The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-04
Candidates and Others Make
 Suggestions on Subject
DEFINITIONS OF ECONOMY
Shall the City of Birmingham Go For ward on Strength of Prospective Development or Only
 Exist for Today?

Mayor Drennen and Alderman Gray, printed in Sun1ays Age-Herald. elieited much interest and comment among the voters and taxpayers Each of the can dldates for mayor and several prominentA citizens were asked yesterday for an ex- presson o1 their WIS on the subject
 All of the candidates except John W. | oNeiI expressed themselves. MT oNeill | was busiy engaged at the time the re- | porter called, but said he would give his views on the city's finances later on The | , discussions of the others follow:
 Ward Favors Budget System.
 Gorge B. Ward, member of the present board of aldermen, and a candidate for mayor. discussing the subject of city finances. said:
 Tt seems to me that there Is solu- ton for the apparent difficulty, and il would be wise to adopt a plan about like this:
 "on the first of each year let the board prepare budgets estimating the probale income. which can be very easily approx imated. Then set aside the amount nee essary to pay the interest on the bonds. Second, appropriate sum sufficient to run each of the big departments with out impalring their usefulness. to-wit: Schools, fire and police. Furnish money to each of said departments as 1t Is need ed, with the understanding that the ap- , propriations must not be exceeded one dollar.
 This will use up about 60 per cent of the city's income. Then by watchfulness 1 h ing 40 per cent should be made to take care of other expenses, which are more or less elastic.
 This system strictly adhered to will show better results each succeeding year; and at the end of a few years our finances can be figured on at the beginning of each year with as much precision and accuracy as the finances of any bank or railroad.
 'In the matter of public schools an item of expense which is rapidly increasing it does not seem possible to cut figures. The new 2 cent county tax for school purposes will yield to this city about s1S000 1t is true, but this sum offers no relief to present conditions of our school fund, from the simple fact that the city is to pay s10,OO0 interest per annum on the new school bonds and at least $80OO for the expense of conducting the new schools. Therefore the increased income In this regard is promptly swallowed up by the increased outgo."
 crlttenden Appreciates Credit.
 M H. Crttenden, candidate for mayor, who is in no way connected with the present administration, remarked as fol- lows:
 q read with deep interest of the financial condition of the city, as pre- sented by the Age-Herald. and the in- teryiews with Mayor Drennen and Alder man Gray
 of as the paper states. no figures are obtainable up to date, I can form no opinion as to present needs. From Au- gust 1 to October Is a long time, in which to change the general volume of income and outgo, and I do not know what changes may have taken place the past two months
 ..If elected to the office of mayor I shall first ascertain the exact status of affairs, and then, as the oath of office prescribes I shall administer the affairs | or the c1Iy as WOulu dHy 6OOu buSihtSS man his own affairs. I think I apprecf- ate the volume of public and private credit. and would do all in my power to protect the good name of the city.
 My judgment is that the city of Bir- mingham should live within It's income and the credit of the municipality should not be put in jeopardy, or in other words. oyer-strained."
 Forney Is Optimistic.
 John c. Forney present member of the , board and candidate for mayor, said l "The matter of city finances is not seri- out It can be easily landed. Watch the expenditures; disburse money for value received; postpone subscriptions to any kind of advertising movement.
 'The city is growing. The revenues are increasing approximately. The de- ' partments of the city will spend less. ii ; properly watched. The collections will equal the disbursements if they are col lected with strict impartiality and by practical men. Handle the business ol the city as if it were private corpora ton.
 "Give me the control of the admniis tration and believe, being a lawyer, can soon find things, in the nature o escape revenues, which will increas handsomely the revenues of the city"
 Simmons Would Look Ahead.
 c. s. Simmons, candidate for mayor presented his views on the subject in tn following answer:
 "The business of municipality shoul, be run just as the business of A privat concern or of an individual. In othe words. economically; and by economy d. not mean Darsimoniously. Two very use full and essential factors enter Into an, well conducted business, to-wit: read, money and good credit. Both must b. carefully guarded.
 "To say that the growing city of Bir' mingham should live within its present J means may be all right and proper; but il ,, may be that she can only do this much with her available funds; and there is other demand upon this municipality Birmingham is not only to live but to - grow. Growth in population and wealth means growth in credit, and If the use | of an accommodating credit Is essential tc ] the strengthening of that credit, then II Is wise to use 1t.
 But the idea must ever be present that an overstrained credit is menanct , or a hinderence to the material growth | -~~~~~~~~~-~-~~<>-- -->-----~-->->~->s--->~>-
 (Contipued on Sixth eansl