The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-10-11
C|TY'S AREABARS
LIBERAL PROVISION
FOR DEP ARTMENTS
McLendon Explains Stand Of
Commission on BUDGET
For Next Year at
Conference

'Topheaviness," or excessive over
head was assigned by ID. e. Nc
Tendon, president OF the city COM
mission, yesterday, as the cause of
Birmingham's inability to provide for
some of its departments as literally
as other cities are doing. A COM
mittee of physicians representing the
Jefferson County Medical society
called on the commission and urged
them not to reduce the appropriation
for the health department fer the
coming year. They proposed, rather.
an increased appropriation.
Assuring the physicians of the ad-
ministration's sympathy with health
work. President McLendon told them,
however. that a reductit in the APP
preparation under the new budget APP
peared Inevitable. Following earnest
talks by several doctors, President
McLendon outlined the unusual situ-
alton that confronted the Birming-
ham commission in plotting next
years budget.
President McLendon said that 1t
had been urged that Birmingham
was not doing as much by its various
departments as Atlanta and certain
other cities of her size. These peo-
pie, he said. do not realize that Bir-
mingham is spread over an area more
than twice that of Atlanta. and other
similar cities. This means. he said,
that this city must support police
department to care for much more
territory than her sister cities.
Birmingham. with a population of
around 1000, Is scattered over an
area Of SO square miles, McLendon
said. Atlanta, with slightly great
er population, is contained In an
area of 20 square miles.
Eaut naonIo raa1iza oaId ha
dent of the commission, that Birming-
ham is a larger city in area than
Boston, Pittsburg, Indianapolis. or a
number of other great centers,, with
poulations ranging from 100000 up
ward. These cities have assessed prep
cry valuations amounting to from
$500. 900, 600 to over $780, 900,
while Birmingham total wall
uation Is approximately S144000,000.
Moreover. many of these cities levy
taxes on 100 per cent of property wall
uation, while Birmingham is limited
to a go per cent basis. At any rate.
the president pointed out. the total
revenue obtained by these cities Is
five to 20 times that of Birmingham.
This city receives annually something
like 100000 from all sources, while
larger cities. congested into a smaller
area than Birmingham, receive from
Sl0,UOUsOU0 TO SbU,UUU,UOU.
City Is "Growing Boy
Mrs. Mary Echols, commissioner Of
health and education, drew an analo-
gy of the city to a growing boy,
whose coat is toe small for him and
whose garments are hardly calculated
to fit him gracefully" She said
that as health commissioner. she nat
uarally wanted to see as much money
appropriated for that department as
possible, but that. at the same time,
she could appreciate the fact that
all the departments were facing a
similar situation.
President McLendon also pointed
out that the city is growing and
that every department feels the need
of expanding It's work. For this
reason, they are asking for more
mcney. Further, he said. the situa-
tion is aggravated by tho fact that
the present commission has inherited
obligations from former administra-
lions. He spoke particularly of the
$4,000 which the city owes on the
Rainbow viaduct.
Revenue from licenses fer the past
year, he added, was $4,000 under the
amount estimated. Considerable
sums we're lost during the past year,
and have already been lost this year,
in reduction OF street assessments.