The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-23
NORTH BIRMINGHAM
 IN THE L|MEL|GHT Difference of Opinion About Entering Enlarged City SMITH CITES OBJECTIONS And Then King Comes Forward to Refute Arguments and Other citi-
 ems Champion His Cause
 Warmly.

Is SOIue OppOSlllOn at fFdll ClhS anu North Birmingham, but 1t is believed to be very weak and those behind the move ment are confident that the bill will pass the legislature Pratt City will vote on it Monday and those favoring the move there are strong in their belief that an overwhelming majority will vote for an- nexation. Statements from City Attorney c. B. Smith of North Birmingham, oppos- ing the bill, and from other citizens of that municipality favoring the annexa- tion, together with statement from Rep resentative King are printed below.
 Smith Makes Statement.
 MT. Smith of North Birmingham gave out the following yesterday in reference to the reply Jere King made to the re- marks which he (Smith) had made in an interview given out by him last week:
 Tn my interview I stated my objections to North Birmingham being annexed to Birmingham, the principal one being that it would stop the industrial growth of our town, as 1t is a well known fact that no manufacturer will establish plant in a large city on account of the license tax. I can see no reason for sacrificing the future development of North Birmingham to benefit Birmingham, which is only sen- timental. Why not let both places con- tinue to grow and prosper, each in its own way, as they are doing?
 MT. King does not answer or refute the statements and arguments l set forth. He does not name the benefits to be de- rived, nor does he deny that 1t will stop North Birmingham's industrial growth. He merely make a few general and in- definite assertions about the advantages to be derived from a Greater Brming ham, and then crlticzes the internal econ omy of North Birmingham. He made sev- eral inaccurate statements and placed its annual income at about s10,OO0 below its actual figures. I do not wish, how ever, to enter into any controversy about this, as I think 1t has nothing to do with the subject under discussion. It is for the people of North Birmingham to ex- press dissatisfaction at the manner in which the government Is conducted, and I am asking Mr. King that he allow theni to express their wishes by ballot. Give them tine opportunity to vote on the ques-
 
 their town Is not being run properly and that it will be benefited by coming into Birmingham, they will certainly vote for annexation.
 Let Them Vote on 1t.
 "If he thinks the majority of the peo- pie favor his bill why won't he allow them to vote on 1t? No election need ha hal at i'm md will nrlu cost about s15 to hold one at North Bir- mingham. If MT. King believes in the square deal' he speaks of why won't he allow the people to vote in mat te- that will double their taxation and blot out their existence as an individual community.
 Jefferson county's representatives rec ognize the justice of what the people or North Birmingham are now asking and pledged themselves to oppose any Greater Birmingham measure that did not give the people of the town which 1t proposed to annext vote on the ques- tion, and I do not believe they will dis regard the promises they made.
 Personally. I believe that three fourths of the people of North Birming- ha-l are opposed to annexation, while MT. King seems to think that a ma jority favor his measure. The only fair and just way that I can see to settle the matter is to insert in his bill provision calling an election, and let the people interested decide what they want to do. I am willing to abide by their decision and Mir. King, as a representa- q, Of ba Sbo bo the same"
 King Answers Arguments.
 Representative King gave out the fol- lowing last night in regard to the North Birmingham situation:
 ''1he question at North Birmingham is simply as to whether they shall have liquor or shall come into Greater Bir- mingham. The matter of establishing dispensaries at North Birmingham Is be- ing agitated and the matter Is being advertised. I am sure the good citizens of North Birmingham do not want liquor there, and the only reason I can see for the establishing of dispensaries at North Birmingham is that an effort is being made tc secure source of revenue with which to meet the annual deficit of about $1o,OO0 per year. My bill includes a provision that liquor shall not be sold in towns now prohibiting 1t.
 Greater Birmingham absorbing North Birmingham would be like a firm like Loveman Joseph & Loeb guaranteeing the credit of small concern, which was failing. It would give them unlimited credit and they could have every mu- nicipal improvement possible
 'Tn regard to the remarks of MT. Smith, which were made public today, all 1 have to say is that the figures I used were taken from a statement which bore the signature of the authorities of North Birmingham. and which was dated the latter part of 1906. This is the statement which the North Birmingham authorities used in the disposition of their bonds last year, and the figures on it show that the total income of the city is about $10.0O0 below It's actual ex- penses. As this statement bears the offi- cial seal of North Birmingham, as we'll as the signatures of the city officials, I take it that they are correct"
 Citizens Favor the Bill.
 The following signed card by citizens of North Birmingham was furnished The Age-Herald yesterday:
 North Birmingham, Ala, June p, 1907. "The published representation, heretofore accredited to the city attorney of North