The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-06
Interviews Yesterday Show Difference of Opinion on Other Two Issues Before the Voters
SOME FAVOR ONE, SOME THE OTHER
 AND GIVE REASONS
Citizens From East Lake to Ensley Asked to Tell What They Think of the Propositions

The sentiment of the people of Bir- mingham. both in the old city limits and in the suburbs, is practically unanimously in favor of the proposal to issue $2,oo0.0O0 bonds for. school purposes, according to opinions ex- pressed yesterday by number of leading citizens.
 Almost every man seen had made up his mind on that proposition and was strongly in favor of the school bonds. Regarding the auditorium and the electric light bonds. there appar- ently exists some difference of opinion
 Few are strongly opposed to either of these measures at this time, ap- parently, but large number display reticence about expressing an opin- ion. Many are considering the matter and awaiting further information
 That the city has outgrown its fa- cilities for educating the children of Birming gham. was the unanimous opin- ion of those interviewed on the school bonds yesterday. It is impossible to longer continue the temporary make shifts in the way of old residences and other rented structures which have been lSsed recently to help out the sit uation. Arrangements must be made to take care of the still further increase which is certain next fall and winter Birmingha ham, to properly grow and de- velop, must have the school facilities which will be provided from the is suance of the bonds
 The sentiment of the people inter- viewed yesterday favored the construc- tion of an auditorium and the issuance Of the auditorium bonds, although some of them stated that they were not yet ready to declare in favor of any one plan for the auditorium. Regarding the electric light bond issue, several asked not to be quoted at this time.
 While they were not ready to state that they were opposed to it, they de- sired to consider the matter further The opnfon seemed to be that the electric light situation was one of con- siderable detail and more or less com- plex and should be carefully studied.
 BEATTY FAvORS TWO
 q am strongly in favor of the school bond issue and the issue of a half mfl-1 I lion in bonds for the municipal light system" said I. C. Beatty, general man. ager of the Birmingham Realty com pany. Since I may be indirectly in terested in the auditorium proposi- tion, I would not care to discuss that matter. I am very strongly in favor of the school issue and the municipal light issue and I am also convinced that both of them will carry by large majorities. We must have more and better schools, and it is only by issu- ing the bonds that we can get the buildings. Our school population is already much larger than we can care for and every month simply makes and develop, we must have this school bond issue
 Likewise. I favor the municipal light bond issue. I think 1t time that Birmin gham takes steps to own her lights, or at least provide the people with competition. Our light and power rates are far too high and this is part ly responsible for keeping out some of our smaller industries. The plants have to pay too much for their power and their employees are forced to pay too high rates for their current II think this electric light bond issue is most important and I believe that it's passage means great forward step to Birmingham"
 GIBSON FAVORS TWO
 J. B. Gibson, well known business man who resides at Woodlawn, was kneely in terested in the passage of the school bond issue. MT. Gibson also declared in favor of the auditorium bond issue, stating that he considered an adequate auditorium one of the pressing needs of Birmingham, if this city was to take it's proper rank as a modern city.
 We must have this school bond issue" declared MT. Gibson T am familiar with conditions in our schools and believe that every one who learns the real facts will support the school bonds. Our city has grown so rapidly that it has been abso- lutely impossible to keep up with the de- mands. We must have many new build ings. Children are now housed tempo rarily in all kinds of rented structures, but even these do not care for all. We must make room for 2000 additional pupils in few months. Lack of proper equip- ment will handicap the school work, and we must remove this difficulty at the earliest possible moment.
 We have realized for several years the need of having a suitable auditorium Regardless of where we build it and what kind of structure it is, we should see that we have one large enough to care for the biggest conventions we can get here. and while we are building one. it should be the equal of the best in the
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