The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-19
Mayor Is Authorized To Borrow $175,OOO For Use of
 General Fund
WILL USE SINKING FUND
 FOR PURCHASE OF BONDS
Question Of Revoking Licenses Of Ger tain Men Convicted of Selling Whisky Arouses Spirited
 Controversy.


 For the third time the city council adopted the 8 street tax last night, but not by a sufficiently large majority to pass 1t over the mayors veto. The vote stood 12 to for the tax, just as 1t did at the previous meeting of the council since the last meeting, however, Alder man Fulghum has been converted to the opposition of the tax, while Alderman Forney now fayors it. Each mans shift offsets the others, and as Mayor Ward VIII again veto the ordinance, and it takes 13 votes to pass 1t over his veto, the street tax is still apparently as far from being reality as ever
 There is, however, evidently no inten- ton of dropping the question. After the matter had been voted upon last night Alderman Burnett introduced a new street tax resolution, which was referred to the Greater Birmingham committed According to the routine that had been followed this committee will report fav- orably on the matter at the next meet ing, the ordinance will be adopted by the council, and if there are not 13 votes for 1t the mayor will again veto it.
 The question was presented to the coun- cil last night by Alderman Jones in the form of a motion for the adoption of the street tax ordinance, the mayors veto notwithstanding The vote stood as fol- lows:
 For-Parker Burnett, Klotz, J. R. Copeland, D. R. Copeland, Gum, Forney, Gregg. Heidt, Jones, Hogan and Estes.
 Against-Greener O'Neill, Eggleston, Cooper, Fulghum and Stockmar.
 Alderman Moore, who stands against the street tax, was absent.
 The street tax question was made the live wire of last nights session of the council. When the reading of communi- cations was called for by President Par ker the letter from Mayor Ward notify ing the council of his veto of the street tax, was read. Alderman Jones then made motion to temporarily postpone the
 action of the council on the street tax on account of the absence of Alderman Moore, and the motion was carried, but when 1t was learned that the absent al
 derman was out of the city the matter was taken up immediately.
 l After a discussion of the question by several of the aldermen on both sides l Alderman Forney was recognized by the president. MT. Forney explained that he l was about to change his position on the | street tax ordinance, because he had | found that the garnishment clause had l been stricken out and this being the case l the ordinance would not affect the many 1 laboring men who might not be in a posi- | tion to pay the tax.
 | Alderman Fulghum explained his shift | to the opposition of the tax by stating l that if the city was able to borrow money | there was no use to pass the street tax especially, the garnishment clause being | stricken out, if nobody could be forced tc l pay the tax.
 l The motion was then offered for the | adoption of the street tax ordinance, the | mayors veto notwithstanding, but only I 12 of the 13 votes necessary to carry the 1 motion were forthcoming.
 The ordinance authorizing the Mayor to l borrow Sl75,0O0 for the use of the general fund of the city, recommended by the | finance committee, was adopted by the council. In order to meet the denclt h. | cured in the falling off of revenue this f year. 1t was found necessary for the city to borrow money to bridge over until next year. when the merchants and property l tax which should have been collected in March, but which, on account of the municipal code does not become due until October and delinquent next January, vii | be due. Arrangements for the borrowing of the money have been made and the formal ordinance authorizing the Mayor to borrow the amount was adopted by the council last night.
 An ordinance confirming the action ol | the Mayor In purchasing city public inl- movement bonds was adopted. The ordi- nance provided that the Mayor could pur- chase out of the sinking fund on deposit with the Birmingham Trust and Savings company for account of the city of Bir- ! mingham, public improvement bonds for
 some $1S000.
 In the report of the judiciary commit tee 1t was recommended that "a resolu- ton seeking to revoke certain licenses be referred to the aldermen from the ware affected, they to report back to the judi ciary committee at the next regular meet ing" This recommendation brought or considerable contention from both sides The licenses in question are those of men who have been convicted in the courts for selIjng whisky in violation of the prohi- bition law. On one side 1t was contended that the matter should ne handled by the council anu on the other that It should be referred to the aldermen from the ward affected. Finally motion to adopt the report of the committee was adopted.
 An ordinance creating a board of ap- peals in reference to the construction of buildings was amended substituting the chief of the fire department for the chair man of the street committee on the board.
 | ne committee, as it now stands, consists of Mayor Ward President Parker and Chief Bennett of the fire department. The ordinance, with the amendment, was adopted.
 Alderman Estes introduced a resolution that the police commission be requested to close what IS known as the Red Light