The age-herald., 1902-03-30
Oissects Mayors "Business Ad- ministatiOn Message i1
 an Open Letter
MICAWBER LIKE PAYS
 CITYS DEBTS WITH NOTES
Mayor Drennen Replies That He Has Kept Every Pledge, and Attacks London for Being Water
 Company's Attorney.

MT. Alex T. London has written an open letter to Mayor w. M. Drennen crit lcizing the Mayors business methods and declaring that the annual expenses of conducting the citys government have grown from $296,S7S in 1898 to $463,6 ,69S in 1901, an increase of s166S15 per annum, and intimates that the city is going to the demnition bowwows and that Mayor Drennen is officially like Wilkins Micaw- Der, who thanked God another debt was paid when he gave his note for it.
 Mayor Drennen replies by stating what he has done for the city's good, and charges that MT. London is member of the Water Works Company, which the Mayor says is charging exorbitant rates. MT. London's letter and Mayor Dren- nen's statement follow:
 MT. London's Letter.
 MT. Alex T. London has written the fol- lowing open letter to Mayor Drennen;
 March 29 1902. Honorable Walter Melville Drennen,
 Mayor of Birmingham.
 Dear Sir: I heave read with feelings greatly mingled your long delayed an- nual message for 1901, which appeared in The Age-Herald on the goth instant.
 I hoped to have it with the annual re- ports, all bound in another pretentious volume like the other two messages of yours which have before this gis'en T7 much cheer to the community, but thesS will be so much delay in the printing that I concluded not to wait.
 It is difficult to say what emotions prevailed after a perusal of your pleas ant platitudes and self congratulation. If it was not a serious business matter which concerns vitally this whole com munity, 1t would be highly amusing to read your boast that you had been the head of a business administration, and to see you extend thanks to the Aldermen and city officials for their efficient aid in conducting 1t.
 Lest 1t may be thought that am deal ing in mere fancy or rhetoric, I quote from your message as printed:
 "Taking into consideration the vast in- crease in population and amount of work necessary to be perform ed by the various departments during the year 1901 over the year 1900, it will readily be seen that every possible economy has been exer- cised in the operation and maintenance" q can point with pride to the record this administration has made in the man. agement of its municipal affairs; the ex- penditures have all been made judicious- ly and along business lines, and excellent judgment has been shown by you in deal Ing with all legislation on matters af- fecting the general welfare of the city. My greatest ambition has been to serve at the head of an administration preeminent for its business reputation and achievements, and in conclusion express to every member of your body and to every officer and employe of the city, my thanks for devotion to duty. cooperation given, courtesy shown and assistance rendered.
 He Claims the Credit.
 You justly claim such credit as the ad- ministration may be entitled to, and hence I shall assume that you, as Mayor are responsible for its shortcomings, it's failures and its blunders-in other words, that such blame as attaches, is charge able properly to the Mayor as executive head of the city.
 Your message Is more notable for what if omits than what it contains and you must pardon me for saying 1t does not present the affairs of the city to the citi- zens and taxpayers in such form that they know much more about them now than they did, before it was made pub lie Those of us who have some knowl- edge of the matters you have omitted are aware of the fact, that any mer- chant who made any such statement as the city would now make, if it's affairs were truly made public. the inevitable effect would be. that those. to whom he went for credit, could see readily that the inevitable end was the bankrupt court.
 It requires no high order of intellect or business talent to see and know that a man or corporation who lives on his debts Is sure to reach insolvency
 Do you know that a city which persists in spending more than its income. and increases Its debt. is certain in the end to see the day when it's credit will have disappeared and the community be fore ed to suffer the inconvenience and wrongs which the improvidence of it's mayor has imposed upon it?
 Philosophy of Micawber.
 You seem to be infused with the phil osophy of Wilkins Micawber who thank ed God another debt was paid when he gave his note for it.
 But I will refrain from further com ment and go at once to the figures, and let the community judge whether they think from the meagre facts you have furnished, you have practiced econom V or shown any business judgment
 When you went into office the funded debt of the city was $1,61000O and the an- nual interest charge was S95,10O
 Under what you and your predecessors term the Steiner Plan" the city paid compound interest for an extension of it's interest coupons, an by the last audi tors report to which I have access d9OO) 1t appears that by your business methods and economy this debt had increased to s2124ooo and the interest c4-arge to s11s.- 800.
 I shall not now call attention to the methods employed to work through the