The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-01-08


 23o of the former expenditure for road work has been cut off.
 The cut goes into effect at once and the workers affected will be notified to- day of the action of the board. Some of the free labor camps vii be allowed to finish work started, as will the bridge ] builders, but, according to the board, the reduction will be in full force in about a week, and no more new roads or bridges vii be built at this time. The board plans to keep up the repairs on the present roads with county convicts, who will be established in permanent camps It is the intention of the board 1 to sell about half of the POS mules now owned by the county and purchase mo- tor trucks for use in road work that is at a remote distance from the permanent camps.
 This announcement was made yester- day afternoon following the passage by the board of resolutions setting forth the reasons for the sweeping retrench- ment of expenditures for the county roads and bridges. The resolution recites the facts that many additional burdens have been placed on the county by the legislature of the state and that to save the credit of the county reduction in the cost of operation in every depart ment of the county is necessary. The board has been working on the plan of retrenchment for some time and yesterday completed its plans in the county road department They will lm- medately take up the work in the other departments and in the resolution adopt ed yesterday call on all county officials to cooperate with them in the elimina- ton of all service not essentially neces- sary to their required duties.
 The resolutions follow:
 RESOLUTIONS
 Owing to legislative and other require ments over which the board of revenue holds no control, the present board has been and is now subjected to conditions requiring mature judgment and careful consideration. We contend that no pre- vious board has been surrounded With so critical and exacting requirements. In addition to our having to take care Of loan of $325,000 last February. which : loan We were compelled to supplement, and the refunding of $200000 courthouse bonds. we have had the following con- ditions to arise from legislative enact- ment:
 The redemption of approximately $ooO.- 600 worth of fine and forfeiture scrip. The building of the courthouse and Jail at Bessemer; the expense of equlpplng and maintaining complete additional set of county offices at Bessemer; the necessary loss to the county in main- taining salary system for first two or three years: the repeal of the road tax law, in addition to which we are com pelled to refund that which was col lected for the year 1916 Add to the nf l. sions for our convict department and the necessary and reasonable increase in salaries of all employees on account Of the high cost of living. it is clearly seen that our responsibility is great.
 FINANCES OF COUNTY The board of revenue is by law vested with the authority of directing the finances of the county. We are supposed to keep such a supervision over it's l funds that the county's credit and good name will not be Impaired
 I We therefore feel that the policy of retrenchment which we propose to carry l out will meet with the hearty approval of thinking responsible public, similar l to the approval extended the city au- 1 thorities in their previous retrenchments. 1 In addition to the motive set out above. which is prompted by cold neees- l sity. there is staring us in the face I patriotic duty. The county is subdi- ! vision of the state and national gov- ernments. We are called upon by our government to withhold expenditures ot | all kinds not absolutely necessary, that l we as county may be prepared to meet | such emergencies that may and are la- | ble to arise in the future. The safest | and soundest plan of preparedness on l the part of the county is to have all | financial embarrassment eliminated by | the time duty calls.
 APPEAL TO OFFICIALS
 We have. therefore, decided to con- form to our convictions by eliminat- inr every possible line of work now nerformed by the county that is not Ilegally necessary. We make special appeal to all county officials to scan carefully their list of employees and to cooperate with this movement in eliminating all service not essentially necessary to the performance Of their required duties.
 We are now calling upon all con- cerned to do his best in cooperating with us in our efforts. We ask you to cast aside all selfish and personal requests or demands you are inclined | to make on the board. We must all sacrifice and submit to conditions.
 economize and bear with each other. DUTY TO COUNTY
 |
 Your road may not be worked or placed in the condition you would like
 to have 1t, or the job you now hold
 may be discontinued, but if so. remem-
 ber that we are trying to do our duty
 for the county and government. We
 have decided to abolish at least for
 the time being all free camps We propose to build permanent camps at
 various central points throughout the county and utilize every ablebodiel convict in maintaining our main thor
 oughfares and eliminating for the time
 being all construction of new roads. We feel that the maintaining of pub lie roads by convicts can be more sue cessfully and economically accom-
 plished by the establishment of com
 venient permanent camps. and the use
 of trucks in place of mules and wag-
 ons. We propose to reduce tho clerical
 and other forces to conform to the gem
 oral retrouchment. and we now makA