The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-19
WARD FOR ISSUE BUT WANTS IT DONE
 IN BUSINESS WAY
Barber Causes Laughter by Reflecting on Possible Lack of Ability of Com missions Successors
By RICHARD F. LussIER


 Mayor Commissions George B. Ward sought to impress upon his colleagues the advisability of preparing a safe and conservative system of paying the interest on the proposed $500,000 bond issue for the construction of q muni- cipal light plant. Mir Wards conten- tions were that the new ordinance call ing for the election on June should contain a proviso for a sinking and interest fund as primary charge against the earnings of the proposed plant.
 Both Commissioners Weatherly and Barber reared" in opposition to this suggestion, and MT. Ward. desirous of preserving harmony, then stated that he would offer his amendment in or der that his position and ideas be placed on record. There was no sec ond to MT. Wards amendment which follows:
 That ordinance be amended to
 provide a sinking fund of per
 cent annually of amount of bond
 issue from earnings and that an-
 nual interest on the bond issue be
 CeNA
 when made"
 PASS TWO ORDINANCES
 After this matter had been disposed of the commission then passed by a unanimous vote the ordinances calling for an election on June on the is- suance of bonds to the sum of s2,000, 900 for the construction of schools, and in the sum of $50O,0OO for the construc- tion of municipal light plant at an annual interest of AZ per cent.
 Immediately following the announce ment of this vote the city commission CTS repealed the same two ordinances which contained a section calling for 5 per cent interest.
 At all times during the discussion Commissioner Weatherly expressed the greatest anxiety lest some untoward incident might arise that would jeopardize the success of his municipal light plant scheme. This was while Commissioner Ward was making a speech in favor of his contentious.
 What are you doing, George?' questioned Mr. Weatherly. Furnishing campaign material for the opponents of the bonds? The newspaper boys are taking your remarks down"
 T do not want to be quoted" said MT. Ward, "and my intentions are not to hurt the success of your bonds but to help them.'
 Well you can quote me-" said Com missioner Arlie Barber, "the reporters can quote me on whatever I say any time."
 RELIEVES TENSION
 This remark by MT. Barber relieved the tension of the conference, and out of the laughter that proceeded MT. Ward completed his statement in ar guing his point, and in reading, the exchange of telegrams with Dillon, Thompson & Clay, the bond attorneys of New York, and the comptroller of Cleveland, O.
 'You must remember, gentlemen" :" said Commissioner Ward that I am whole hearted in favor of the muni- cipal light plant bond issue. But I desire some sound financing of the matter. I do not want any trivial technicalities to loom up in the flu ture to impair the success of the sale of these bonds or the payment of the interest due on them. In pursuance of this thought. I sent the following telegram to our bond attorneys, Dill lon, Thompson Clay of New York: .' Dillon, Thomson & Clay, New York
 City, N. Y.:
 We are considering $500 900 bond is- sue for light and power plant Please wire your recommendation as to se- rial or sinking fund bond. If serial. how much to be paid each year? If sinking fund, how much per year in order to amortize the issue I am stating to our board that interest and redemption fund can be properly charged only to the light and power plant. Do you concur in this opinion? Please wire fully at our expense. This issue and $2,0O0,0O0 school issue will be placed in your hands for our guid- ance. Answer today.
 '' GEORGE B. WARD,
 President Board of Commission
 ers.
 T received the following answer, which comedies my point:
 New York. April r, 1s1S George B. Ward, President Board
 of Commissioners, Birmingham:
 Answering wire, we always recom- mend serial bonds when possible, but proceedings received from city attor-
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