The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-29

is not a criticism upon the action of this committee. I think it Is com nnendable on their part to want to re- duce the tax limit, and I join with them in ft,but it is merely question of caution. and. in reply to all the question asked me, prt 1t to the com mittee, are you not willing to risk the pat, iotism and integrity of the Legis- iaturc to reduce the rate when they correct?
 Mir. Kirk-There is one other ques- tion desire to ask.
 Mir. Graham--Certainly.
 MT. Kirk-What amount of surplus do you think we ought to provide for accumulatkng in the Treasury every year to put ourselves on the conserva- tive idea that you suggest?
 MT. Graham--I cannot say just what amount that should be. but think 1t at least ought to he enough to meet Fluctuations in value like we had from 1890 to 1895, and then back at the pres-- ent time.
 Mir. Klrk-were the assessments of last year and year before made upon boom valuations?
 Mir. Graham-They were made upon a rising tide of values in Alabama. I am glad to say. and I believe we will reach high tide again next year in the natural course of financial matter, and 1t is the history of every State and every country that we have every ten or twelve years period of depression, and l am only anticipating this again. I wish that this committee, in making their estimate. could. with their finan- cial ken, assure us that this 'dep~ession would not come back upon the people of Alabama within the next ten years. This Constitution, if we make it, and 1t is ratified, will stand for at least twenty five years. and I do trust and hope that it's conservatism not only on the franchise but on taxation, will be Of such a character that it may stand for fifty years, and, gentlemen. I do not believe that 75 cents will be any too much to put in as a conservative maximum limitation. I will vote with the gentleman as readily as anybody should become a member of the Leg islature, for the reduction whenever the surplus appears. I ask you to guard what the State has done in the past and see to 1t that we take no backward step in our assistance to the Confederate soldiers, that their one mill shall stand there; that we take no backward step in educational mat ters. but that the one mill shall stand there, and with the S550 900 appropria- ton from the general fund when you take those out bring 1t down to four and a half mills that the State must subsist on, and it has never been be- low four and a half mills but at one period, and when the distinguished ex- Governor was relating the trials that came upon him in the office of Chief Executive. I put in comparison with 1t that he suffered more than that on ac- count of the embarrassment to the credit of the State and the State fail ing to meet its obligations, and he could not borrow more than $10O, 900. I can remember when the school teach CTS of the State went unpaid for months at a time when we had no money and then the rate was four mills, and under this plan if you keep faith with the Confederate soldiers and the public schools, you bring 1t back to four and a half mills as a maximum and what are you going to do when the days of 1890 and 1895 come back 'rpony the State? Is not the credit Of the State
 MT. Oates-I was going to suggest to you on that point that as late as 1895 the State had borrowed or obtained in some way $500.000 though it could only borrow $100.000. The way was done by pidclHS the WdTGdHlS OI lile OLdIe as collateral in New York and on the this State and it was absolutely neces- sary in order to pay the teachers their money, and at that time the tax rate was five mills.
 Mr. rGaham-F'ive and half includ- ing the soldiers.
 MT. Oates-Five and half at session of 1s94-95.
 MT. Graham-And the State had $5O0,OoO of floating indebtedness?
 MT. Oates-Yes.
 MT. Graham-With the rate five mills and the Committee report brings it down to four and half. you still have only one mill to go to the soldiers ana one mill to the public school fund. Now there it is. There is the situation. I prefer to make 1t certain that the in- tegrity of the State shall be main tained and then trust to the integrity of the Legislature that the taxing power of the State shall not be abused that Is all that there is in my propo- sition. I have the utmost confidence in every member of that Committee, I ap- prove the motives which inspired them to do ;t, but l fear that they are reas- oning upon false premise if they be- lieve that the State of Alabama and the sovereign people prefer that they should tamper with the good name of the State, simply to give them prom ise of reduction in taxation. Gentle men, consider this question well. and when you do vote, vote with it in your mind lha. you a.e gong to maintain faith with the people If the State who are dependent upon the pubic schools. and with the Confederate soldiers who have received of your bounty and the bounty of the taxpayers of the State. Let me put one more point to you be- fore 1 close. I do not believe that this Convention Is going to pass the pres ent limit of five mills in each county and seven and a half mills in the State. If you are not going to do that, where is the hope of the poor people of this State for educational ac.iities and educational fund except in the present State appropriation of s55O, 900 and the one Inlll spec,al tax? 1 apprehend that the franchise law which we will frame here will cut down the poll tax receipts in this State. I apprehend that. Where are yCu going to compensate for that loss? There can be no local taxation. You talk about what the people will'do after you put 1t in tme Constitution whether they will raufy 1t at the polls and l say to you that the supreme thing which you may write in the Constitution or Alabama is not who shall or who shall nol vote Tn the future, but when you go to the mass of the sovereign white letple of this State. the supreme thing winch you write in that Constitution | will be the provision for the eoucat on of the white children of Alabama, and 1t is on that line and out of abund-