The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-04-11


| Today is "bond election day for BIZ
minsham. and the opening of the polls at
o. clock this morning will find an enthus-
iastic group OF business men on hand to
give the 100000 issue a good boost.
| The work of these men will be to hustle
around and get the voters to the polls NO
doubt is being expressed as to the Issues
being authorized, but it is desired to dis
pei the apthy which generally prevails
among Birmingham voters on bond is
sue proposition. There are always TO De
found persons who are naturally against
bond issues, and light vote might result
in this class of voters showing up stronger
than they really should. For this reason
the Chamber of Commerce and many
other organizations have urged the voters
to go to the polls today.
A general topic OF conversation around
Greater Birmingham yesterday was the
bond issue, and practically every man
who spoke on it expressed the sentiment
that it must be authorized, the credit and
good name of the city be sustained, and
the heavy interest on the floating subur-
ban debt cut down.
Among the men approached by Age
Herald representatives for an expression
of their views were Marcus Well, Gull
pepper Exum, Frank Nelson, Jr., DR..
Charles Whelan, Maj. w. j. Cameron,
Robert P. McDavid and others.
Marcus Well
Decidedly, I am for the 100000 bond is
sue, and I don't see why anybody with
common sense shouldn't be- said Marcus
Well aside from the moral obligation
to pay tie debts of the annexed suburbs,
the sustaining of the credit of the city
and the getting of needed improvements.
the mere fact that the city would save
a great big amount Of money each year
in the difference between and per
cent interest, seems to me should be suf-
ficient to convince any one of the need
of the bond issue. Every business man
who has the welfare of the city at heart
should busy himself Monday and see that
every voter goes to the polls and votes
right"
CulDepper Exum
"The 100000 bond issue is common
sense proposition, and l can't understand
how any one could be opposed to it,"
said Culpepper Exum. ut is simply the
fact that the suburbs came into Birming
ham with all of their money used up, as
we'll as all they could borrow This
money was borrowed at high rate of
interest and it Is up to the suburbs to
help cut it down. At present the suburbs
are being cared for out of the treasury
of old Birmingham, which has become
exhausted under the strain. We have
moral obligation to pay in getting rid of
the debs of the suburbs, and the bond,
oh nv oil ha ad
in order that the obligation may be
met
Frank Nelson, Jr.
Frank Nelson, Jr.. former president of
the Chamber of Commerce, said:
When Birmingham took in the suburbs
she promised to take full care of them.
These promises must be lived up to and
the only way in which they can be full
filled is by the 100000 bond issue. Bir-
minghom has been placed in a peculiar
position, and also very embarrassing
one. Tho different municipalities Joined
her with an immense debt, and the re-
quirements of a great expenditure of
money to give them real city advantages.
Each annexed town has already been
benefited by increased police and fire pro-
lection, which has proven quite an item OF
expense. The city Is in need of improve.
ments, hut cannot make them because OF
it's impaired financial condition. The
bond issue is net Tor much when all
things are taken into consideration. Ii
really should be several times larger than
the amount In question. There are so
| many reasons why it should be author
| lied that can't see why any one should
| object
| Robert P. McDavld said: by all means
| the $4,000 bond issue sh> Id be author
| lied. 1t doesn't tal;c much investigation
| fer any one to realize just how badly
| 1t is needed and what it means to Biz
| ningham in the saving of its good name,
he Payment of Its DEBTS and the cutting
down OF the interest DUE
DIR. Charles Whclan
| Cr. Charles Whelan gave voice to the
following sentiment: "If the 500, 900 bond
issue hould fail t. be authorized II would
Indeed be sad blow to Birmingham. 1t
means SO much, and the good which 1t
Offers Is SO plainly apparent that do not
zee how anyone could consistently vote
against it. We should save the credit
| of the city, cut down the interest. pay
| off the suburban debts and secure needed
| city improvements. Upon the bond issue
these things depend"
w. j. Cameron
Mai w. ]. Cameron said: ''rhe bond
issue is q practical proposition and only
follows out what any business man would
do Who wouldn't cut down his interest
account from S to per cent? The subur-
ban debts ERE also moral obligation and
--,'1 ha paio. Let us have the bond