The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-13

Mr. O'Neill has been working for the past few nights, and holding confer ences with the heads of departments. At Il o'clock last night. acting on figures furnished by Eustis, Boggan, Petersen and McCartin, he compiled a table which shows that, without a single change in the expenses of the city, the new funds which will be re- ceived from various sources in 1908 which were not collected this year, will make up all the deficit caused by pro- hibition except $33,300.
 Further MT. O'Neill believes this can more than be made up by licenses col lected from other businesses which will take the place of the 116 saloons go- ing out of business. MT. Boggan thinks that from $20,000 to $30,00O in crease in funds will be derived from this source. And even should there be a little deficit left then, MT. O'Neill says that 1t can be made up by cut in the expenses of the street department. He bases this on an estimate by Com missioner McCartin himself to the ef- feet that $34,269.46 can be cut from the amount spent by his department this year, if necessary.
 Large Cut Not Necessary.
 MT. O'Neill does not think such large cut would be necessary, but It only goes to show that the city could end next years with a surplus, and still avoid the increase in merchants license and the street tax. /
 From figures furnished by Tax Col lector Boggan the loss of revenue which must be made up is sll2,soo liouor license, $5O00 stock exchange, s11 900 merchants tax collected in 1907 over state and county assessment and s150O0 estimated deficit for the city at the end of 1907, making a total or $143,9o0.
 TO balance this, according to figures inst gotten from Montgomery Tor the first time, $15,600 will be derived rom the intangible tax on franchises under the new state law; $36,OOO or the comfy road and bridge tax will be the citv.s share under the division ordered by the legislature, and the increase in real estate and personal taxes m c,uding the merchants tax, will amount to s5O.OOO. MT. Eustis thinks th1s IS an exceedingly low estimate. These egures together with the saving or s15OOO to the school fund caused py extra assessments will bring the total +o s110 500. leaving deficit of $3o'Soo.
 Will Be Wiped Away.
 That little amount will all be more +ban wiped away by the street ana I,oa,sa collecting department Mr. pospan,s own words speak for the pos sible help from his end, as follows;
 Birmingham, December lz' iV'' Hon. John w. ONeill Chairman fihahoe
 Committee, Birmingham, Ala
 hear Sir: Replying to yours or even date will state the amount of license col footed for 1907 to this date is $3l9,549.'. of this amount SIP, 300 for liquor license and s5O0O for stock, exchanges
 Expense for collecting including salaries stationary. license books, stamps, tags etc, for 1907, $4O0O.
 License collected for 1906, s2eS, ,415.
 Expense for collecting. including sal- aries. license books, stamps, stationery tags, etc, s6,s7S.
 Tn regard to 1908 schedule if adopted, the same as 1907, the increase in annual license over 1907 will be something like s20.O0O to $3O, 900, due to the fact that other businesses will take the place of the ll6 saloons going out of business.
 Trusting the above-is satisfactory, I am, yours very respectfully.
 J. J. BOGGAN, License Collector.