The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-07-03

saloon keepers of the city n1ould nave to bear the burden any nnose 70 than all the merchants.
 "was there, in the clisby sdminis- tration. such hue and cry as this ever nader Now putting it on the whis- key men. I'm opposed. as much % as any of you. to the miscellaneous dis- trfbution of saloon licenses all over the city. I want to 70 on record as stating SO. I'm opposed to the increase because of the fact that in the admin tration of Joseph. Clisby and Carr did not compel such resources. placing the
 burden on the whiskey men. During
 those administratsons-th license in the city were $500 and s15o.~ and we
 had a better city, more money in cir- cuiation and no s25.ooo to pay for bond ed indebtedness"
 Ty.on Puts Question.
 "Did not Mayor Clisby go in once" asked Alderman J. c. Tyson, with about ss5,oo0 in the treasury and come out with c deficit of $so.000?"
 T don't know about that" answered Alderman Sullivan, but I'll find out for you"
 Following Alderman Sullivan. Alder man J. C.. Tyson spoke in opposition to an increase in view of the fact that he saw no reason for 1t. "Tis confis- cation he said, ito make the citizens pay off this deficit by increasing their taxes and licenses?"
 Alderman Lobman stated that his obs ject in desiring an increase in the rev. enues of the city was to get sufhcient money to pay of the debts of the city. The good credit of the city. he said. was the paramount consideration In all municipal questions. even at the ex- pense of increased licenses.
 "AlI this talk" he argued, about paying 25,000 to sustain the city's credit is a reflection on none but the growIers. We should be congratuiated at getting off as easy as we did, sell ing our bonds for 97 1-2. while the city of Mobile, having like consider ation before them a short time ago felt nightly pleased at securing pur- chaser at s2, paying out over $780, | 900 to do so at that
 T can name you number of cities in the United States who can not ois- pose of their bonds at any figure ai- most, Even New York advertised Tor bids a short while ago without getting | a single bidder. and there are other | cities in the same identical shape. I'm no expert bookkeeper nor accountant | and cannot well understand the figures which MT. williams, the treasurer. has | but this I do know. and have 1t down in figures that do not lie, that at the expiration of the next ffscal year the city will have deficit of at least s2oo,000, and further Know | that. 1t must be paid. somehow.
 "The Alderman from Ward Six made reference to the lamented Citsby. There was a bond issue during his admins tration amounting to $10o,00o, and tne tnterest on this has been going on for | five years, and has helped materially to make the citys deficit what It 10 today. We are also paying today m terest on bonds that were issued dur- inr the days of carpet-bagism, ana suffering from the burden.
 Last year we raised licenses on tne city on a number Of merchants' put let the liquor license stay as it was. Now. however, I think that S1,oo0 is none too much for them to pay. TOT they can better stand the increase
 Better Ruslness Basis.
 In one of the clearest and most eio- nuent discoursen ever made by that official on the Council floor. Alderman aunter, President of the body or city fathers, advocated less criticism ana more business like methods in the con ducting of the business or the city government.
 .This," he said. in the beginning or his speech, ''is a serious matter mot only involving questions of raising the licenses Of the city, but also the ques- ton of the city's financial condition
 sBirmingham has a floating debt of s75,00 and everyone praises the city for its fine government: Montgomery has the same floating debt, almost. and tha report goes out that the city IS on Inc verge of bankruptcy, whereas, as a matter of fact. our city Is in c Det- ter financial condition than any other city in the State.
 "Our deficit started with the failure of a bank. A loss of nearly $T5.0oO was sustained. Within the last Tour years this deficit has been aded to by an expenditure of S15o.o0o out of the Income of the city You have built school house out of the city's current Income. have built sewers and hre houses. whereas they are of a perma- nent nature aud should not be charged to the annual expenditures. Because you have done these things should It be showed up to you that you are ruining the city7 Bir mingham calls her condition floating debt; you call It bankruptcy.
 Take the ordinary running expen- d ses of the city. leaving out the perma- nent Improvements. and take the in- come of the city year by year. and you will find that its income Is greater by s35.000 than its current expenses. The only way to run a city on Q business basis is to float bonds to cover the and we should attend to this first of All.
 Tn the last eighteen months we have spent over $40.000 in laying water main. Because we have spent this for the good of the people, because bonds were not at the time fioated. because we have spent other amounts and have a large deficit. all of which Is &C., counted for. should it be thrown up to us that we are bankrupting the city?
 Money spent for permanent im- is money well spent. We will have. some day. to come to the