The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-11
CITY FUNDS TOP
 EXPENSE FQR YEAR
Bessemer Report Shows 0p- erations S50,000 Less
 Than Income
BESsEMER BUREAU l
 THE AGE-HERALD !

bGRSemeT,
 Reduction of expenses of the past Wear and an increase in municipal revenue for the year 1923 is shown in the audit of the city books, just completed by James A. O'Shangh- HessY and Company of Birmingham. During 1923 the city's expenses were reduced from s17S,219 to. Sl49, ,49S, a reduction of more than $2S,000. The ;encitor attributes this to careful mana cement by officials, and the cutting down of the budget from the Ire Yious year.
 The city's income for this period ircaSed s53,339 over 1922, The in- e,@se for the city for the past few } tfs has been: 1920, $129,0O0; 1921,
 4l.00o; 1929. S145,000. and 1923, 5lsS.o00. The report shows that the C.N was operated at S5O. 900 less than
 income.
 The bonded indebtedness of the 7 now stands al S49l,000 for public ] p.'ovement bonds and S742,500 for saeral city bonds. The report ,.towsd that the interest accounts and the retirement of these bonds at lbe!r maturlties is being kept up Nilh in accordance with the plan oG.lined in their issuance.
 one item in the report certain to cause comment, 1t is felt, is that Of tapaid taxes The auditors report
  s,aows the following amounts still ude the city. 1918, $244; 1919, s239; l20. S1,444; 1921. $4,027, 1922, S3,929. c, total of S9,905 The auditor Recommends that the city council i ush collection of these claims, this Icing an unusually large amount of Ctlinquent taxes to accumulate. He recommended that the tax be col lcctcd through the usual method of advertisement and sale, as the county proceeds in such matters.
 In Summing up the report the auditor commends the city clerk and the heads of the various departments Tor the accurate records that they gre keeping, and for their official handling of the business coming un- der their direction.
 TO CELEBRATE ARMISTICE DAY
 Armistice Day will be fittingly celebra ted at Bessemer on sunday, when churches will conduct exercises at the morning hour, while a com inunity gathering is to take place at the high school at o'clock in the afternoon under auspices of the Legion post auxiliary, and all civic bodies are to corporate.
 The women's organization here has taken the lead in observance Of the day for the past two years, and it is
 
 bration under the joint auspices of all civic organizations. A special sec tion will be reserved for Gold Star mothers.
 The program is s follows;
 "America;" prayer, Rev. Roy Chandler, orchestra selection. George Bowen, director; "The Sacredness of the Day" Rev B. T. Waites; The Star Spangled Banner" one minute silent prayer for our heroic dead /; vocaI--selected. Miss Phyllis Waites; Talk in Behalf of the American Legion Auxiliary. Mrs. Lacey Ed mundson: "Reminiscences of the War Colonel W. E, Bare: "Over There, orchestra; "The American Legion. II. r. I4ipscomb: quartet Gordon Vail, George Bumgardner, George Houston. w. c. Baty: Why Are We Here? Iton. J. E. Haffner; beredietion' Rev w. P Price: master of ceremonies Commander John E. Golden
 PLAN FOR FIELD DAY
 Big preparations are being made for Field Day to be held at Huey- town school on November 20, to com plete the improvement of the school grounds, and to offer suggestions to farmers as to the best methods of Identifying their home premises. ISperts from Auburn, heaued Dy Russell Briggs will have charge of lhe work, which will be dose under the asupices of the Parent Teachers association and hundreds are ex- pccted to gather to carry out the actual work.
 Invitations have been extended to ihe pupils of other schools of the district and their patrons. and all day affair will be held. It is planned 10 have enough men and teams to carry out complete program of Esrdening in one day and to handle il in way which will be a demons tl;ttion of what can be accomplished by a single community with the help of all the residents
 The importance of tho Field Day is cen when it is stated that this is only the third held by state officials thus far. Experts will watch the progress of the undertaking which days of this nature to be staged else where.
 The women of the community have isGstecd to furnish meals for the work CTS, and hundreds have been enlisted Residents have also volunteered the use of their teams, tools and wa gons
 PUBLIC RECEPTION PLANNED
 The recently completed parsonage of the First Methodist church will be thrown, open to the public Monday and his wife Mill be at home from i to 10 D. m. An informal receptior las been planned, with the women of the Missionary union assisting in the .snterta inment
 Che parsonage is one of the hand