The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-02

 the Constitution would even his sur plus of optimism Induce him to be- lieve that the loan could have been so easily made.
 MT. Oates-That Is correct. The rate had been. increased a half mill just about the time was inaugurated. but the States credit was so good that they borrowed a half million at per cent.
 MT. o'Neal-wer, 1t was only five or five and a half mills. but if the money-lenders in New York had known that the State had no power to in- crease the taxes under the Constitu- tion, if they had known that the con- stitutional limit had been reached, would ask the gentleman from Tusca- loosa if even his surplus of optimism would lead him. to believe that this money could be secured. That would be the situation we would be in if at any time a deficit should arise and we should seek a loan from the financial centers of the world. They would say You have reached your limit, you can proceed no further"
 Mir. Foster-Was the rate increased after the money was borrowed for that purpose?
 MT. o'Neal-Certainly.
 Mir Foster-I understood the gentle man from Montgomery (Mr. oates) to say that 1t had been increased before.
 MT. O'Neal-It was increased after wards as I remember.
 MT. Foster-I understood 1t the other way, that 1t was increased before and not afterwards.
 MT. O'Neal-Now have some figures here submitted to me by one of the most distinguished citizens of the State, one whose familiarity with this sub 5ect cannot be questioned. Total assessments for present
 year. $2s7. 100000 will yield
 revenue. at rate of 1-2
 mills. Of.... ............. .$z,VUZ oVU Bal. estimated receipts come
 from other sources......... 545,0e0 In this Is included every source of revenue, including $150.000 poll tax. which belongs to counties-also special tax of 1 mill each for soldiers and schools.
 Total estimated disbursements. .$2, ,526, ,970 or $20.000 excess receipts over disburse- ments.
 This s2o,ooo will be wiped out by ex- pense of this Convention and $S0,s0o over.
 After adoption of 6 1-2 limit:
 Take estimated assessments at $275,- GOO, 900.
 Tax rate for all purposes, 1-2
 mills will yield. .......... .N, 7S7 300 Bal. estimated receipts must
 come from other sources. 760,00o
 Total ....................... ", 547 ,5O0 To make receipts equal to year 19O0- 1901.
 Where will s7ss.ooo other sources come from?
 Take off the mill each for pen-
 sions and soldiers and you
 have mills or.... ........ .$550, 900 Take off amount pledged as an-
 nual contribution to schools
 and you have. 55O,00 or mills more.
 These two items absorb mills of the States levy and leaves 1-2 mills for every other purpose.
 There is not County in the State that can live on ? 1-2 mill rate.
 If this limit prevails and the special taxes for schools and pAnsiona and special appropriations for schools con- tinue there will still remain $1.4O0.oOO of obligations to be met. Such as $450,- 900 for interest, over $100,00o for State officers, judges and solicitors, $50, 900 in- terest to university and A. and M College, $160000 for Insane Hospital. s60,000 for Deaf, Dumb and Blind and numberless other items. What will 1-2 mills realize on $275. .000, ,000 of taxable property: $6S7 ,000. leaving $713,- 900 to come from other sources.
 Mir. Browne-Wlll the gentleman mind telling us the name of the gen. tleman whose figures these are:
 MT. .O'Neal-They were made by Col. Screws.
 MT. Browne-Of the Advertiser?
 MT. O'Neal-Yes, at my request.
 Now one gentleman says we can meet the deficiency by raising the value of property. What an argument to make to an intelligent body of men! Raise the valuation of the property. increase the assessment. does that give the people any relief?
 MT. Browne-Who made that argu- ment?
 MT. Foster or MT. Maxwell one. don't remember. What relief does that give, the people? If you are paying taxes on a piece of property valued at $500 and the back tax commissioner arbitrarily raises 1t to s1,0a0, are you not paying q on the $1Oo even H the rate were fifty cents on the $1007 He says if We reduce the limit of taxation 1t will result in more economy and we can like farmer with a short crop or an insufficient larder still live. Yes we can still live. We could close the pub lie schools, we could leave the veterans of the South to bear as they have in the past. without murmur or com plaint the bangs of poverty and want. We could set back the clock of progress in this State and halt in our march of development and industrial gro Hth. If that is the feast to which we are :nvit- ed for one will have none of it. It may be popular to vote for tax linita- tion. but 1 for one will not let popu- larity weigh in the scales against my conscience and sense of duty to my State, my honest conviction and sworn obligations and responsibilities as a delegate on this floor.
 MT. President. we have the future of Alabama in our keeping. Let us not sacrifice our sense of duty to the de- mands of political expediency. Alaba- ma has in the past few years grown marvelously in wealth and power From the fiery furnace of reconstruction. from satrap rule. from military domi- nation, frcm all the frightful results If misgovernment, robbery and job berY. she has emerged, her garments pure and spotess as the faithful of old and all she asks is that We give her an honest ballot. a reformed suffrage that we put no obstacle across her pathway and like aR awakened giant she will move forward to grander and more triumphant victories in the fields of progress and commerce.
 MT SnraRins-MY friend and next