The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-05-17
LETTERS TO EDITOR
THE BOND ISSUES
To the Editor of The Age-Herald:

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 The Junior Chamber of Commerce, with no axe to grind, propounded questions to the city commission about the bond issues which re- quired the questions and categorical answers thereto to be printed at and the same time.
 For the purpose of misleading the public, MT. McLendon allows two employees of the city, MT. Glenn and MT. Josselyn, each thinking his job the only one worth while, to make disjoint- ed statements followed by his own and MT. Har- risons several days after.
 Here is the answer, in part,\ given by Mir. Glenn to the question as to whether any archi- tects, fnanciers or builders were consulted: "It is the opinion of the board of education that the people have placed upon them and not upon any other individual group of individuals (Junior Chamber of Commerce) the responsi- biity for the management of the schools"
 We know that for 25 years the board of edu- cation has been close corporation, and that the people haven't thing to do with their election or placing responsibilities thereon; they came darned near getting their election into "dirty politics. as ex-Presdent Taft styles it, but the board got the veto of Governor Kilby. Why and how?
 And here comes Mr. Josselyn, in his waggish way, and answers question by asking other, Do we think the library board would go off half cocked?a And note here, "Do we believe that he of wide reputation in library profession, knows not his business?"
 As Artimus Ward remarks, if you don't blow your own horn, who will
 The old armory could be used for library purposes if any real need for larger quarters, and the old fire engine apartment for storage. If $60,000 year can't secure better pictures than the dismal, doeful and dolorous ones shown by the librarian, then cut the sum in two. Here are facts why we can't afford bond issue now:
 In this generation there bond issue to build the old Tweu.5 first street bridge, which has already beef reladYad, without dollar of it's cost being yet paid although the interest has exceeded it's cost. There is city hall and courthouse to be ir.1ked in five years, each with bond issue wlere the interest will exceed the principal, and the bonds yet due.
 Jefferson county issued $2,o00,000 in road bonds short time ago, and last week illegally used half of it to pay off a bank note given for general expenses. Birmingham and Jef- ferson county are one.)
 Birmingham has out about $1500, 900 in street improvement bonds, costing abutting property, when not paid in cash, per cent in- terest. Ths species of highway robbery, not known in other cities, must have been in the mind of Frank Nelson, when he sad some time ago in The Age-Herald, that in certain parts of the city homes were not worth owning.
 On my home place in Fourteenth avenue, south, while my pockets were picked of $1 1900 for street improvements during several years back, which belonged to the city. If 1 hadn't had the cash in my pocket then the robber would have required notes at per cent in- terest, which he could discount for 3-4 per cent. After paying this sum I thought was through, but the schemers came along and without my knowledge or consent, reimproved Nineteenth street, and I have bill of $805 for these reimprovements that havn't en- hanced the value of the property dme." MT. McLendon announced several months ago that there past due street improve ments amounting to $500, ,O0O, and that he was going to proceed to sell all property, homes in cluded, for payment of the same, as the city needed the money-very likely, with budget exceeded by $92,0oO at the time.
 No more bond issues till Mayor B. M. Allen and city council take over the city next January. GEORGE H. ROGERS.
 Birmingham, May 16, 1922.