Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-23


 of street tax on the 18th of April, but for the figures. For the first seven'months of 1894 the records show that there were TIC poll taxes collected; that for the same period in 1895 there were "A poll taxes collected according to MT. McCartin's own figures. That for those first seven months of 1894 there were collected 1147 licenses and for the same period for 1895 there have been collected about 1575, and for the same period of 1894 there was $994 street tax collected. When l was released from the collection of street tax on April IS I had collected up to that time S635. You will no doubt remember that last year you had a special officer for license inspector, one for street tax col lector and salso one for making mer- chants assessments and during that. time you had one poll tax collector and part of the time one or more deputies. I think it a great injustice to me in view of these facts to charge inefliciency, but will merely submit the figures for your consideration. I am also severely crit icised by MT. McCartin for asking Tor a pass over the Louisville and Nashville railroad. I don't know that 1t was crime to ask for a pass. But to the facts: Some time about the 26th of July I asked MT. Duncan if he could get me a pass. He replied that he didn't know, but that the company was getting very strict about issuing passes, but asked me to write him a letter asking him to do so, and at the same time asked me II I was clothed with police power. l re- piled that I had authority to make ar rests for violation of the license scned- ule. Some time later l came to the oHlce. MT. Meade was acting mayor at the time, when I casually remarked to NIT; Meade that I wished that he would get me a pass over the Louisville and Nash vile railroad for my vacation. He sald that he didn't like to put the clty un- der obligations to the railroad, put sat down at the typewriter and wrote the letter for me. MT. Duncan returneu 'iit letter to me on the same day that IL was posted, I think, with the following question asked: Are you clothed with police power?" I replied that l couid make arrests and returned It to nm. The letter was returned to me witn tne following indorsement: Quite a nice rel low. w J. D. below which was wrlt- ten the following:
 "What can he do to favor us?" Signed "W. M. N" The corner of the sheet was turned down and the following words' l think, were written: What can ne IaVor replied substantially, That I knew or nothing that I could do except that Il could make arrests for city laws MT. McCartin says there were two letters' but 1 only sent one, with the additions as noted above. Now, you will remember that the garnishments were filed on July 25, according to Mr. McCartin's own statement, and he says that my notes bear date July 26 and 27, and l Will say that the garniShmentS were served on July 30, and on July S1 MT. Duncan re- marked to me that it was unfortunate TOT me that had served the garnishments before had gotten the pass. 1 left town on August 1, 1895, and up to Il o'clock Of that day didn't know whether was go- ing to get the pass or not. About Il o'clock, possibly little later, he tMr. Duncan) told me they would not grant the pass, but. said he had recommended it. That is all I know of the epistle I will ask if you think the garnshments were filed because l failed to get a pass from a railroad company from the facts above stated? MT. McCartin says he finds that the employees of no other rail roads were garnisheed. That is true, but if he had pushed his investigation in the right direction he would have found that I garnisheed seventy-eight employees or the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company on May 25, and on June "A l garnisheed four men in the employ Of the Birmingham Rolling Mill company, and on July 22 twelve additional garnish- ments were issued against the same com pany out of the court of I. H. Benners, justice of the peace, and he would also find that I brought three garnishment suits before Charles J. Martin, justice of the peace, on May and June 5, respec- lively. He says that one man l gar nisheed was dead. 1 am sorry. I hope the garnishment didn't kill him; but in all seriousness, such a thing is possible. A man could die after garnishment was served and may have been in this case for all I know, MT. McCartin didn't say. Now, as to persons who happened to be out in the country in different places l have a word to say. Under a ruling laid t,, laftn to the tax collectorof this county he says that a man owes his tax at the place where he was when the taxes should have been assessed. That being the case these men that claim that they lived out of the city now are clearly liable to the city for their poll tax if they were here at the time the assessment should have been made.
 In conclusion will say that asked MT. McCartin for the original charges, which he presented and read last night. He re- -plied that l could get them. I told him I wanted them then. but he did not give them to me and I will say that I have made an effort to get them today with out success, so I have been forced to use a newspaper copy in framing my reply. If I have overlooked any criticism it has not been intentional, for court search ing investigation, and in view of the facts set out in this investigation, l think MT.
 
 tice.
 Alderman McCartin-Did you make any statement to MT. Duncan that you were sorry you had ordered the garnshments so soon?
 MT. Harris-I don't think it if I did
 Alderman Harrington-Didn't you serve notice on the four rolling mill men to pay their pol tax?
 MT. Harris-I did.
 Alderman Harrngton-These men say you got their names from the city direc- tory and had them garnisheed as an ex- ample so that others would come up and pay their taxes.
 MT. Harris-I served notice on these men, and they agreed to pay their taxes on July 15. l never saw them any more, and had the garnishments issued.
 Alderman McCartin-If this is out of order. Last night 1 made charges against Mir Harris with reference to the Louis vile and Nashville railroad men. He has made his answer l have the men, whose names were published in the paper this morning, and want them examined and let MT. Harris or his representative con- duct his defense.
 Alderman Kettig-What will if cost