The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-04-08
CITIZENS DISCUSS THE BOND ELECTION Give Reasons for Favoring It's
 Passage
WIPE OUT SMALL DEBTS
Money for Which s Per Cent Is Being Paid Can He Secured for Five Per Cent If in the Form
 of Bonds

That the proposed $4OO,o0O bond issue is a commonsense propositions: that it is an absolute necessity for the proper car rying on of the business of the city. the retaining of its credit the carrying out of the promises made to the suburbs and the material cutting down of the amount of interest the city is having to pay for the money it uses-these were the req sons given by prominent business men approached yesterday for their opinion on the s40Oo00 bond issue which is to be submitted to the people next Monday.
 W. F. G. Harding
 Every voter In Birmingham should bestir himself Monday, go to the polls and vote for the S4000,0o0 bond issue," said W. P. G. Harding, president of the First National bank. Tt is simply common sense proposition. It means that the city will get it's money at low per cent instead of the present high rates it is hav- ing to pay. which in itself means the sav- ing of quite an amount of money an- nually The heavy debt hanging over the annexed suburbs should be cleared up and the city placed on firm basis, and the bond Issue presents the only method by which 1t can be done. It would be a terrible blow to the city should this is- sue fail to be authorized, and every man should see that his neighbor votes Mon- day.
 Leo K. Steiner
 Leo K. Steiner, president of the Steiner Bros. bank, said when asked for his opin- lon on the issue:
 T am decidedly in favor of the s400- 900 bond issue. It Is needed to sustain the credit and good name of the city. Only by 1t can the heavy debt created by the annexed suburbs, which is drawing a high rate of interest. be wiped out. The cty's present financial condition is cramped and relief is needed The issue means the cutting down of the high interest and general strengthening out of the city's financial affairs
 TT. T. Ashford
 r. T. Ashford, president of the Bir- mingham Paint and Glass company, gave voice to the following:
 'The city authorities have made plain the present condition of the city's fin- ances and why the bond issue is desired, | one to realize that the $400,O0 bond issue is a necessity. The city has had an un- usual condition created by the annexation of the suburbs in the shape of a heavy debt, some s23o.0O0. A heavy payroll has been added, and funds are needed to carry on the work of the city. There are many other things to be attended to and the city can't handle them because of the embarrassed financial condition. I am very much in favor of the issue and will do all I can to see it authorized" A. R. Dearborn
 A. R. Dearborn. the prominent real es- tate man, said
 There have been many promises made to the suburbs and the city is endeavor- ing to make all of them good. Unfortun- ately the suburbs brought in a tremend- ous debt bearing high interest, and this has served to embarrass the city. The s40o, 600 bond issue Is neded to cancel this debt. It would give the city 90 years to pay the debt with per cent interest an against the present debt, which under stand draws per cent. Without the bond issue the city will be years and years endeavoring to pay it off with the ultimate issuance of bonds to do 1t. In addition to cutting down. the high interest and removing this debt, the bond issue will allow the city money with which to make improvements in its general work. The necessity of the bond issue being so plainly apparent it strikes me that every citizen should busy himself and see that it is authorized Monday by a large vote"