The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-07-30

Jefferson county IS facing a difficult situation, according to
 many prominent business and
 professional men.
 This fact was brought about by the failure of the county to dispose of
 $2,00o,00o worth of county road con struction bonds, they declare. In their opinion the thing to do at this time is to quit deploring the situation and get busy solving it.
 Practically all clubs and civic organ izations in Birmingham will take up the question and discuss it with their boards of directors
 At o'clock this morning the board to discuss the report of the advisory committee submitted to the board at | it's meeting Wednesday. Several mem bers of the board are in favor of ac- cepting the report and stopping all road work until the county bonds can be dis posed of and the road situation met Others are in favor of continuing the work, as they are of the opinion that county post dated warrants can be sold which will enable the county to carry on this road programme as mapped out several months ago.
 DIFFICULT SITUATION One of the best posted men in finan- cial circles, speaking of the county road bond issue matter, says: "A diff cult situation has arisen. It will be solved by sane, hard headed, co o-opera- tive action on the part of the county administration and the big men of the county, not by wild talk of bank ruptcy." This gentleman, who is familiar with financial affairs, claims that the pres ent situation is primarily the result of monetary conditions prevalent throughout the world, and declares that "the credit of Jefferson county has always been high"
 Ira F. Randall chairman of the Jeff ferson county division of the Retail Merchants Association of Alabama, stated the report of the advisory com mittee answered fully the questionnaire sent to the board by this organization, with the exception of the revision or the contracts for the sale of $2,0O0,0 900 worth of bonds. He declares he does not understand why no steps have been taken to hold the bond company to it's contract to buy the bonds. It is appar ent that it had made deposit and first payment on the bonds, which was turned over to the county, he declared. In his opinion, putting up money and making the first payment Is sufficient grounds to hold the company to its contract.
 At meeting of the board of directors of the Chamber of Commerce Tuesday l 1t is probable that some action will be | toI-o tA EAri n n president of this organization. Dr. Percy Woodall, president of the Rotary Club, is of the opinion that the county road work should De continued | if there is way possible.
 CLUBS INTERESTED Presidents of other civic organiza tions and clubs when seen did not care to discuss the situation although they stated the matter would be taken up by them with their respective boards S. R. Batson, county enginer is also consulting engineer for the city of Bessemer, it developed yesterday. Ac- cording to officials of that city, he has been consulting engineer for them for more than a year and that a standard rate of 5 per cent on all his work is paid him. MT. Batson, it is stated, draws all specifications for their work, SupG1vlStS lIle dWdIOlHS Ol SOHtl dS ts and the actual construction work and furnished men to oversee the work. Under his contract with Jefferson county he is supposed to give his en- tire time to county work, it is stated. County officials stated they under stood he did this work.
 About three years ago the attention of the board was called to the fact that Mr. Batson was doing outside work He was ordered to cease all outside work, it is said, and he promised to do so.
 Mr. Batson has at the present time a contract with Bessemer to supervise approximately $3o0000 worth of paw ing. At the rate of 5 per cent he is to receive for this work $15.00o. when the work is completed This paving is to be constructed from funds derived from the sale of $300,00O worth of city bonds which fell through temporarily because of unfavorable conditions in the bond market which prevented the sale of similar county bonds. County officials stated that while there was no written contract with Mr. Batson prohibiting him from do- ing Outside work he, like all other county employees, was supposed to de- vote his entire time to county inter ests and his salary was intended to cover his entire time.