The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-07
VIGOROUS PROTEST MADE AGAINST CLOSING OF DETENTION HOSPITAL

zation was in sympathy with the re- trenching policy of both city and county but that health was the greatest asset. and when appropria- tions for health were reduced or cut off great mistake is being made. If it is necessary to retrench then he suggested that retrenehment be made along nonessential lines
 Frank Spain of the Junior Cham Der of Commerce stated that if the safeguards to health were to be re- moved then it was time to cease funetIoning. Sufficient funds should be appropriated for this work, he stated, and if it is necessary to have holes in the street, less fire and po- lice protection, he would prefer it .o removing the safeguards from the health of the community.
 Mrs. Jacobs stated that she knew everyone realized the importance of this work and that all members of the League of Women Voters whom she represented were advocates O. health. She asked that soma mem. Der of the city commission, the board Of revnue or the board of health or Dr. Bowling state why Jefferson county Is faced with this issue, and why 1t cannot have the same appro priaticn as last year.
 Chairman Ball
 b. C. Ball, chairman of the board of revenue. stated that the board insofar as he knew previous to 1921 has never been able to determine what it spent the money for in detail
 The present board established a cost system so that at the end Of every month it knows what has been spent and an itemized statement Of cost of every department each month
 The main reason why the appro- priation for health was curtained was because the board of revenue last year spent s757.000 more than it took in said MT. Ball. We are told bv law Just what We can collect, and we may collect 90 cents on each $l for general expenses. Then there is a IeVy Of not more than 20 cents for construction and maintenance of roads Of the 50 cents allowed i cents is appropriated to the school tund and then later another act pro Nldes for 10 cents more to be used Tor schools, and then the sanitary commission Is established and per cent of this 50 cents is levied for that. This leaves only 30 cents on each dollar collected for the operation of the county, and in addition to this the county has to pay for all litera- v NeNa III lIlt SCHOOLS.
 This leaves approximately n nor cent of the 30 cents for the eNnenses or the county In 1921 pr. Bowling spent stl,ooO, and the board of reve- nue does not tell him how he shall distribute this money. This year SfS,O00 was appropriated, and we nave left the matter entirely in inc hands of Dr. Bowling as to where the retrenchment would be made in the health department"
 our actions and books are open and We have done what we thought was pest. We have cut the tick eradica- ton appropriation despite tae fact we are facing Jail and $i,000 fine hy ooihg so, as the law requires this ap- propriation."
 Rather Have Deficit
 $. J. Bowie of the Civitan club de- clared that the difference in the ap- propriation this year and last year was s29. .000. and it seemed to him that there should be a comparison of val ues. If the money Is to be saved at the cost of human life 1t seems that yod have magnified money over life" said MT Bowie. T would rather have s2s,000 deficit if that is the only way than 10 curtail health work"
 w. V. M. Robertson. Jr.. of the Com
 
 munity club also favored the contin- uanee of this work. He declpred if the board of revenue and the city lid not continue to fight this dread dis ease they were going backward and they will be held responsible just the same as if they had permi:sed the city to be destroyed by fire because of lack of equipment.
 fr, Lidyd Noland of the Tennessee Coal. Iron and Railroad ccmpany's health department stated that hIs cor poration spent a vast sum of money each year on health work. ana If 1t was good for company, thea 1t was good for the city and count2. Never in nis'ory he stated, had so many people been out of work and in need of free treatment as now and this wolk cannot be discontinued without serious results.
 Favor Continuance
 Others favoring the continuance Of this work were: J. E. Hafsner Of the Bessemer Kiwanis club; Fred Bruns of the Bessemer Rotary club. Mayor