The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-07-18
reaching this office tkat this work g forward without further delay.
 NITARY CYCTEM

reaching this office that this Work go forward without further delay.
 SANITARY SYSTEM
 ''The sanitary sewer system in the business districts, designed and con structed more than 30 years ago for city of smaller proportions, has, on ac- count of unprecedented expansion, proved inadequate and has become obsolescent with the result that within few years 8 new. system with' larger mains and greater carrying capacity will have to be constructed in the business district.
 Streets and highways will have to be built and maintained, and all of these difficulties and problems inevitably point to increased expenditures far out of pro- portion to the actual increase in revenue under present constitutional limitations.
 .'The problem of grade separation, by which it is hoped to get rid of deadly crossings throughout the city, will de- mand the expenditude of many thou sands of dollars
 'In tke midst of these struggles them selves of great magnitude, the city was plunged deeper by the decision of the court in the case instituted by MT. T. C.. Mcdonald, relative to the application of the special 5-mill tax. One of its first effects is to require the city to pay in terest out of the general fund, which in terest had heretofore been paid from this special tax.
 Now we'll defined movement is on foot to coerce a pledge from candidates to reduce this special tax from mills to ? mills upon the false theory that 5 mills is not needed and cannot be used l for any purpose except to pay the in l terest on bonds issued prior to 1901 and to provide sinking fund to pay them | off at maturity.
 M'DONALD SUIT
 | And while the Mcdonald suit Is not lyet finally determined, as an appeal Is I pending in the supreme court from the decision of Judge Sharpe, that decision of Judge Sharpe contains a provision | which will be of greatest importance l to future administrations, and Will ] greatly aid in solving our financial | problems.
 Judge Sharpe decided that not only was the special tax applicable to the 1 payment of interest on bonds issued prior to the constitution of 1901, but applicable to the payment of interest | and to provide a sinking fund Tor bonds then authorized by law to be I issued,' including bonds issued ana ! hereafter to be issued to provide means of constructing streets and 1 sidewalks and storm and sanitary sewers, the cost of which. in whole or in .part, is assessed against the abutting property. It will thus be seen that while the interest on certain geu- eral bonds issued since 1901 under rue decision of Judge Sharpe, If afrirme1 . by the supreme court, cannot pc pato out of the special tax fund, 1T this de- cision is affirmed. the time IS not 'ai distanct when storm and sanitary sew CTS and street improvements can be T constructed without assessment ageins the abutting property and interest oi these bonds can be paid from pro ceeds of the special tax and the bonds retired from the sinking fund.
 However, until the supreme cour shall have ruled upon the appeal now
 pending, no such use can be made. Or the other hand. it would be the sheer est financial folly for the administra-
 ton or the city to impair this fund "When the next legislature meets I M will be necessary for the city admin
 istration to prepare and secure the
 passage of far-reaching legislation
 The people will be called upon agair to vote upon permanent financial reliel for the city Owing to tax burdens, tho outlook for favorable decision b, the people Is not flattering.
 CONVICT LABOR
 "Our street department, with it's 20e; miles of highways. under the opera l ton or the pronlpitlOH idWS' mas peSi deprived of the service of convict la bor. The only substitute is free labor and the financial condition of the cit, does not justify the employment of . sufficient number of men to care fol roads, streets, bridges, sewers, cul Iverts and other highways. A larg' 1 amount of machinery owned by tn, i city and purchased for road building ana road maintaining has been lait ] ! a.i6a hacalIsA of lack of finances tt utilize It.
 | "The city owns many beautiful 3 tracts of land suitable for parks. th'
 development of which has been post : poned. from time to time. because Q Hack of revenue.
 My tenure of this office has result
 1 ed in many friendships. have endeav l ored to serve the people conscientious [ ly, fairly. intelligently am not con