Birmingham state herald., 1897-04-09
WHAT AILs IT?

The Montgomery Advertiser, as the public is aware, has been making a hand-to=hand fight on the tax commis- sion law, and what it is pleased to call the Coal oil Johnnies." The ever alert Journal. the Advertisers evening con- temporary. has long been accepted as a very practical newspaper-slow to move, but unlike the srail crawling the pole, never falls back during :he night time. The Journal has been making some fig ures on the tax commission law, and be- ing somewhat of a Biblical scholar, Ed itor Hood no doubt thought that to pluck the mote out of thy own eye. and then thou can see the beam in thy neighbors eye" would enly be carrying out this Scriptural injunction, and it's position would be sustained by another lesson in the good book wherein it says Charity begins at home" Hence, 1t would first sweep around the front doors in its own neighborhood. That such ideas passed through the brain of the Journals editor, of course. is only g. con lecture, but the following figures show one of two things, the Advertiser either made good hit quitting the democratic party and joining the republicans, or It has done most thriving business during these hard times to double the valuation of it's plant. The Journal says:
 It is hardly necessary for he Journal to credit the following editorial para graph. Every intelligent and obserVart reader will readily recognize it as having first appeared in the Journals esteemed morning neighbor:
 "The experiments in back tax grabbing and the inspection of oil are not very popula [ with theD people. One is a refiec- ton upon the honor and integrity of the property owner and tax assessors. while the other loosens the purse strings of the people without bringing any return to the state treasury"
 In it's continual absurd whining about the oil Inspection law and the back tax commission, the Montgomery Morning paper has naturally attracted to itself much attention and, necessarily. invest- gation. What is the motive for it's ire quent walls? Is 1t merely to arouse op- position ,o the state administration? Let us see if there isn't another motive be- hind it all.
 The tax assessors books of the county are open to all A Journal representative took advantage of this fact to see what else ailed the morning paper besides op- position to the state administra tion which is so we'll understood. The tax books contain a bit of information and history that may throw consdera be light on its opposition to any law that seeks to get an honest assessment Wheth- CT past or present.
 In 1896 the Montgomery Advertiser company gave in it's. plant and other property at $10000. This was before the lawmakers of Alabama expressed through the enactment of law a de- termination to have an honest assess ment of all property, and particularly of stock companies. In 1897, one year later, the tax books show that the stock holders of the morning paper had ma- terially changed their opinion as to the that in one year, and a year which has baen it's most disastrous-when it bolted the party and helned to elect a republi- can president, and became practically to all intents and purposes a republican paper. in a community and state where republicanism has hitherto been a stench in the nostrils of the people-its value has increased, in the estimation of its officers, 1T not it's stockholders, from $1000O to $20,000. Isn't that a very good law that doubles the value of property in one short year, and a year that has been most disastrous to all classes of busi- ness-doubles it's value, according 10 the sworn statement of its officers? Is not the law not only good to the county and state Which thus derives increased rev enue from increased valuations. but good also 10 the owners who derive immediate and direct benefits?
 The Journal submits the case without argument. The jury may be allowed to retire without instruction from the bench and render verdict in accordance witb the facts and the law in the case.