The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-23
WOMEN DISCUSS
 MATTERS OF INTEREST

'If the subject were confined to terri
 torial expansion it would be too narrow.
 "One hindranee to Greater Birmingham
 in respect to territorial expansion is the
 disinclination of many of the suburban
 ties to be taken into the city. They say
 that the city tax rate is too high Their
 taxes would be increased in much greater
 proportion than the value of their prop
 erty. A man in the country does not
 care for a cement or stone sidewalk.
 Suppose the city should order these laid
 down at the owners expense, also curb
 ing and grading and other improvements.
 It would cos as much to put down such improvements with his being worth
 5000 as it would if 1t were worth $l5,OOO,
 and vet the return for such expenditure
 would be much less.
 But many of those living in the subur- ban towns desire to be taken Into Greater Birmingham, and they Will prop ably compose the majority Tn the course of time. They look at the matter from a high standpoint and say that the ben efits to be derived from Greater Bir- mingham will largely overbalanee the high tax rate, especially as the brnlhg ham rate Is much lower than New 1ork and many other cities.
 "On the other hand were all the subur-
 ban towns taken in-say some-it would make the municipality greater, put in-
 wolves so much greater expense. II the city of Birmingham gave to them ire
 protection, water and gas, the expense
 to the city would be greater than the revenue from the increased taxes.
 "If the movement to take In the sur rounding towns finally fails then feder- ation should be formed similar to the Tinted States government. Each town should have its mayor and city council, as each state has it's governor and leg islature and delegates from each town should be sent up to the Birmingham council, as each state sends representa- lives to congress.
 sThe interests of Birmingham are In many respects the same as those Of the suburban towns and united action should be had on matters for the common good.
 "A hindrance to the growth of Bir-
 mingham is a lack of public spirit. The Commercial club and board of trade were organized for the purpose of advancing
 the interests of Birmingham, and yet
 the membership of these bodies is small compared to the number of business and professional men in the city. The spirit of faction is rife.
 "If movement for the general good is started by one set of men 1t is op- posed by another set. The Atlanta spirit is sadly lacking. The principal of united action is illustrated by the fable of the three oxen who stood together and kept the lion at bay. We should all adopt the principal if possible of patronizing home industries. The women should foster this spirit of community interests by making their purchases at home.
 Let me emu crate a few other obsta- cles:
 "A The carrying of concealed weapons by number of our so-called best cit l iZens.'
 "B. The daily spectacle of parading on ] our streets of the chain gang, thus low | ering the moral fibre of the community. as well as putting the stamp of degrada- tIon upon the culprits.
 "C The glaring discrimination made in | arrests by the police the poor negro and | the poor white trash being made the l victims.
 ID. The lamentabe absence of regard l fo~ the majesty of the law. l ''E. The machine in city politics. ''F ThA dark alIAva ci5v- the