The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-17
Statement Made That VOt- ing the Bonds Does Not Mean Increased Indebt-
 edness of the State
DEBT NOT CREATED BY
 PRESENT EXECUTIVE
Defeat Involves the Repudiation of a Just Debt or Reductions in Ap- propriations to Objects That
 Command Support

Prominent Birmingham men, repre-
 sentative of every line of business and
 the professions, are keenly alert to the
 importance to the state of Alabama of
 favorable action on the prosposed
 $1, ,50O,OO0 bond issue which is the ques-
 tion facing the voters of the state in
 the election Tuesday In an able ex-
 position of the real meaning of the bond
 issue, it's causes and the effects which
 must follow, should it be defeated, the
 following points are stressed by these
 advocates of the bond issue:
 First, the voting of the bonds does
 not increase the states indebtedness.
 Second, it merely pOstpones the pay
 ment of part to more convenient
 time. Third, it does not permanently
 provides for its liquidation by 1880.
 Fourth. the debt was not created by
 the present legislature. Fifth, 1t was
 not created by the present chief exec
 utive. Sixth, it was inherited from
 former administrations. Seventh, il
 was incurred mainly for educational
 purposes. which the people approved
 and demanded. Eighth, defeat involves either the repudiatiOn of just debt
 or the reduction of appropriations to objects which command and deserve our sympathy and support.
 STATEMENT TO VOTERS In this statement to the voters, at tention is called to the fact that the accumulated indebtedness of Alabama is about S2,250,0O0. Governor Henderson has assured the people that if bond
 issue of $1,5OO,OOO is voted, the state will be able to take care of the re- maining indebtedness of about s75O,O0c out of current income. To pay the cur rent expenses, and in addition, apply $250, 900 annually out of the income foi the next three years, is. in the opinion of these citizens, all that could be ex- pected. At the same time, attention is called to the fact that for the past eight years, the state has spent approximately | $4O0,O00 annually more than its re | ceipts.
 In reply to the argument or th' bond issue opponents that the presen
 financial conditions can be easily rem edied by an economical administration of the state government, the reply il made that 90 per cent of all the state; J income goes to education, veterans pen
 sions, to state charities, such as deaf dumb blind and insane hospitals. aid ol good roads, and to interest upon exist I ing bonded indebtedness of the state not one item of which can be reduced without either dishonor on the ont fD l1a eral welfare on the other.
 COST OF GOVERNMENT The remainder of the states incom: represents the necessary cost of tho states judicial system and of the ex- ecutive department. If all this 10 pet cent were eliminated which of course is obviously impossible. it is showr that the state would still be in practi- calIy the same condition it now is. The amount of money spent for all pur- poses by the state of Alabama is rela- lively low when compared with the ex- penditures of other states. For exam pie, Nebraska, a rural state with a mil llion less population than Alabama, spen1 for education alone, million dollars
 
 combined, spent more for education thar Alabama did for every purpose, and al least twice as much for education as die Alabama for the same purpose. A lon2 list of other states proving the samC contention bears out the assertion that the expenses of Alabama are lower thar other states of the same class.
 In reply to the argument that thu expenses of the government are mucf , greater than they were four, eight an 12 years ago, attention is called to the fact that Alabama at those periods wa: giving nothing for good roads work was paying much less for veterans pensions and much less for education than now, in spite of the fact that edu cational appropriations of this state arc still much lower than others of the same population.
 Those who signed the statement ad vocating the bond issue were w. w Crawford, L. Sevier, Charlen E. Rice w. s. Brown, Thomas T. Euey, W. c Gewin, P G. Shook, Arthur Wellborn l J. D. Rosenberger, w. c. Radcliffe, Hil Ferguson, Jacob Burger, E. H. Cabaniss l Sydney J. Bowie, William D. Jelks, c C. Nesmith, E. l.. Brown, A. c. Howze l Sterling A. Wood, B. L. Wyman, JohI 1 H. Frye, Crawford Johnson, J. Franl
 Rushton, E. M. Tutwiler G. E. McCor
 mack F. B. Fowlkes, E. J. Smyer, Bert
 ram Jacobs, R. M. Cunningham, Loui: | Pizitzs J. J. shannon, T. H. Aldrich George G. Crawford Walker Percy, A | B. Vandegrift, w. A. Porter.