The age-herald., 1902-01-22
History of Movement.

The joint committee held It's first meet ing last night in the office of the Mayor Present-Mayor Drennen, Alderman Lin nehan, Alderman McNally, Alderman Graham, Major F. Y. Anderson, MT. M. A. l.. Fulenwider, Mir. Robert Jemison and MT. Otto Marx.
 On taking the chair the Mayor sub nitted the following:
 At meeting of the Commercial Club, held on January 1. 1902, the following resolution was adopted:
 Whereas, Every progressive citizen of Jefferson county is Interested in having Birmingham become great city, and, Whereas, The means of accomplishing this end is at our door, if we only avail ourselves of the opportunity, by uniting all the suburban towns under one head; therefore,
 Be 1t Resolved. That His Honor, the Mayor is hereby requested to take this matter up by appointing a committee, of which he shall be chairman, to be composed of himself and ten Aldermen and ten citizens, whose duty it shall be to try and arrange a plan to accom- plish this object
 In accordance with this resolution, have appointed the following committee:
 Citizens-Maj. F. Y. Anderson, B. F. Roden, Emil Lesser, John w. O'Neil, M. V. Joseph, W. c. Cunningham, A. L. Fulenwider, J. R. Smith, Jr., Robert Jemison, E. N. Cullom and Otto Marx
 Aldermen-J. G. Greener, F. H. Linne- han, R. II. Kerr. Walter Moore, R. P McNally, J. F. Graham, R. H. Thach, Harry Jones, Henry B. Gray and A. Stockmar.
 Not Partisan Selection.
 In appointing the ten Aldermen to com pose a part of this committee as pro- vided by the above resolution I have se- lected one member of this body from each ward so that the city should be repre-. scented in all directions by these men, as each ward reaches to the city limits, and they are doubtless in position to know the wishes of the people in the territory immediately contiguous to their respec. tive wards. When selecting the ten citi- zens to complete this committee I en. deavored to find the most representative men in the varied business interests of the community-suburban as well as city.
 While the resolution which was adopt ed by the Commercial Club favors the extension of the city limits, I have care fully avoided making a partisan selection In the committee In order to best bring out the strong points. pro and con, and to have full discussion on the subject.
 l have done no canvassing among the members to ascertain their views on this proposition.
 In. considering this question it should be viewed from the standpoint of all persons interest ed-that of the people we propose to annex as we'll as the city's. The advantages and disadvantages ap- plying both ways should be carefully studied.
 Would Lessen Taxation.
 Among the advantages accruing to the city would be the consolidation of the population and easing of the burden of taxation. As regards the latter, it is well known that the rate in the city on real and personal property is l per cent, while in the incorporated suburban towns it is only one-half of 1 per cent. It has been demonstrated, not only in Birmingham but elsewhere, that no city can success fully maintain it's government and meet It's obligations on rate less than 1 per ce1it
 Under the present charter of Birming- ham, one-half of the one per cent tax on all real and personal property has to be applied to paying interest and creating a sinking fund on the bonded indebtedness. It might possibly be that the new terri tory could be incorporated into our city limits without being taxed the additional one-half of one per cent as far as same would be applied to paying interest on Birmingham's debt as now existing. If this be true, firmly believe that within ten years the bonded debt of this city and also that of the towns taken in could