The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-18
M'LENDON FAVORS
JOINT COUNTY AND
CITY GOVERNMENT
Commission Head Presents
Financial Ideas Before
Real Estate Men

Creation of a Birmingham county,
saving 100000 year, seiling
bonds at lower interest rates, city
and county consolidating many eX-
penses in a jointly owned building,
abolition of dual boards and the sal-
wage of s15O,o00 annually IN lost
automobile licenses, We're the hisn
lights of the talk President -. II.
set Birmingham realtors thinking
about Thursday afternoon IN the
Tutwiler hotel.
Recalls Days As Assessor.
After making himself at nome
with friendly references to the day
and time when he used to scrap
with the realtors when me
speaker was tax assessor of
Jefferson county, Mr.. McLend1n
fired his first shot Win .ne
calm announcement that if Birm1ns-
ham could save one-half per cent
on the interest the city is paying Tor
its bonds now the sum Would rep
resent 10 per cent OF the presel.
outgoing interest, or sutticient
ant total in municipal bonds in pc
Rod of 40 years. He visualized the
saving desired by saying that the
one-half per cent additional the CITY
is forced to pay has amounted 10
sS50,0o0 since 1915, which, when COM
other cities, is that much dead loss
Citizens should Gake some eff
fort" Mr.. McLendon said, TO bring
to pass a change in this highly I'M
desirable situation. The question
should be placed before the legis-
Iators for handling at the next SEES
sion of the state lawmakers. 1t
will require a constitutional amend
ment. The constitution should be SO
amended. Authority should be given
for sufficient taxation. Other cities
arc provided with unlimited taxation
and so enjoy a lower rate on thei1
Mr.. McLendon called attention to
another improvement that is now
becoming imperative. the handing
of municipal bonds serially. AS they
come due now. he said. the city may
be called upon to finance the can
collation. of but 100000 one year,
and Just as likely 100000 the next.
upsetting city finances in way that
few who are not charged with mn-
nicipal affairs ca nrealize. This
matter. also, Mr.. McLendon said.
needed the careful attention OF the
Legislature.
Boost for Joint Building.
He again drew attention when ne
began discussing the proposed city
and county jointly financed admin
istration building. 1T will save at
least a third of the present expense,
he said, doing away with many
boards now operating in duplicate
"I am inclined to think it advis-
able" Mr. McLendon continued. to
have a Birmingham county. Maybe
that is the best solution of many d1f-
ficulties. Many of the larger cities
have saved untold expense In becom-
ing, themselves. counties"
At this point in Mr.. McLendons
talk w. B. Leedy interjected that
the Optimist club had been carry
ing on an investigation and es1-
mated that the savings realizable
from a getting together of the city
and county, Is in round numbers
100000 a year.
Mr.. McLendon said complete
analysis of the subject had not yet
been brought out by the city, but
the work so far showed saving oil
operating expenses of at least third
of the money now spent.
Turning to the subject of license
collecting, Mr.. McLendon said there
were approximately 10000 automo-
resenting a total value of some $10,-
O00, 900. / in this regard. he advised
that it be incumbent on officials
issuing auto tags that none be Is
sued unless the applicant also pre-
sents his or her license, in this way
insuring the procuring of the now
neglected licenses. At least $780,
900 revenue is being lost as matters
are handled now, he said.
Mr.. McLendons talk ended in a
round of pronounced applause and
the points he had brought out Were
the general topics of discussion
when the meeting adjourned.