The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-07-28
TERRY'S REASON FOR
OPPOSING DIVISION
Tells Why He Is Opposed to
Splitting Jefferson Into
Three Parts

william K. Terry, the well known local
attorney. as has been previously puphsheo
nv The Age-Herald, opposes the theory or
Man of dividing Jefferson into three parts
and thereby for the sake of alleviatlng the
rnonc,al distress of the city of Birming-
ham. creating a-county of Birmingham.
He makes the following statement:
..E.our good reasons why JEFFERSON
county should not be divided.
Il. Dual government would not be aooi-
ished.
80 rTrinle EXPENSES would be imposed.
80 The revenue of the city of Brming-
ham would not be greatly increased, and
any increase thus to. be acquired coulo
be achieved by legislative acts without a.
vision.
"a. Health of the county would be I'M
paired.
ID Dual government would not De
abolished. BY dual government is meant
county and municipal government coun-
ties and municipalities are both supordi-
nate governmental agencies or the state
within their respective spheres And wa1lle
there are some governmental acts which
pertain to municipal government that may
be performed by county officers, when en-
powered by legislative acts such as col
Letting taxes for both county and city,
still there are many municipal acts that
counties are not permitted to exercise by
constitutional limitations in this state, and
by the general scheme of government In
all the states which causes recognized
distinction between what is called county
purposes and municipal purposes. AS
result of the distinction municipality
can engage In business in many ways
not permitted to county, thus making
municipal ownership possible. 1t has
mower to enact ordinances and provide
nenalttes for a violation of them, which
is not permitted to county And, al
though some courts hold that county Is
a quasi municipal corporation there are a
great many fundamental distinctions be-
tween county purposes and municipal pur-
poses that of necessity require both as
subordinate governmental agencies of the
state. and different and distinct officials,
to exercise the different functions.
Cd Triple expense would be imposed
upon the people in Jefferson county by
dividing the county into three counties.
The division would require three court
houses and jails, and three sets of county
officials where we have one now, and the
only people benefited would be the addi-
tional crop of politicians and officeholders
thus created.
"(3) The revenue of the city would not
be greatly increased. The county tax levy
for general funds is limited by the consti-
tuition of the state to 90 cents on the 500.
The full limit is now levied as follows:
For public schools, 10 cents on 500: city
receives part collected in city
For sanitation, s cents on 800; city re-
ceives part collected in city
For public roads, cents on 500; city
receives half collected in city.
For general expenses, % cents on 500;
city receives half collected in city.
Total, SO cents on 800.
From the above it may be seen that
the city now receives very nearly as much
benefit by legislative acts as 1t would
receive We're the county lines narrowed to
the present city limits, If that could be
done and fulfill the constitutional area re-
CURED for counties. For 1t must be borne
in mind that there would be no lessen
ing of the county expenses, and to meet
which Ii requires the full 25 cents which is
now lei led for that purpose. These ex-
penses consist of interest on county bonds,
salaries of county officials maintenance OF
county hospital and almshouse, care and
maintenance of the poor, county supplies
of all kinds and other general county ex-
penses too numerous to mention There
for no lessening of the burden of the tax
payer would result from a division of the
county.
I'D Health would me impaired. We
have county sewers running through a
large portion of the present area of the
county, and 1t hardly requires argument
to convince anyone that these sewers can
be best regulated, maintained and addi-
tional ones constructed, If left under one
government, than it could be under three
counties as has been proposed. One coun-
ty might favor additional constructive
work and another would oppose and all
matters pertaining therto would have to