The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-02

Mfr. Blackwell of Morgan also ad- dressed the Convention in opposition to the committee report. He did not ta- vor shackllng the State by limiting its power to tax in emergency. He de- plored the failure of the last Legisla- ture to pass the bill which sought to increase the appropriation for Confed- crate soldiers. He declared he. wanted to go on record as fayoring any propo- sition that would permit the State to better provide for These old soldiers.
 Gen. Sanford of Montgomery spoke in favor of tax limit of S cents. He criticised gentlemen on the other side of the question for their charge of "cheap popularity" He said the com mittee could have fixed the limit at 50 cents. The compromise of 65 cents had been reached out of deference to timid members of the Convention. He elucidated,the idea that the proposition was not to reduce taxes but to reduce the limit. He illustrated his argument with several good stories which con- vulsed the delegates with laughter.
 Captain White of Jefferson, spoke in favor of leaving the tax limit as 1t is in the present Constitution. He de- clared that Jefferson County paid as much taxes as all counties south of Montgomery combined save Mobile. The population of these counties, he said is 3s0, 900. The population of Jeff ferson County is 10000. He said that a reduction of the tax limit was proposition favorable to Jefferson County but that in the interest of the whole people he favored leaving the tax limit at 75 cents. Taxes are paid on millions of dollars of property in Jefferson County, which represents no population. When the scourge of epi- denies visits the country, there must be ample money at hand. He said that the attempt to reduce the limit might result in a blow to the education of the pale faced children of Alabama. He admonished the delegates from white counties to vote against the Section as reported by the Committee.
 Captain White concluded his remarks by moving to lay the motion of Mir. deGraffenreid of Hale, on the table. The deGraffenreid amendment sought to fix the rate at 70 cents and was in- troduced Saturday.
 The deGraffenreid amendment was tabled by a viva voce vote.
 MT. Williams of Marengo, moved the previous question on the Section re- ported by the Committee, and Captain White moved to table the entire Sec tion.
 MT. Browne. Chairman of the Com mittee on Taxation, demanded the ayes and nays and Captain White said he joined with him in the demand.
 On an aye and nay vote the motion to table the Section was defeated by a vote of g to 66.
 Mir. Williams of Marengo moved the adoption of Section of the Article, and called for the previous question.
 The 1ahafA an the section was clngG6 by the chairman of the Committee on Taxation, Mir. Browne of Talladega.
 MT. Browne concluded his argument at 4:40 o'clock and the section was then adopted by a viva voce vote. Sev- eral members voted against it and the result of the vote was received with applause.
 The section as adopted reads as fol- lows:
 Section 4. The General Assembly shall not have the power to levy in any one year greater rate of taxation than sixty-tive-one hundredths or one per centum on the value of the taxable property within this State"
 Section of the report of the Com mittee on Taxation was then taken up It relates to the levy of special taxes by counties and gives them local option in taxation for school purposes, provid- ing such levy is submitted to a vote or property owners or taxpayers.
 Dr. Cunningham of Jefferson sent for ward an amendment, which seek to strike out that part of the section re- lating to a vote of taxpayers. He is a member of the Taxation Committee. but said that he and other members of the committee reserved the right to op- pose it. He sai6 1t was against the principle of the Democratic party.
 MT. Browne defended the committee report, and read letter from Louisi- ana, where such a law is in operation. He criticised newspapers which parad- ed the small amount of money appro- priated by Alabama for schools and said the State appropriated more for the schools in proportion to tax values than Georgia.
 MT. Browne was speaking when the Convention. at 5 o'clock, adjourned.