The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-19
ARTICLE IN SURVEY . AROUSES IRE OF CITY COMMISSION Deals in Exaggerated Way With Situation Following Retrenchment by City GREAT INJUSTICE
 IS DONE THE CITY Ward Has City Comptroller Assemble Data Which Will Be Submitted
 to Survey With Request That
 It Publish Same

Some one wrote an artlcle TOT the Sur- vey last week that has stirred the ire of the city commissioners. The article car ried the headlines, When Birmingha am Went Broke" and then proceeded to tell in lurid style some of the things Bir- mingham is not doing for her citizens.
 Instead of sticking to the facts-which every Birmingham citizen recognizes are spreads it on with a red paint brush by indicating that Birmingham has stopped street sprinkling and garbage collections; dispensed with health officer, city physi- clan and milk inspector; extinguished half the city lights: withdrawn all money from the city library and much more in the same strain.
 When Commissioner Ward saw the ar ticle he got busy. He called on the comp troller for the facts which he sent to Secretary Radcliffe of the Chamber of Commerce with the suggestion that he request The Survey to headline the ar tcle, Birmingham Is Not Broke, But Is Determined To Live Within Its Income"
 Here Is the data submitted by the comp troller.
 Ddto IIOhu SOuPtiolICI
 'I have your copy of The Survey of September II. 1915, in which there is an article commenting on conditions in Bir- mingham.
 Referring to same, regret to advise that this Is an exaggerated statement of the reductions made in the city budget. The reductions have been drastic undoubted- ly, but the actual situation Is best known by the actual figures. Possibly, The Sur vey's informant gave estimates which were being considered at the time the information was given The Survey. The tota. amount of the reduction in expenses Is accurately stated, but the details of percentages are inaccurate. The facts are as follows:
 ''The services of the health officer, city physician and milk inspector have not been dispensed with.
 The school session has not been short ened. but the board of education, by charging a nominal fee, will operate the schools on the anne basis as heretofore.
 ''The annual appropriation to the library has not been withdrawn, but reduced from s12,000 to sS000.
 ''The arc lights in the city were cut from TAO to 6o1. and the tungsten lights were cut from 370 to 291.
 ''The police department has been cut from ITO to 13S men. and they are now working on an eight-hou shift as here tofore.
 "The fire department has been cut from 1S0 to 132 and none of the fire stations have been closed
 '"rhe services of the weights and meas s. ures inspector have not been dispensed with
 .'The electrical department has not been reduced.
 "No animals of the Avondale zoo have been disposed of or the services cur tailed
 'HThe collection and disposal of garbage is now being carried on on the same basis as heretofore. This will be carried on until October 1. 1915 at which time a fee may be charged for collection.
 '"The cleaning and sprinkling of streets is being carried on at a reduced cost.
 'The welfare department Is being oper- ated on the same basis as heretofore as Mrs. M. w. Searight. the superintendent who was in charge on 8 salary is giving her services gratis.
 Must Adopt Budget System
 'At the instance of the city commits sion, based on recommends tons of the committee of 100, referred to in the ar ticle of the Survey, the legislature has enacted law requiring the city govern ment to adopt a budget system.
 This law makes 1t a misdemeanor and a cause for removal from office for ex- ceeding the budget.
 'The city Is determined to live within It's income, and if it does go will estab- lish a record that Is probably unique in the history of municipalities of the size of Birmingham.
 Since the reductions have been made no appreciable loss of efficiency in any department is noticeable On the con- trary. there is every indication that the very fact of the reductions has increa sed the sense of civic responsibility amongst the citizens.
 "The purpose of this communication is not to critcise or resent the article in the Survey The spirit of it Is appre- ciated, but our purpose Is simply to give the readers the accurate data on which the action of the city was based.
 For your further information I am sending you a copy of the reports of the committee of 100 which we hope will l><> uka a.Al leI I LA q