The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-05-02
LETTERS TO EDITOR
ABOUT THE BOND ISSUE
To the Editor of The Age-Herald.

I realize how reasonable and dangerous 1t is for poor who simply pays taxes on home and spends $2,000 or $3, 1000 each year with the merchants of this city to open his mouth on any public question: such as taxes and bond issues. He is immediately accused of being a knocker, of standing in the way of progress, of opposing public schools and of being a politician and an un- desirable citizen. About all the use certain people and politicians in Birmingham have for the poor men and women is to herd them up.
 Fill them full of carefully prepared propa- ganda, keep actual facts from them, march them to the polls on election day, like many cattle and vote them for measures about which they absolutely ignorant and care less. It is shame to appeal to women and poor people with some of the propaganda now being used in Birmingham in favor of bonds. The poor little child, how many crimes are committed in his name. With this introduc- tion I wish to commend the Junior Chamber of Commerce for taking steps to shed more light in certain places, rather than shut off the light and publicity advocated by the city attorney and others.
 May call your attention to few jokers in the different bond and tax propositions to be voted on May 22:
 1. Fifteen cents on the $1oo, to be used solely and only for the purpose of paying bonds which have been issued or may here- after be issued by the city of Birmingham foy public school building purposes and the in- terest thereon No fool framed this ord- nance, he was on to his job and knew how to rlay the joker" The joker is the four simple words (which have been issued" (we have issued some) This means that the city will commence at to wiring this extra 15 cents tax out of already burdened peo- pie, though the bonds now being agi- tated are never issued or sod Without these four words there could have been no tax collected legally until bonds were sold and interest started.
 2. Five per cent on $5,000, ,000 proposed new school bonds and per cent on $3,O0o.- 900 voted in 1919 makes $s,oo0,O00 school bonds and $4oo,o annual interest. To pay this annual interest of $4oO,000 and retire $S,000, 900 school bonds when they came due, the city commission and board of education proposes to levy tax of $210,000 per year or S19o,oo0 less than enough to pay the interest above, leaving not dime to pay bonds when they fall due Have our "higher ups" been 
 late of Boston, now of somewhere else, or do they "just don't know or care' Where is this s190,o00 shortage in interest to come fromt
 Out of reduction in police department, fire department, health department and street department! Why? Because there IS nowhere else to get it. Why not? Because, with bond issues of S1,0o0,000 for audto- rum, sSo0,oo0 for market, $75o,oOo for library and $75O,Ooo for playground and dance halls our sinking or stinking fund will be burdened to the limit and some citizen is sure to get another injunction to protect us from "wildcat business methods"
 2. Another joker: In 1917 we issue $250,000 school bonds. In 1919 we voted $3,o00,000 more school bonds, only $2,000,- 900 of this $3,o0O,0OO has been issued and the city still has $1,000,000 elementary school bonds to sell any day our board of edu- cation desires to make an effort to relieve congestion in our schools. This money has been available since 1919. We also voted In 1919 S500,000 for library and city hall. Our beloved Dr. Glenn is showing the tender hearted women and uninformed men the slides with pictures of crowded schools and children in garages while this money is lying idle and available. Dr. Glenn may have few children in a garage, but his office occupies the Major -Tutwiler mansion, opposite Ridgely apartments. He is more generous to himself than to your children.
 Another joker: $750,000 bond issue for the purpose of purchasing or acquiring real estate for the site of a free public library and for establishing a free public library and for extending, enlarging, improving, re- pairing, equipping and furnishing the same. Get wise, read carefully, note the joker, "the site of free public library" As usual the people in the suburbs get nothing but the privilege of doing the voting and getting stung. Don't listen to your hired public off cials and their promises Read for your self, promises are not worth a cuss. What does free public library mean. The little letter "a" means much here, If you under stand the English language. As usual the dice are loaded. Why all of this hurry to ram these bond issues through quick? Listen, people here's the answer.
 The condition of our sewerage system has been kept from you. it has to be rebuilt and