The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-05
EUST|S REPLIES TO
PLAN OF M M'DOWELL
Local Legislation Will Solve
City's Financial Troubles
PRESENTS HIS IDEAS
Hopes Ensley Citizen Will Lend His
Further Counsel to Solution of
Problem Vital to the
Whole City

George Eustis, member of the Special
taxation committee of the Chamber of
Commerce, has addressed the following
open letter to M. H. Mcdowell of Ensley
in reply to Mr.. McDowells letter in the
Sundays Age-Hera1d:
Birmingham, August 4.
Mr.. NJ. Fl. Mcdowell, Ensley
MY Dear Mr.. Mcdowell read your
letter in yesterdays Age-Herald with
great deal of interest and If your plan
could be put into operation 1t would solve
the greater part of our problems.
The excessive drains of the county
upon us would still obtain, however, and
l am opposed to any system of increas-
ing our revenues. either by an increase
in tax rate or by an increase in valua-
tions, by which we would have to con-
tinue to pay tribute.
Il am also opposed to our paying money
into the state school fund from which we
do not get our proportionate return, and
which is equivalent to the city contrib
Iuting to the education of children through
out the state, whilst We ourselves are
short of funds for the education of our
own children.
That it takes proportionately more
money to administer the inner than the
outer circle is one of those conditions OF
this world which we can't control.
II agree with you that constitutional
amendment of statewide import attempt
ing to revolutionize the entire taxing sys-
tenn of the. state for the benefit Of Bir-
mingham would be little short of an ir-
ridescent dream. That is not my idea.
The present constitution may I'll the blI
for Alabama, but Birmingham has out
grown it and needs special legislation.
I'VE are not trying to force our views
and proposed methods upon Others and
we are not asking for any help; we sim
ply want the state to grant us the priv
ilege of attending to our own business. to
allow us to tax ourselves for our own
legitimate needs, to allow us to save waste
and administer economically in our own
interests and not for the benefit of others,
save our equitable proportion of the cost
of administration of the general state gov
ernment.
such an amendment might of course
be objected to by those who are being
benefited under the system. Such are
nv views Other members of the COM
mittee have different views; 1t would be
queer committee which was unanimous
the first shot out of the box
"I am indeed very glad to hear that
your system is cleared. as there are prob
ably few besides myself who could APP
preciate the character of your ailment.
repeat that Ensley got a rough deal in
the shake up of 1863. Ensley was the
only municipality that came into Greater
Birmingham clean and solvent. She was
in better shape than Birmingham ever
was 1t was a shame to take the money.
1t has been said by her enemies that, lit
tie dreaming of being annexed, she did
not prepare for the event and was taken
unawares-a dirty trick, so to speak. Be
it as it may--when Governor Conner fin
ally decided that she should have to come
in the die was cast.
1--WE are all in the same boat now, how
ever, and when you win have sufficiently
recovered / sincerely trust 1t will be our
pleasure to have you come back. join
the 'harem' and give, us your valuable
assistance in pulling the out of the
ditch Yours very truly,
GEORGE ETISTIS"