The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-05-17
NO ACTION TAKEN. BY JUNIOR CHAMBER.
 ON BOND QUESTION

Ina Junior Chamber of Commerce did not go on record as favoring or opposing the proposed s7.oo0.ooo bond issues which are to be voted upon Monday when called Into special session last night but very en- thusiastio and instructive meeting was held. presided over by PrNident Charles ". Allen, Jr., and In which number of spirited and very in- teresting talks were made on either side of the question.
 The motion of Meryyn H. sterne that the junior body withhold any united action either for or against the bond Issues was adopted unanim- ously. and the meeting was thrown open to a general discussion, and a very heated one, by favorites and op ponents of the issue.
 Presenting a plan by which the three mills of additional tax for schools without the issue of bonds, but school warrants instead. sold by the city board of education in antici- patton of the increase in taxes, was proposed by Mir. Sterne. which also dIoWtu 1oT tAt COItpitNlOH OI lHc elementary school program, but the allayance of the high school build ing program for at least four years.
 It was shown that in four years the three mill tax issue would net $1,sS0,- 900; that the $1,0o0, 900 for high school purposes should be spent by the issu- ance of bonds already authorized; that the elementary school program could be completed with the expen- allure of s1,s0oooo as planned, and the $1,00o,00o of bonds already pro- curable, considering the fact, too, that II elementary and high schools plans have been drawn for their con struction in the near future. This would eliminate the high school pro- gram.
 Only 14 percent of the total school population go to high school and so percent of these will be adequate ly taken care of in the Ensley high school, John Herbert Phillips high school and the woodlawn school 1t was shown.
 With A debt now outstanding of over s11.o00,o0 as aginst a county bond indebtedness of s5,0oo,ooo and state debt of 5000, 900. 1t was urged that Birmingham's Indebtedness was already uncomfortably high, and that since our annual expenditures for education had increased from $515.- 900 in 1917 to S1,270.0o0 in 1921, the feasibility of the three mill tax pro- gram was increased
 Crawford Johnson. Jr.. then pre- scented figures compiled after con ference with Dr. c. B. Glenn Mon day night in which he contended that the building maintenance pro- gram of the board of education would at the end of 30 years under the proposed plan leave a surplus of s909,S75 after tho completion of vocational schools, high schools, el- ementary schools and the adequate maintenance of the same. The con struction under his plan was at the rate of two larger schools a year
 Frank Spain then urged the mem bership to be confident of the future of Birmingham and not to try to cir cumvent it's growth with figures, but that the Junior Chamber was a young mems organization and should be permeated with the spirit of youth. vigor and optimism for the future of Birmingham and support the bond issue.
 Joseph Mudd then gained the floor and emphatically attacked MT. Spain's argument. stating that he endorsed MT. Sterne's proposal of avoiding the heavy bond issue by increasing taxation, but that going head over heels in debt was a diff ferent and more serious matter. MT. Mudd also attacked the bond advo- cates of the wild and unfair propa- ganda they had spread among school