The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-24
BOWIE HAS NOT YET DECIDED UPON HIS THREE COMMITTEES May Not Get the Personnel Completed Until Sometime
 Tomorrow Night ARE CONFRONTED BY AN IMPORTANT TASK Committee On Temporary Relief Will Have the Easiest Job as Bond Is-
 sue Seems Absolutely
 Necessary

l s. J. Bowie chairman of the committee
 of citizens named for the purpose of
 reaching practical solution. of Birming-
 hams financial problem, announced last
 night that he had not completed the ap-
 pointment of the three subeommittees which are expected to do the work of the 1 campaign
 T am taking great care in making the appointment" said MT. Bowie, and it is | therefore, necessary to proceed slowly. In
 the first place, I am anxious that every subdivision of Greater Birmingham be represented. In the second place. I am anxious that a representative or every
 idea bearing on the subject be repre-
 sented. It Is probable that I will not complete the appointment prior to to- I morrow night"
 As Is known, MT, Bowie will name one subcommittee to probe the affairs of inc city government, another to devise soma plan for immediate relief for Birming- ham, and another to devise a plan for permanent relief
 Current Indebtedness One Million The city of Birmingham has current
 indebtedness of about $1,000,o00 This sum will have to be paid as has been pointed
 out, and the bulk of it in January. un- less some money is raised great distress
 might befall the municipality, and if has been hinted that it might be necessary to | close down some of tho city's schools. The subcommittee to be named for the purpose of devising a plan for the i'm
 mediate relief of the city, will face a simple task, it is said. That subcommit- tee will have no other recourse. it is
 pointed out than to advocate a bond issue in the sum of $i,O0o,0O0
 City authorities contend that if the current accounts are settled. money in l excess of present amounts to be oh talned through the plan for permanent relief, will guarantee not only the city's ability to care for itself in the future but the payment in 30 years, of the bond ed indebtedness.
 The subcommittee to be appointed for
 the purpose of probing the affairs of | the city government, may reach a con clusion that in some departments there is more or less extravaganza practiced but that were certain amounts saved in each department, little towards the re- iti Ot DiiIlHBndIn would be accom- | plished. It Is practically certain that this subcommittee will give the city a clean bill of health, and will not recommend the cripling of any of the departments of the government.
 To Consider Three Schemes The work of the campaign will be ac- complished by the subcommittee to be named for the purpose of deVising a plan for the permanent relief of the city gov e.nment Three schemes will be consid-
 cred. the one to equalize taxation; that is apprehend the individuals who assess
 their property at a figure below It's real
 value; the other, to increase the rate of
 taxation, and the third, to create Bir-
 ningham county under a government by
 present municipal authorities.
 lnasmuch as tho legislature will appoint,
 in all probability, an equalization board it is probable that the subcommittee will.
 reach the conclusion that this city should
 reap it's share of the benefit from the
 work of the state board, and proceed to
 acquire other relief in other directions. |1t is believed, therefore, that two plans
 will be considered-deeply and seriously
 considered To these two plans there is
 considerable opposition, though each, of
 course. has its advocates. The people of
 Birmingham, were it left to them, would
 vote down a proposition. it is believed,
 providing for an increased rate of taxa
 tlon. It is believed, on the other hand,
 that majority of the people of Jeffer- son county, especially majority of those who do not live in Birmingham proper,
 would support the new county or sepa- rate taxing district idea-and between the two there is little difference, according to students of municipal economies
 This subcommittee will have it's hands full and 1t is in order that men may be
 selected who will serve with enthusiasm that Chairman Bowie is proceeding with care in making his appointments.