The age-herald., 1897-09-05

"When he constdtutin if Alabama was framed" said Mayor Evans, "a city the size of Birmingham was not contem- plated. Mon gomery, Mobile and Selma were the only cites considered, AS far as the right to levy tax is concerned Bir- mingham was classed with the villages of the state When Birmingham first be- gan to grow the dama ging features of this law were readily apparent. The cSy ulas grown deeper and deeper in debt each year until now tn bonded debt is S161O O00 the int srest on which amounts Ito S95,100 per year. Tn my message gave in detail Lhe arrangement made with the Steiner Bros. to relieve ihe city of a part of this interest for peroid of five years Of the toal amount of $95,- 100 S52, 800 will be wi.hhsld annually for five years and tackled on to the princi- pal. This contract was made in 1895. The principal will be increased $20,700 alt the end of the present year. It will be observed by this thal. the city is pay ing per cenI-. interest on $101, 800 worth of past due coupons and that the amount is increasing at the rate of almost S5,OO0 per mcnI h. Wftthout relief before the end of the arrangement with the Steiner Bros the city will be in the worst possi- ble condition, financially
 LAS stated in my messa ge, there is but one apparent relief. There is a possi- ble remedy-an1 only one-and hhat is increased constitutional power of taxa tion. This question of a constitutional amendment to allow Birmingham to in- crease the rate of taxa!ion has bsen sub- miJed to the voters of the state twice before and each time it failed. I think itlnis failure was due to simply want Of interest in Birmingham. The citizens of this city indorsed the arrendmen't' by large majority, bus The people of the state manifested but Il tte interest one way or the other.
 Notwithstanding the demand for a constitutional convention that the or ganic laws of the state might, in meas ure be framed to meet the demands of the people, the last legislature refused to submit the proposition to hold such a convention to the voters of the state Through the efforts of the present city administration, the legislature passed an act submitting to the people an amend ment granting the city the right to levy a rate not exceeding one per centum ad valorem. This extra rate, however, if allowed, can only be used to pay the in- terest upon the bonded debt, and estab- fish 8 sinking fund to meet the principal at maturity. The people of the state will vote on this amendment at the regu- lar August election in 1898. It is no easy matter to get the people of the state to vote on such question, but I believe the amendment will receive enough votes to make it law"
 Speaking in this connection, City Attor- ney Lowe said "The constitution of the state limits the rate of taxation by municipalities to one half of one per centum of the value of the property as assessed for state taxation during tha preceding year. except that for the pay ment of debts existing at the time of the ratification of the constitution, and the interest thereon, an additional rate of one per centum may be collected
 Birmingham had no debts at the time of the ratification of the constitution. Her debts have been since incurred, principally on account of the construc- tion of streets and sewers She. there fore, Is restricted in the matter of taxa tion to one half of one per cent.
 Mobile and Montgomery, on the other hand, have the right to levy, and do. in fact, levy a. very higher rate. How ever, the last general assembly passed an act to submit to the people of the state at the next general election. an amendment to the consiution O authorize Birmingham to levy an additional tax of