The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-02

are these enOTIS Will never pc IO1Ilc0n- ing until the property owner begins to realize that his personal interests are suf- fering and his property depreciating by reason of the failure of the city govern ment to carry on modern legitimate mu- nicipal functions.
 In the meantime we must use judg ment and discretion in disbursing what l revenue we now receive to the best ad- vantage and go right along There are at present in the Mayors office applica- tions and plans for additional improve ments and municipal investments, more or less pressing, which would require more than $3O00 600 this year to acquire and maintain, Viz:
 New southsde jail and maintainance | thereof for the use of the 140 or more | prisoners at labor on our public works.
 New crematory and site, and probable provision for an electric light plant in | connection herewith.
 Repairs and renewals to chert streets, many miles of which have been washed and torn by heavy rains. Three or four hundred arc lights and l fire hydrants, for the protection of out 1 lying sections of the city which are being built up with costly residences. Larger police force. 1 Increased charity appropriations. The | city of Birmingham probably donates less to work of this nature than any city of l similar size in the United States. While we can continue to repudiate such obliga- tions, the duty ever resting on the strong to take care of the helpless is upon us, notwithstanding.
 l New fire station and new public library have also been demanded. | Schools There are now pressing de- mands for additions to Paul Hayne, Lake l view South Highlands, Ullman and Mar tin school buildings.
 Treasurer and Tax Collector. This is the second year these two de- partments have operated under one head. The work accomplished has been satisfac- tory and both offices now run smoothly. l At the beginning of 1905 these depart ments were in bad shape, especially that l important fund for which the Mayor and 1 Aldermen is trustee, known as 'The l Public Bond Improvement Fund" This l fund involves nearly $750000 per year, and thousands of small complicated en- l tries After terious and painstaking work most all tangles have been cleared up and the property owner who Is pay l ing on the ten-year plan has been pro vided with a written status of his as- 1 sessment and a form to assist In keeping up with same.
 Above all the office is conscientiously carrying out the details of the law gov erning this fund. as handed down by the 1 guarantee from a heavy loss years hence. l would respectfully remind the board | that this is one department wherein Ii Is always dangerous and generally i'll ad- vised to suspend or modify any of our laws for the convenience of individuals and it should never be done except in ex- treme cases.
 License Department.
 License collections increased from s216,- | 734 during 1905 to $25S, 415 in 1906 This 1 brings out peculiar anomaly which does not occur in any other town in the United States, viz: A privilege license producing | more revenue than the tax on real and | personal property. Real and personal tax | amounted to $217,2H
 This means that the burden of govern ment is being put upon industry and en- l terprise instead of upon property, where | 1t belongs Inasmuch as Industry and enterprise and the proximity of masses of people, are the factors that give value to real property we should be careful not to run either of these factors away.
 Property in Birmingham is peculiarly remunerative
 1. Because of it's ability to escape it's reasonable tax burden.
 g. Because of its enormous rental re- turns.
 Therefore it will pay large property owners to put in motion propaganda that will relieve this abnormal situation through constitutional amendments, and assume voluntarily a fair share Of the burden and not continue to force the city to choke off and retard the Influx Of new tradesmen and new businesses by ex- cessive privilege licenses.
 The expense of collecting licenses has heretofore been on commission basis. You are to be congratulated on having put same on a fiat salary as the change will be sure to be satisfactory and cost of operating be reduced from 5000 to S3500 per annum.
 Your merchants tax has been assessed by the license collector without addition al compensation for 1907. The assess ments are the same as 1906 barring few combinations. This tax becomes delin- ouent May 1. It is believed that no mer- chant will refuse payment or contest It's constitutionality who informs himself as to its status or who recognizes that the continuance of our fire department on it's present basis Is dependent upon It's col lection.
 Fire Department.
 Too much cannot be said in praise of the able and conscientious way your fire department has been handled.
 Although its expense increased during the year over $60,000, the results obtained seem to justify 1t.
 l. The fire loss was held down to 10 per cent of property at risk:
 Property at risk, S3,344812.
 Fire loss, $392,029
 There were 476 runs.
 g. As agreed on, the Southeastern Tariff association, in consideration of reorganiza- tion restored the congested district of the city to a first-class basis, thus saving to the merchants and property owners something like $1O000 annually in insur- ance premiums.
 This reorganization has resulted in new chief, an assistant chief, nine stations and 107 men on the pay roll. During the year 1 the dremens salaries have been raised