The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-10
Advertiser Bureau

A0VePueer Bureau
Selma. Jan. 81
! The Mayor and the Council and the
countys representatives In the LegisIa-
ture held an informal conference last
night and discussed the proposed inferior
court, the bonded Indebtedness of Selma,
plans for new city hall and the altera-
ton of the corporate limits. ~
The direct results Of the meeting win be
an application to the Legislature to
change the city limits and the formula
ton OF plan to pay on the city's bonds
In less burdensome manner than ut
present. -
The meeting last night was ~urely of
an Informal nature. II was attended by
Mayor. A. L. Mcleod, President " B.
Atkins and members of the City Council
and by Hon. w. B. Craig, Senator--elect.
and Hon. z. g. Starr. Representative-elect
from Dallas County. The assembly was
not for the purpose Of officially directing
legislation but merely for discussing Is
sues Of Importance especially to the city.
The discussion OF the city's bonded In
debtedness was of unusual interest At
present this Indebtedness Is $500. the
interest on the bonds being at the rate
Of per cent and payable in seventeen
years. The city Is now required to pay
$4,000 each year into sinking fund and
1t Is often quite q difficult matter to meet
this part of the annual budget.
A remedy for this Ill was proposed
last night, the plan being to refund the
Indebtedness in thirty-year bonds bearing
the same interest. This would require the
annual payment Of only about $4,000 into
a sinking fund and this reduction of ex-
penses would do much to relieve a sit
uation that is by many considered bur-
densome.
The Legislature will be petitioned to
make this change possible. 1t is thought
the holders Of the city's bonds will con-
sent to exchange them for the thirty
year bonds bearing the same interest at
parity of values. In case the bondhold-
ers would not consent to such an ex-
change the new bonds would be doated
for enough to pay off the old
The proposed city hall was considered
The city was given authority by the last
Legislature to issue bonds to the sum
Of $4,000 for the construction of a mu-
nicipal building and plans and speciflca-
tons were made by an architect. But all
the bids received were above the $4,000
limit and building had to be postponed,
Since that shock to the aspirations of
Salmians. public sentiment on the subject
of the cost, desirability and need of city
halle has been divided; some hold that
the structure should be built for $3.50
others that a larger bond issue should be
made, while not few favor the aban-
donment OF the plan.
No action on the matter was taken last
night
A proposition to alter the corporate
limits was the warmest topic introduced.
Practically all present stood for altera-
| ton. but there were two ways to alter
out and In. The house was divided
on whether the city should expand or
| shrink.
The city limits were extended a, few
years ago but the territory assimilated
] has failed to pay expenses. The income
from the new town" has been about
| 81, 500 a year while the city has had to
pay out more than this amount for police
protection of the former outlanders
while extra street lights have cost $8OC
more. To install the proper water and
| sewerage connections would be expen-
| sive.
When the limits were extended there
was a bit of garrymandering the corporate
| line being crooked to relieve certain
manufacturing industries lying near the
city from taxation at town rates. The
| favorers of expansion think the limits
should include these manufactures while
the advocates OF BnrlnkaBc Wish the city
| to have its old boundaries.
At the caucus last night there was q
consensus on this. that the limits should
be altered in some way; and Mayor Nc
Leod has given notice that the legislature
will be requested to give the city authori-
| ty to carry out the plan.
Representative-electS STAIRS proposition
to introduce bill substituting an inferior
| court for the Mayors Court and for the
justice courts in Selma was given con.
sideration. all showing a lively interest
| in the matter. Mr.. Starr spoke in favor
Of the bill. He was followed by Mr.
| Craig and by several members of the
Council