The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-19
VETO MESSAGE
FROM GOVERNOR
DiSapprOveS Bill TO Exempt Fac
tories From Taxation.
THE MEASURE is UNJUST.
Mills Already in Operation Are Subject
to Taxation, While it is Proposed
to Exempt Those to be
Erected Hereafter.

Montgomery, Ala, February 1s.-(Specia')
The governor sent in two veto messages
to the house this morning both of which
were sustained. They are as follows:
Gentlemen of the House: 1 return to you
without my approval house bill No. 1863.
This bill in effect exempts from all taxation
for ten years all mills and factories that
may hereafter be erected during that peri
3D.
81 have grave doubts as to the constitu-
tionality of the bill Our highest court has
held time and again that when a tax is
laid on any species of property, al property
of that species must be taxed Under this
bill, mills and factories heretofore erected
are taxable, and those to be hereafter
erected are exempt. Factories erected I'M
der this bill would compete with those hero
toforo erected and enjoy an immunity de-
MED to those now in operation.
ut is claimed that this bill should pass
because it would induce capital to come into
the state and enlarge our manufactures.
The trainers of our organic law made no
provision for any such discrimination IN
favor of any industry. II it Is right TO
exempt from taxation property employed
or used in manufactures because 1t will de-
velop our resources, then 1t would be equal
ly right and fair to exempt from taxation
lands that have been cleared for cultivation
and every house erected to shelter the
humblest family in the state. One of the
cardinal principles Of the democratic party
is equality of rights and privileges and
burdens; whenever we cut loose from the
safe mornings of that doctrine; whenever
we embark on a sea of doubtful expedients
to bring in some expected benefits. we shall
find no safe anchorage that can stay legis-
lative experiments.
/ Experience teaches us that the mills and
factories that might be erected under this
bill would chiefly be the result of corporate
enterprise. Our constitution expressly de-
iclares that the property of corporations
shall forever be taxed at the same rate as
the property of individuals this provision
should protect the individual as we'll as the
corporation from discrimination.
at has been and still is the policy of our
state to give the same protection to cor
iporations that Is given to individuals. Inc
greatest security that a corporation can
enjoy, the firmest and most enduring foun-
dalton upon which it can rest Is this guar
antee of perfect equality in the burdens
and benefits of taxation. Any attempt to
evade the burden and enjoy the dement's
may succeed for time, but in the end is
ifraught with danger
"At our last session l gave my assent
to bill exempting cotton factories from
taxation 1 was then advised that South
Carolina and Georgia had such laws, and
derived great benefit from them, and that
| lit was necessary for Alabama to give tne
| Inducements in order to meet this friendly
| competition. 1 find now that neither Oh
| these states have any such laws, and YET
| one of them takes the front rank in all
| the south in that industry. Good faltn
seems to demand that we shall not disturb
| those who have acquired rights under tnat
act.
Our mineral resources are the pride OF
IT. hn tr-nn
| admiration of those most familiar with
them; and whilst every citizen desires TO
see mills and factories erected to develop
| these resources and to give employment TO
labor, we should not forget that for every
acre of coal and iron ore, and Tor every
| laborer engaged in their mining and man-
| ufacture, we have fifty acres of land and
| fifty men employed in agriculture, needing
| quite as much the fostering care OF the
/ state.
"All corporations and individuals, all
factories and farms receive alike the
| protecting care of the state the same Sc
| curity to person and property is enjoyed oy
/ all alike, and the money necessary to up
| hold and sustain the laws that secure TINS
protection should be contributed to all IN
| exact proportion to the value OF their prop
| erty. JOS F. JOHNSTON, Governor
| During tie reading of the message the
members gathered around the clerks desk,
/ and at its conclusion there was loud ap-
! plause.
Another Veto
| Gentlemen of the House:
| 81 return without my approval house III
| No. 91S: TO establish depository for the
| public funds of Shelby county TINS Dill
| requires the county treasurer to deposit all
| the county money with a private banker
| without any security whatever, OF any us
/ erection on his part or that of the county
/ commissioners to discontinue the deposit
| even il they knew it was perious to tue
county. If a loss should arise 1t would ran
| upon the people of the county. You nave
| recently refused to pass bill establishing
| repositories for the state wnere tne ue
/ Dosit was to be secured by state bonds and
i - ......lAlo "a COO ,unu the funds of any