Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-01-15
VOTE To BAR
PRESSFR0M
SESSIONS
City Finance Committee, Fearing
To Be Quoted During DELHI
erations, Meets Secretly,

Admitting that they feared to have
their remarks quoted about proposed
appropriations, members Of the Coun-
ell Finance Committee Thursday
overruled Chairman w. G. Hum
phrey's precedent OF admitting news
paper men to the daily sessions of
the committee, and proceeded on their
work of dividing up the peoples S.
900 900 of tax money in star cham
her" meetings.
Appeals for funds for departments
closed at noon. Then Alderman C.
H. Kelley, of the Second Ward. made
a motion to go into executive ses-
sion.
DO you mean by your motion to
exclude the representatives of the
press?' asked Chairman Humphrey.
q don't object to them staying If
they don't publish anything that Is
done until we have finished" he re-
piled.
Councilman Jesse Nj. Wood spoke
up:
Il would suggest that they be al
lowed to remain If they won't quote
any of the members"
Coleord Against Motion.
The newspaper men refused to con-
sent to be gagged, and Alderman
Kelley's molten was put. All voted
for it but Councilman A. r. Colcord
Il was a member of the finance
committee last year. and they were
allowed to remain. So far as | could
see. they didn't interfere with the
making of the budget" he said. Il
want to be recorded as voting against
barring them"
1t is a well-known fact in political
circles that some members of the fl
nance committee are interested In
schemes for improving sections In
which they own property. Imperative
needs of some of the departments are
sure to suffer il these projects are
put through.
Fear of opposition in Council to the
budget always causes the finance
committee to pledge all the members
TO support the budget in Council be-
fore the money is divided, which
policy practically insures its passage,
If the policy of secrecy, as adopted
Thursday, Is pursued, there will be
no means for the public 10 know how
the money is divided until the com
mittee completes Its report, and that
virtually will mean that there will
be no way of knowing how the tricks
were turned until the money is spent
Woodward Eligible?
Members of Council. other than
members of the Finance Committee.
also are barred. While tbs meetings
are being held in Mayor Woodward's
office, the committee seemed uncer-
tain az to just how the resolution
would effect his presence.
Dissatisfaction at this a. other
policies Of the Finance Committee al
ready is heard from representatives
Of city departments.
The heads OF the smoke abatement
department are worried over the at
titude of some members and fear they
are nLL going to receive proper CO.
operation.
Dan Carey, general manager OF
parks. was cut short in his presen-
tation OF the needs of parks. Mr..
Carey smiled, but it was quite evil
dent that he was much panied at the
reception accorded him,
Mayor Woodward put a crimp in
the agitation for bond issue Thurs
day.
He said that q So, 900 900 bond issue
would require at least 100000 an
nually from the current revenue to
pay interest, installment to the sink
ing fund, and maintenance of en-
larged departments; that he was not
pleased with the manner in which the
last 100000 bond Issue was spent
and that with Council OF the pres
ent caliber he didn't believe the peo-
pie would vote the bonds.