The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-21
Mass Meeting Decides on Il
Men Who VIII Meet the
Executive in Birming-
ham Next Week
RAISE IN TAX RATE
ONLY REMEDY FOR
CITY'S CONDITION
But One Discordant Note at Meeting
Yesterday When Arlie Barber
Voiced Opposition to
Whole Plan

The sense of the mass meeting held at
the Chamber of Commerce auditorium
yesterday afternoon at $3.50 o'clock was
that President Harding should appoint
committee of u to call on the governor
of Alabama for the purpose OF urging
that he call the state legislature into ex-
traordinary session to relieve, by legisla-
ton, the financial distress of Birmingham
Commissioner A. o. Lane put the motion
and Fl. U. Sims quickly seconded IT, The
question was put by President Harding, in
the chair, and a vociferous chorus of ayes
answered. The only no came from Arlie
Barber
President Harding held a long distance
conversation with the governor yesterday
evening after the meeting and announced
afterward that the governor would pass
through Birmingham one day next week
Mr.. Harding will announce the appointees
within the next day or two and these gen
tlemen Will call upon the governor when
he reaches Birmingham and will place
the contention of Birmingham in favor os
an extra session before him.
Only One Discordant Note
The meeting yesterday afternoon was
we'll attended and at only one time dur
ing the session was there any threat of
break in the utter harmony of the pro-
ceedings, and that was when Arlie Bar
Der took issue with the purpose of the
meeting. President Harding of the Cham
Der of Commerce presided. Mr. Harding
SAID that the meeting had been called for
the purpose of discussing the best methods
of relieving the present financial condition
OF Birmingham.
1t seems to be the general impression,
said MIR. Harding, that the speediest re-
lief can be had through an extra session
OF the legislature. l have letter from
the governor of Alabama in which he
says he will call an extra session of the
legislature should he be shown that there
was any real need for it, and that it
would result i'll any good
The real object of this meeting TODAY.
therefore, is to discuss the citys financial
condition and conditions throughout the
state in order that we may lay a predi-
cate before the governor. | hope that We
may be able to bring such forceful argu-
ments before the governor that he will
y the extra session, whereby we may
get the desirer relief"
Calls Upon Judge Lane
Mr.. Harding then turned the meeting
S'St ~ 'iSNtSSiol dilu dShtd Judge Lane
to address the body.
AS the commissioner of public Justice
approached the platform, he was greeted
py general applause. He told of his re-
cent visit to Montgomery and o. his con-
ference with the governor, and expressed
the firm belief that If the citizens of Bir-
mlngham would send a delegation to ca II
upon the state executive for the purpose
OF urging an extra session it would be
called He said that he did not feel at lib-
erty to commit the governor to anv pro-
sfafnme, but he was certain that if the
governor was approached In the right
spirit the legislature would be called intn
session. Judge Lane said in part:
what the city of Birmingham needs AT
thls time Is monetary aid. In July of
lhls year the Chamber of Commerce an
pointed committee to Get up statistics
ana have copy of its report in my Of
nee Ihese gentlemen know that Rr.
mingham is being conducted today on a
smaller financial basis than any other citv
IN the United States of like size and popu-
iation A thing of that sort ought not 70
continue. 1t is true that the city of Bir-
inlngham can pull iself together It could
allow its streets to be unimproyed. #
could reduce the number of various de-
partments that comprise the city govern
nent, but the thing we all want or ought
TO want is progressive city government
one that VIII keep Birmingham in line
with the progressive cities of the United
states (Applause) We have a great cItv
mere. and If we don't lag behind and faiI
to do our duty we will have an even
greater city than we have today. II is
going to progress in the future much more
rapidly than it has in the past To do
this, however. any thinking man within
the sound of my voice will agree with ma
that 1t will take money. You can't ac-
complish anything in this world without
supply of money.
Lower Than Any Other CITY
birmingham has lower rate of taxa
ton than any other city in the United
states today 1t may have a tendency to
make one unpopular to advocate an in
creased taxation, but for my part, I am
ready and willing to go before the people
or Birmingham and strongly advocate
increasing the tax rate.
I'VE want the legislature to act at
once and bring the desired relief at once.
believe 1t will be accomplished and
that the financial condition In which the
city of Birmingh ham and the county of
Jefferson find themselves at this time will
be eliminated and that Birmingham will
be placed in a position to go forward on
its new era of progress. You don't want
to see your streets neglected, you don't
want to see your police force reduced
you don't want to see the various de-
partments of your city government de-
pleted. You want what the city of Bir-
mingham and it's citizens will be proud
Of"