authorities delegated such work to subcommittee. The two then conferred with Alderman Kettig on the subject, as Mir Kettig stated that he de- sired to confer with other parties. MT. Evans then retired, and since that time has held no conference with anybody on the subject, nor has he received or sub- mitted any proposition or suggestion touching the matter In fact he was ab- sent from the city for ten days after the meeting with MT Kettig, and during this absence had no knowledge of any propo- sition being made to the City Council on the subject.
 At no time has the Age-Herald spoken in opposition to the proposed refunding of the citys debt. If such a plan were practical, if there was any business form about it, if the bondholders would accept it without a murmur the Age-Herald could not object But the proposition has been made to these bondholders, the pie ture has been presented to them without embelishment and they f1atly say mo-" as they have the right to do. Then what? Must the city lie supinely on it's back and suffer itself to default? Never. It is the province of a public journal, represent ing the sentiment of community, to discuss matters of this kind, and the Age Herald honestly believes that It's sug gestion of Saturday morning is the only way now out of the difficulty with whicf Birmingham is confronted.
 The Age-Herald has not a single time denounced the action of the city ad ministration in attempting to fund the debt" of the city. the dirty and untruth- full statement of the unpaid organ" to
 
 Herald Is perhaps as much interested in the welfare of Birmingham as a paper which is printed by contract, is not an ad valorem tax payer, is unanchored and can move from pillow to post between suns, packing it's assets in a bushel bask- ct, except perhaps its S25,000 silver work ing capital. which might be carted off in a different way.