The age-herald., 1900-10-16
IF 0plY DaIlY NEWSPAPER IN ALABAMA
Cash Instead of EmbezzIement.

The distinguished specialist of the Mont gonery Advertiser has abandoned all de- fense of the three items which are listed together in all standard deficits as debts whose payment is demanded. As no one is demanding the $56,OOO set down as due the convict department, or the $4S000 due the agricultural department, or the $56,000 due tne university land fund, or the $ls,oOo due the Auburn school, 1t is plain these are not liabilities in the full sense of the word "defcit" They may be technical or even unfunded debts. but they are not debts that create a deficiency or lack of ready funds in the States big safe. A deficit is lack Of ready money on the one hand. and a sup ply of pressing bills on the other. There is no such lack in the capitol building. and has not been in many a day. The Adver- tiser's specialist no longer insists that these items, which outrun Treasurer Ellis brand new deficit. $169,O GOO, are pressing I o Us,
 It will be observed that every official has his own deficit. In truth it is the privilege of every citizen to have one. and almost any combination of figures will serve the purpose. even the old accustomed combina- ton 4-11-44. The Age Herald declines to have one, much 10 the displeasure of the Advertisers specialist, because It does not believe lack of funds exists when there is $629 OOO on hand and g, 700 900 flowing in, CT a least in sight, and nobody camoring at tha order to be neghborly and friendly the Age Herald freely admits that the present condition of the treasury was practically its condition in 1896, and perhaps in several previous years.
 But the Advertisers specialist breaks out in a new spot He now says the people Of the State are robbing their own children by withholding school moneys. He says there is due the schools s760OO. Treasurer Ellis s3ys there is due the schools $32l, ,OOO. But tinancers in this State are not expected 10 agree when they are discussing deficits" for if they did every man in the State could not have his own state deficit, which is his privilege.
 But even if all are guilty of larceny after trust or of any other dastardly crime, that does not create a deficit or deficiency or lack of ready money. If the children have not received the benefit of money due them, the money is in the treasury The Ad- vertisers specialist, like the darkey at the top of the ladder in the hen roost is trying to raise a great moral question, while the people at the foot of the ladder are keep ing their eyes on the bullets or treasury cash. The esteemed Advertiser should stick te the text. The Age-Herald declines it's great moral school issue The question be- fore the house relates to a lack of money cold cash--on the one hand and of clamor- ing creditors on the other; for that is what Q deficit is. We say there is not and has not been in many a day, such lack of money in the State treasury, and we defy all the specialists in the world to show the contrary. Prove, if you can, by Superinten- dent Abercrombie, that he has demanded the sT6,0Oo and cannot get it. The people of land of criminality" until you prove your case by pointing to a creditor of the State who is demanding money due and cannot get it.