The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-01
Candidates Meyer and Fin ' ley Among Speakers.
Political Activity of City Employea Condemned and Annual Deficit and Taxation Were Subjects
 of Discussion.

The political activity of city employees, the citys annual deficit and the burden of taxation were the questions of prime campaign. discussed at the largest meet ing of the campaign held last night at the county court house.
 The meeting which was free for all and open to the candidates for Mayor and AL derman-at-large was arranged by Capt. John G. Finley, one of the candidates for Mayor. and other gentlemen interested in the municipal campaign.
 Gen. William c. Oates presided and ad- dressed the gathering briefly, devoting his remarks to the question of taxation.
 The speakers were heard by an audience which probably numbered more than ,one hundred and fifty voters. the largest pub- lie gathering of the present campaign. The large attendance upon the meeting which had not been widely advertised evidenced the Increasing interest in the city campaign.
 Speeches were made by two of the can dirates for Mayor, Capt. John G. Finley and E. J. Meyer, one candidate for Alder man-at-Large, pr. A. St. C. Tennille. and Gen. J. W. A. Sanford. There were cries for "Toole,: 'Tooie" but if the Alder man from the Sixth Ward was in the crowd he dd not go forward.
 Captain Finley paid his respects to the activity of city employees in the municipal campaign. The whole problem of city government, he said was absorbed in the idea as to who would be the choice of the various, city. departments. In the cam paign the title of the case, Captain Finley said, should be ''The City Employes vs.
 the People of Montgomery" If reports were true he said the city's business was neglected by the city employees to help one candidates campaign
 Are you going to allow an oligarchy of this kind?" asked Captain Finley.
 Custom allows the Mayor only two terms. Why not limit the service of city employees to two terms?' .r MT. Meyer in his remarks touched upon the question of filling the city offices. He declared that he would if elected Mayer. go into the office unpledged and untram-
 meled. He said that the city offices had
 not been promised out by him and if he was elected Mayor any man in Montgom- cry would have the right to file an appli- cation for a city position and if he estab-
 lished his claim for the position he sought
 he would be appointed. MT. Meyer declar- ed that the solution of many of the difh- culties which faced the city government | interest and more generosity from citi. Zens. He argued that the Mayor could render an important service to the city | by arousing the interest and civic pride of the people.
 The meeting began a few minutes aftel | 8 o'clock when Dr. Tennille moved that General Oates preside. The motion was adopted unanimously.
 In accepting the chair General Oates | said that for several years he had beer a resident of the city and a tax payer | but he had not previously taken an actvt | interest in city politics. The city affair: of Montgomery, he said, were sadly 1T need of reform. Every year, said Genera | Oates, there Is a defict of ten, eleven ol | twelve thousand dollars. It was sat state of affairs.
 When an individual" said Genera | Oates, spends more than his income h. | is on his way to the poor house. The sam'
 thing is true of municipality or othe | corporation"
 Taxes were high enough. General Date! | declared and could not go much higher | In the Constitutional Convention the prop l osition to take the bridle off as to taxa | ton in Montgomery came up and divided l the delegation, the majority of the Mont | gomery delegation favoring it, but 1t was | opposed by General Sanford. He was in | clined to side with General Sanford but | the other members argued that unless il l went through the city would have to de fault on it's bonds. He had finally excused
 himself from voting on the proposition. The point had been reached in city af l fairs, said General Oates. where 1t would l be soon necessary to institute a reform i or to increase taxes. Taxes were nov ! high enough. The salaries paid city em | pl0yes had been 8 drag against reform . The reform which should be instituted. h'
 said, was a reduction of expenses. The
 city, he said, should not take all its mon
 ey to pay salaries. It had been demon