The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-24
Teachers Will Enjoy Christmas

The teachers in the public schools of Ala
bama have been given the opportunity of
enjoying a merry Christmas. Up to the
close of business last night the auditor had
issued warrants to the county superintend-
ents of education for the amount of $204,-
529. Ga to be distributed among the teachers
for the quarter ending December 80, 1899.
The warrants were issued to all of the SUI
perintendents who sent in their applica-
lions, together with estimates, and very
few of them have failed to get in the esti-
mates.
Up to the close of business today the
state auditors book showed that the re-
ceipts in the treasury since October 1. 1899,
had been 1884 ,22S, against $445,540 for the
same period last year. The receipts this
year include the $4,000 collected for the sale
of the university lands. The disbursements
since October l, 1899, have been 5,622. The
disbursements for the same period last year
were $500, 719. The increased amount of the
disbursements this year is largely occasion
ed by the paying out of more school money
than was paid for the same period last
year.
Senator c. w. Thompson Of Macon, was
in the city today en- route home from
Montevallo. There Is a very strong proba-
bility that Senator Thompson will be a cam
didate for congress in the Fifth district.
Report on Montgomery Tax Collector
port with the governor on the condition of
the books of e. S. Armstead tax collector
of Montgomery county. The examiner cites
a great many errors in the books, largely
clerical. and after granting all credits asked
for, except some escaped polls, ne makes
the following recapitulatjon Of the amounts
due the state and county~by the collector
from 1897 to the present date:
To amount due on account of
taxes 10 9Zlo
To amount due on account OF
interest ........ 10y Zz.l0
To amount due on account OF
special taxes .......... 9S3
To amount due to account OF
interest ............. Z23
To amount due on account OF
poll taxes 49,. 4l359
To amount due on account OF
interest ........ ...... l'o.5o
Totals due ........ ......Sio9''o *oio.o'
To amount due without inter-
est 49,. ...... -. ............ .Sol5.of
To amount due with interest,". 1878
Total due with accrued inter
est. .... ...... ........ ..........Slo'5o
To amount due county .......$l4O.oo
Interest ............ "'Vf
Total due county, interest
included ........ ....Sioo''H
Total due state and county ..$S96.02
..These amounts are due on account of err
rors on the assessors book, over slgnt IN
reporting escapes and insolvents collected,
and clerical errors. They are fully set forth
in exhibits A to G, inclusive, attached to
and asked to be made part of this report.
This examination reveals the fact that
great diligence is exercised in collecting and
making prompt settlements of property
taxes as we'll as highly commendable eff
fort in collecting and reporting large
amounts of escaped property taxes; but
7 regret to report that an inspection of the
poll books and the list of insolvent polls al
lowed the collector as credit show that
the same diligence is not used in the col
lection of the regular assessed polls for the
seven years covered by this examination,
there has been assessed on account OF poll
taxes S63, 90. OF this amount 81 ,S1250 was
allowed credit as errors in assessment, leav-
ing $61, 3S9 so, of which a large amount. $751;
1900. was allowed as insolvent, and only
$24 252 so was collected. 1t will be seen
from these figures that considerable more
than one-half of the assessed polls OF Mont
gomery county are insolvent.
sThe list of insolvents allowed for each
wear show the names of many prominent
citizens subject to poll tax, and who are
assessed but annually returned as insol-
vent These lists contain the names OF
LAWYERS doctors, preachers, brokers, drum
mers. clerks, railroad employees. society men
and, in fact, nearly all professions are rep
resented When you consider the fact that
there is nothing exempt from poll taxes
there can be no reason assigned why the
poll tax fund of this county Should not be
annually increased hundreds of dollars. On
the other hand the collector is entitled to
much credit for the collection Of escaped
polls as shown by the reports for each year.
During the seven years he has collected and
accounted for s5.s7s.oo escaped polls. 4