The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-11-07
VOTERS OF STATE MUST DECIDE ISSUE OF TWO ELECTIONS Birmingham's Tax Rate and State Bond Issue Already
 Live Topics
BOND ISSUE WILL
 RENEW OLD FIGHT
Administration and Its Opponents Will Probably Line Up for Con test on the Issue of
 $1,500,000
By HUGH w. ROBERTS

Two state elections arc up for disA
 cussion.
 December 2T the people will he called
 upon to give Birmip u gham the right fo
 increase its own rate of taxation. January IS the people will be called { upon to indorse state bond issue im the sum of $i,50O.OGG. < In tho former, the voters. appreciatinE
 the fact that the matter is of importance
 solely to Birmingham, will in all probable ity, vote in the affirmative. If this pre-
 diction materializes the citizens of Bir- mingham. in 6 formal election next Oc- tober, will determine whether or not they will take advantage of the opportunity thus afforded by the citizens of tho state.
 Tn the January election, the issue of which will be the proposed bond issue, intense interest, it is indicated, will be
 aroused. All over again. the Henderson and anti-Henderson forces will fight their battle. The Legislative Struggle This proposed state bond issue was the apparent bete noir of certain leaders in the legislature. The outside or power full prohibition lobby as is recalled. endeavored to whip the majority faction
 into a solid phalanx against the bill. As is remembered, between members of this lobby and members of the legislature who declined to be forced into a position against their wills sharp words were ex- changed. Senator Lusk. in the upper
 house, having successfully filibustered
 against sthe bill in January. inveighed against it bitterly in July and August But the forces of the governor, augmented by certain vigorous members of tho pro- hibition opposition, stoSd fir mand car red the day.
 Despite the victory, considerable bitser- ness was engcndered. And 1t is regarded
 as safe prediction that this bitterness will be exemplfied in the January cam paign. Governor Henderson has deola~ed
 the deficit-perenniai deficit-iargcr thau
 ever before despite the fact that the leg islature. in the longest per diem session
 and tho most expensive session since the day of the festive carpetbasger. iabored
 necessarily in an alleged and futile er. fort to retrcnch and economize.
 The Differing Arguments Tho governor has assumed the position that a bond issue Is necessary. He has pointed out the fact that the legislature ! enacted prohibition. but neither reduced expenses nor increased revenue. On tho other hand. the anti-Henderson forces. made up chiefly of those leaders who op- posed the governor in the primaries of last year, contend that the fruit of bond | issue would be squandered in paying school teachers. old soldiers and extending education-in other words. expended Tn paying old and up to the present time. l unmet and unnecessary obligations. The influence of the state will be be- | hind the bond issue when it is the sub ject of the election. and in all propabrity the old soldiers the school teachers, the sheriffs and other officials longing for fees due and in no part paid, will aid | in securing it's passage.
 It Is reported that a prominent Mont gomery banker will be made manager of the campaign, and that an aggressive political warfare will be waged At any rate the time has come when the people must think again of politics and elections.