The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-24
Several Plans Being Consid- cred to Submit to Legisla-
 ture in January
NEED AMENDMENT
 TO CONSTITUTION
Three Amendments Have Been Sug- gested Which Would Give Birming- ham Chance to Hold Expendi-
 lures Within Income

The city commissioners are in almost daily consultation regarding various plans of relief for the financial condition of Birmingham.
 Up to the present time, nothing defi- nite has been agreed upon. As result however, of continued study and frequent consultations with members of the Jeff ferson county legislative delegation, some thing will be accomplished. This will be a programme whereby the legislature will
 be asked to provide for a constitutional amendment which will put more money per annum in the treasury of Birming-
 ham than is now put there in the course of 12 months.
 Neither of the commissioners Is willing
 to discuss various schemes which are under consideration.
 Tt is the wiser course said Com-
 missioner Ward. ito remain quiet until
 something definite has been agreed upon one of several plans has been adopted. Comm ssioner Weatherly stated that he
 had not made up his mind as to which of many plans is better. He admitted that each method presented many angles for earnest consideration, that that which strikes him today as favorable
 might tomorrow present an altogether
 different appearance. Commissioner Lane said that he had decided what should be done. but that he would not make his idea public until he had discussed 1t thor oughly with other members of the com | mission.
 Continually Running Behind The one obstacle in the way of Bir- mngham's continued development. the commissioners admit, is that the expenses | cannot be so regulated as to remain
 within the bounds of the income. The city l is and for sometime has been running
 behind at a rate of 5000 and more per
 day. The commissioners declare that the
 situation cannot be coped with, and that | something of a remedial nature must of
 necessity be done
 | Generally speaking, three schemes are being considered The first is constitu- | tional amendment permitting Birmingham l to increase its rate of taxation from Sl | to $1 5c on each sioo worth of property. | The second is a constitutional amend | mont permitting Birmingham to adopt a | city charter by the operation of which
 it can tax itself and enjoy to the fullest 1 local sef-government. The third is d
 constitutional amendment providing for
 the county and municipal governments Of 1 Birmingham to be consolidated. | Either of the three plans, the commis- | sioners admit, would relieve the local financial situation, would result in in
 creased income to an amount as large as 1 present expenses
 l The objection to the plan Involving a charter Is that while a charter would not 1 only remedy present evils but would care 1 for those of the future well. 1t would not afford relief as nearly instantaneous as would that amendment giving Birming-
 ham the right to increase the rate of tax
 ation from one mill to 1h mills.
 The chief objection which has been
 raised to the plan providing for the elim-
 ination of Jefferson county or rather the
 consolidation of the governments of city
 and county, is that that plan would meet | stouter opposition than either of the
 other two
 How Commissioners Feel | The commissioners, from statements ] ffldue Dy tntln III uflOHltihi tSipdtltlcSi probably lean with greater favor to the
 charter idea, although on account of the
 fact that an amendment providing simply
 for increased taxation would offer quicker
 relief, the charter plan might be aban- doned.
 1 The members of the Legislative delega-
 ton from this county have, 1t Is gener- ally understood, agreed to vote unani-
 mously on all local maatters. It Is under stood, too, that the delegation will support the plan which the city commissioners, after studying the various problems, adopt as the most feasible and practicable With l that understanding. the commissioners are making a serious study of the situa- | ton in the belief that in the proper solu- l ton of the problem, depends Birming- l hams ultimate fate.
 1 The commissioners and members of the legislative delegation will meet again |