The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-17
Says Representative Seeks to Donate to Street Rail- way Companies Half of Their License Tax
CHARGES THAT HE HAS FINANCIAL INTEREST IN THESE CONCERNS
Says Patriotic Thing to Do Would Be to Pass Legisla- tion Requiring County to Appropriate $2OO,OOO

Declaring in a statement issued yester- triotic thing for the Jefferson delegation to do is to pass legislation that will bring the needed financial relief to Birmingham, Commissioner James Weatherly takes Representative John B. Weakley to task for his opposition to the taxation bill now pending before the legislature for that purpose. MT. Weatherly states that Representative Weakley has stated Bir mingham needs additional revenue and must have it, and yet he is opposing the measure to bring this additional revenue to the city. He also refers to the revenue bill approved by the committee in which he states MT. weakley proposes to "do- nate" to the street railroads and water works companies of Birmingham, Decatur and Anniston one-half of the license tax now paid, and that Mir. Weakley has a financial interest in some of these com panies.
 He states MT. Weakley is not in favor of home rule" and not willing to let the people of Birmingham vote on the ques- ton whether they are willing for their
  ment Mir Weatherly said:
 Weatherly's Statement
 "The city of Birmingham is spending around S1, ,25o,000 annually, including capital investments or outlays. The net revenue from all sources applicable for these pur- poses is around s9OO,OOo. This leaves a yearly deficit of around S35o,0o0.
 Hon. John B. Weakley, representative from Jefferson county in the legislature, in signed communication in the Ledger of July b, said:
 "I am aware of the fact that the city of Birmingham needs additional reve- nue and must have it. Wherein he ex- pressed the unanimous opinion of the citi- zens of Birmingham.
 He says further: I note with pleas ure that the city commissioners have at ccme This is commendable move. and probably step that should have been taken sometime ago. In my opinion the government of the city of Birmingham is too expensively administered The reduction of expenses determined upon by the commissioners and which MT. Weakley approves wholly avoids the annual deficit of $350,Oo0.
 Then what ground is there for MT. Weakleys first statement that Birming- ham needs additional revenue and must have it?
 The proposed reduction is drastic. It not only cuts out every item of expense that is not essential to the life of the government, but slashes so deeply into the departments as to make wildly clear to all minds that the government cannot be conducted very long with any tolerable degree of efficiency on such a basis.
 Despite MT. Weakley's opinion that probably this reduction should have been made sometime ago, it is too manifest for discussion. that had 1t been made some time ago, with no legislature in session or soon to meet, the people would have been deprived not only of practically all the improvements which have been made for the past four years in the way of addi- tional parks, school grounds, lights hre plugs, permanent viaducts and modern jail, but must perforce have suffered far more than they would have suffered from poor highways, unkept and dusty; In shortened school terms, in intolerable san itary conditions. due to uncollected garb- age and the like, well as loss of that reputation for physical attractiveness and financial credit which constitute the chief assets of modern city.
 MT. Weakley would have had the Dc ople of Birmingham suffer all these things for the past four years without hope of relief.
 Has a Remedy for Ills
 But he says he is going to remedy all this.
 "Well, he is going to furnish the city with an economical form of govern ment,' and that is why he advocates what is now known as the five commits sioner bill now pending in the legisla- ture and which will be later on sub mitted to the people,
 But how does he figure that five commissioners, drawing salaries az gregating 1000 year, is a more eco nomical form of government than three commissioners authorized to draw $21,- 0oO but actually drawing only $1S.000 a year?
 He says he thinks the salaries now are too high. and that there are too many men drawing salaries
 "In what school of learning or ex- rerience did he acquire the delusion that three Is more than live, and l 8 more than 21?
 He says his tax equalization bill will give further relief. Tax equalization sounds good It is good when 1t is hon estly and sincerely accomplished. But Birmingham needs more income and