The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-08
Reports Show $42,00O More Is Necessary to Complete Terms of All the Schools of Birmingham
INSPECTION FEE ON LIQUOR ACCEPTED
 BY FOUR MEMBERS
Street Tax Will Be Held in Abeyance-Board Holds Executive Session on the Situation

Following a lengthy conference
 or the city commissioners yesterday
 afternoon, the statement was made
 that the public schools would be
 Kept open for the full nine months
 HOW the money is to be provided
 was not stated, but it is understood
 the commissioners have determined
 to take whatever steps are neces-
 sary to meet the situation"
 The above statement scrawled in the well known chirography of George B. Ward, president of the city commits sion, was handed to a waiting news paper man at 6:15 o'clock last night fol- lowing prolonged executive meeting of the city commission in which the financial status of the city was the sub Ject of paramount importance.
 None of the commissioners cared to make public statement following the conference, and the noteworthy com ment was made by Commissioner J. D. Truss, who came out of MT. Ward S office first. As his colleagues remained behind closed doors MT. Truss said:
 They're in there oiling up the steam roller to run over me tomorrow"
 AGREE ON LIQUOR INSPECTION
 At the conference the commission agreed to pass the liquor inspection or dinance this afternoon over the oppo- slt1on of Commissioner Truss but the city service law will be held in abey- ance for the time being
 It was decided that it was best to place the liquor inspection tax in opera tion at once, and if that law is suc- cessful and the impression still pre- vails that more revenue is needed to operate the schools, then the city service ordinance will be adopted. However, the city commission is averse to an tagonizing any considerable number of citizens with arbitrary taxation unless the need of the city provide no other course.
 LEVY SUBMITS FIGURES
 A report on the financial standing of the city from Comptroller Levy was before the commission conference yes- terday afternoon and it was conclu- slvely shown to Commissioner Barber that unless special means were pro- vided to raise the needed revenue the schools could not be kept open. It was further impressed on Mr. Barber that the commission, or at least major- 1ty Of the commission, was extremely averse to discussing it's acts and mo- tives in the newspapers on the grounds that the public was mainly interested in results and not in futile debate,
 It was also impressed on Mr. Bar Der that 1t would take about $420O0 in addition to the present funds to oper- ate the schools the full nine months.
 After all these things had been full ly impressed on MT. Barber, means were then discussed of raising the needed funds It was then decided to pass the liquor inspection ordinance this afternoon. This decision brought MT. Truss to his feet with a stirring protest. However, by a vote of to 1 the conferees decided to take immedi- ate action on the liquor ordinance. This vote will stand today, as Commission CT Truss will vote may" this afternoon and probably make a speech explain ing his action.
 HOLD UP STREET TAX
 As for the street tax" known off cially as the city service ordinance, it occupied much of the time of the com mission conference and finally in a spirit of compromise it was decided to hold the measure in abeyance for the time being. If in a few weeks time it is decided that not enough rev enue is in sight to keep the schools and other departments of the city in operation, the "street tax" will be passed. The commission conferees showed disposition not to ride rough shod over the protest of any citizen against the proposed ordinance.
 As for the liquor inspection ordi- nonce there has been little public pro- test against 1t. It therefore will be written in the city code this afternoon and will take effect within 10 days.
 It was also decided at the confer epce yesterday afternoon that the liquor inspector will be paid not more than $500 per year. His assistants will be paid $70 month.
 There was no discussion as to who would secure the appointment of liquor inspector, but Commissioner Barber made the significant statement last night that it was a matter for the board to decide.