Birmingham age-herald., 1895-01-20
IT'S THE PEOPLE

WHO ARE STILL TO BEAR THE BURDEN. To the~Age Herald:
 l have been for some time watching the movements of those persons who have taken 1t upon themselves to save Birming- ham from complete ruin, and at the same. time preserve certain favored der artments in the enjoyment of all the good things to which they have been accustomed.
 It will be remembered that prior to the census taking of 1890 we always claimed a population anywhere from 50, GOO to 100 ,G00 people, the claim depending entirely upon the collaboration Of the occasion or the gullibility of the audience.
 Now there was Q great growl and grum- bic, when after all the scraping and glean- ing throughout the then city limiis, the enumerators could only find about 2o, ,000 souls.
 think it is begi ming to dawn upon cer- tain people in this city that we have been running the machine at rate of speed en- trely too great for the capacity Of tIe cor poration as at present constructed.
 Birmingham enjoys the possession of resources unequaied by any place in the whole south, out she is environed by cir cumstsnces that will work her ruin unless relief is secured, and that at a not very dis tant day. Rsllef through au amended state constitution must be secured. AS has been often truly stated, there is not city on the face of the globe of even 20,000 pop ulation running a municipal government on fifty cents tax on the dollar.
 It is true we have added area and popula- ton, but the city has also shouldered ad- ditionaI deots and governmental obliga- tions. The thiog is just this: It the peo- pie who own property here are not willing to be taxed to make a city, the sooner iGis known the better. The farce of making schemes and planning this, that and the other project to place the burden of taxa tion upon those who rent houses and work their lives away on salary or days pay is drawing toward the last act.
 The statement that a levy of g. mill tax for school purposes would be unconstitu- tional contains no more legal wisdom than the statement that 1t will be legal to make local aassessments for sanitary purpOee5 and fire protection under police regula- tions. It is still tax. h the latter ease the burden is shifted directly to the shoul- ders of the consumer, or, in other words, it is another case of that poor devil, Jones, paying the freight. The 2-mill tax Wcaid fall directly upon the property of Rt1lfty, while, by the other route, Jones gets bug gard going and coming.
 There p not any law in either proposi- tion. 1t IS merely another ehnI t 1T of dodg- ing to escape the burden of government. The man who secures a little fire insurance on his household plunder or on his life will be called on to put up the "extra frefght. ' It sounds very much like the republicans talking tariff.
 think we lad best get a move and se- cure constitutional convention as soon as possible and get relief, permanent re- lief for Birmingham. It is not just or good policy for any city to impose an occu- patton or assessment plan taxation. It drives people away and is contrary to re- publican institutions. Birmingham will not go to the eternal bow-wows n year or two, in which time the proper relief can bs secured. If the 2.mili tax is uconstitu- tional, so also is the job lot of local assess ments for this or that municipal depart- ment. Birmingham neeis help, and from those who are willing to get down in tne mud and put their shoulders to the wheel. Yours respectfully, A. c. LowERY.