The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-24
So Says J. D. Moore in Formal Statement In-
 dOrsing the Issue
APPEARED BEST TO
 COMMITTEE OF 100
No Other Suggestions-This Is Much Better Than Repudiating Just Debts of City-Rosenberger Doesn't See
 How a Division Is Possible

J. D. Moore. of the Moore & Handley Hardware company. and one of the best known business men and civic workers of Birmingham, is strongly in favor of the municipal bond issue to be voted on April 12, as is also J. D. Rosenberger. president of the Board of Trade
 Mir. Moore yesterday issued a formal statement as follows:
 Some reasons why the people of Bir- on April 12 are the following:
 'The city is in debt and without the necessary cash or means with which to pay it's matured obligations. This debt was incurred for the necessary supplies which the city could not we'll get along without, most of the money going into permanent Improvements, such as school houses. parks, fire equipment, etc. all of which we are now enjoying the ben efits of and will continue to enjoy for the years to come.
 "Voting these bonds does not increase the Indebtedness of the city. and the money received from their sale will only be used to take up short time and ma tured obligations and defer the payment until a more convenient day
 'To carry this debt with the banks on short time loans, even, lit were possible, would require the city to pay a higher rate of interest and be continually wor- ried in renewing same. Then. since the money has been spent and we must pay our just debts, it is certainly wise to get time on these debts and pay them as we are able to do so.
 It is expected that our. legislature will provide such relief as has been requested by the committee of 100 of our patriotic citizens, and enable us in the future to take the proper care of our progressive and growing city and at the same time live within our income and avoid the further issuance of bonds.
 Better Than Repudiation
 Tt may be distasteful to many of our citizens to have to issue bonds, but it would be more distasteful to repudiate our debts and destroy our good credit
 'The character of a city is the char acter of those citizens who rule 1t, and none of us who have the proper interest in the good name of our city want to see our city refuse to pay it's just Cebts when they are offered an easy way by issuing bOioS dl d lOW Idlt Ol interest.
 ITO vote for these bonds does not change the tax rate nor increase the cost to any individual.
 Not to vote for the bonds will have the effect to depreciate our credit and to lower the price of real estate and other values. None of us want to apologize for sour city because she has created debts and then refuses to pay them when they are due.
 ssxU,i1 +ho.o ,,.t,o o,nos. 41,o ;r.,,. - bonds tell us a better solution? And if they have a better solution we will join them in execution. During the time the committee of 100 men were considering these questions they called for sugges- tions from any citizen who had one to offer and nothing was offered or found to take the place. Hence, it seems strange that it is even necessary to make an argument as to the advisability of the method proposed I am sure every good citizen takes a pride in seeing his city well cared for in every way, in hay ing clean streets, well policed good fire protection, good schools and in having a city which will attract the stranger, and all these things add value to our homes and other property and make it de- sirable place in which to live. These things cannot be done without the ex- penditure of money.
 
 for complaint as to waste of funds, but on the other hand commended the wise use of the funds by which our debt has been created. However, it is not neces- sary now to discuss whether or not the city could have been better managed and the funds applied more wisely, since we have a just debt that must be taken care of in any event, and there is no other way which has been offered to settle our debts than the issue Of bonds. Let us all, then, go to the polls on April F and cheerfully vote for the bond issue and preserve the good name and good credit of our city,
 Statement From ROsenberger
 MT. Rosenberger's statement is:
 ''The question as to whether or not the citizens shall authorize the bond issue is, in my opinion, not subject that calls for any division of opinion. It is first and last a necessity. It is sound busi- ness move and one that appeals to me as a business man.
 ''rhe only objection that I have heard against the issue has been raised by persons who were not familiar with the matter. Their objection has been that the s1.2tO,000 to be derived from the sale of the bonds is to go into the treasury of tie city to be used for future expendi- lures, some of which may be unnecessary and extravagant. If such were the case, it would be the height of folly to attempt to have our citizens indorse the bond is- sue. But such is not the case; and, as have said, that objections that have been offered have thus far arisen out of