The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-10-29
REVENUE PROBLEM
TALK OF READJUsTING CITY IN-
 COME.
rrebahIy Sinking Fund win Be Start cd, Which, However, Might
 Mean More Taxes And a

frobahiy Sinking Fund VIII Be sfart-
 cd. Which, However, Might
 Mean More Taxes And .
 Howl. .
 There are several big municipal undertakings confronting the city fathers. and the time Is not far distant when they will be live Issues. The first of these is an improvement In the expense management in order to prevent a gap between available funds and expenses. Mayor Teague is thinking of these things and the coun- ell is also. individually. figuring out plans, but as yet the matters have not taken definite shape or even tangible form.
 The first matter. and one that is gaining prominence in lobby discus sion, is a sinking fund. The need for this business method Is becoming more and moro urgent every day. the councilmen say, but a sinking fund will mean increased taxation and the man who starts that cry generally has many troubles as a result.
 It Is said that Montgomery has 8 cheaper tax system than any city of its age and size in the South. and the income from taxes Is not sufficient to enable the city to do its municipal business as 1t should be done.
 Mayor Teague says the first ques- ton he is asked when he wishes to place bonds for paving, etc, is has the city a sinking fund?" Because 1t has not. he says, the city gets less for the bonds than it otherwise should.
 Tho mayor says he does not consid- CT city hospital. at present, an abso- lute necessity. that the present hos pital Is attending to the work of the city satisfactorily and that here Is not enough work to warrant the construc- ton of an expensive additional hos pitaI that would require at least $15.- 900 annually, to keep going, which 1 sum the city Is not now In a position l to furnish. The city has its hands full l in paying running expenses and for l the paving and other recent improve ments. and without higher tax rate. and there being no sinking fund. every point has to be counted.
 The time Is not far distant when a | new city hall will be demanded, and | within five years, at the most. this l question will be a live one in munt- | cipal circles. The present hall Is nos | what 1t should be. all tho councilmen admit. and even this early they are casting about. unofficially, for a site and looking at pictures of city halls | in other cities. The land now occu' l pied by the city hall is very valuable | and some contend the new building | when 1t Is erected, should be on the 1 present site. Others say that the cits | is growing away from that locality l and there are available sites on Dexter | Avenue that would be more suitable l and that the sale of the present prop | erty and land would enable the city tc 1 build on the main avenue and have I some money left over to aud to th' building fund.
 That existing conditions are com | paratively soon to undergo a decided | change, is evident from the tnteres taken in the matter on all sides, es pecialIy in official circles. Amont the aldermen strongly in favor of new city hall are Mir. Gunter. Presi dent of the council and Alderman Moritz, chairman of the finance com mittee who Is generally recognized q the war horse of the council.