The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-30

position. There never has been a re. duction, if you rely upon the figures of the advocates Of reduction. which they could not prove would be a suc- cess.
 In 1889 some of the best financiers of this state said that 1t was an era of prosperity, and that we could safely cnt down the tax rate to four mills. and add $i0o, 900 to the school fund, and still have q surplus in the Treasury and yet. it was not twenty-four months after that when events indicated tfat there never had been a reasonable ground for a suspicion that they could do that and maintain the honor of the State and provide for it's wants. l beg to Say to some of my friends who perhaps have not investigated the question closely. that there never has been 8 dollar of surplus in the Treas ury of Alabama since Governor Thomas seay went cut of ofiice in December. 1894. You may have . million or two nlillionsP of dollars in the Treasury on January list, but if you have debts that are coming in and which require an exhaustion of that money by the 30th of September 1t is no more q surplus than If I run my hand in my pocket and say am q hundred dollars ahead of the world, when I owe a note four months hence for $500 that is not yet due. My friends are mistaken then about any surplus---
 Mir. Browne-Allow me to make c re- mark. The Committee has not said there was any surplus. They say there Is an actual cash balance that would not be expended as long as the State continued in business, and continued to collect up in october November ard December of the following year what was charged against the cash balance, but that there would be an actual sur plus in addition to that actual cash balance on the 1st day of October. 1902, of some three hundred and odd thous- and dollars.
 MT. Jones (Montgomery)-I am not after the Committee, Mir. President. think their motives have been high and that they have discharged their iuties conscientiousiy, and with the best lights before them, but we have heard great deal in the debate here about surplus in the Treasury and the piling up of money in the Treasury. want to make this suggestion to the dele gates. We cannot foretell what calam- ities may come. When the State here tofore dealt with a deficiency. its Gov ernors went to New York and said url- der the Constitution of the State we have a margin of two or three mills. and here Is resolution of the General Assembly of Alabama pledging the honor and credit of the State to the faithful payment of its debts; but if you cut this rate down to six and a half mills. barely leaving a margin, and any accident or calamity happens. and your Governors go into the mar kets of the world they will say we do not doubt your honor, we remember when you sent gold through the block ade to pay your interest; 1t is not a question Of honor, but you are up to the limit. and the Constitution will not let you so any further.
 Now. it seems to me, without RoinK into figures and details, that we are running risk, if we, put this cast iron limit in our Constitution, of hitting two classes. which God knows no man on this floor desires to hit; that is of cut ting off the one mill tax for the old Confederate soldier, or something of or the one mill tax additional for the public schools.
 MT. Browne-Will the gentleman al. low one question:
 MT. Jones (Montgomery)-Yes sir.
 MT. Browne-Can the gentleman point out one single, solitary error or mis- calculation in the statement published week ago upon which the Commit = tee predicated this reduction?
 MT. Jones (Montgomery)-I think if l mad the figures before me 1 could. but am taking the general observation ana experience of legislators in 1ca,inR With matters of this sort. I remember very well, a gentleman now living in I,owndes County, Chairman of tne Finance Committee. and the gentleman who pushed through the reduction to four mills wa. Just as positive, just as conscientious and far more enthusiastic than the chairman of the Committee oH Taxa tion, that 1t could be done, and that it oousht 10 De done, and they did 1t, and TOT ten years afterwards this State mas been struggling with a deficiencv. and at times almost in abject poverty Thy. MT. President, there was a time when 1t was doubtful whether we could teed the insane, and the deaf, the dumb and the blind. There was a time when 1t was doubtful whether we could get money to pay our own citizen soldierv who were engaged in enforcing the law during long and tremendous turbulent period in the mineral regions. We had to dole out things like a farmer does sometimes. when he has not enough eeAS0S SO AocS GOTH enough 10 do, and he had to weigh it and calcu- late how long 1t will be before he can cut down fodder to feed his stock. She was in that condition. The Legtsla- ture can make this reduction, and they are prone to cut down the tax rate whenever they have an excuse, and while I concede the conscientiousness and earnest desire and ability of the committee, the margin is too close, and, for one, l am unwilling for the reduc- ton to be made without giving my hum ble experience and vote against 1t.
 Nil. Jeklns-I want to make one statement, and I will then yield to the gentleman from Talladega.
 Mir. Browne-The gentleman from Talladega does not desire the gentle man to yield.
 MT. Jenkins-I am not golng to make a speech.
 Mir Browne-I am satisfied of that.
 MT. Jenkins-On yesterday voted aye on the main proposition, expecting the gentleman from Talladega would insist upon the previous question, and then I expected to move to reconsider the vote on yesterday. which was laid on the table. but the gentleman from Talladegs has very generously with drawn the demand for the previous question, and I have withdrawn my demand for reconsidera- tion, and the question will come up on the report of the committee.
 Mir. Watts and MT. Browne sought calling for the previous question.
 MT. Browne-It will not do any good, because I will be asked to withdraw any TnotioO and as said bV the gem