The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-28

We know they do not pay it. As my friend has suggested. 1t is increasing every year. In 1896, the revenue de- rived from this tax amounted to fifty thousand dollars. In 1900 it amounted to ninety thousand dollars. In other words. 1t is increasing now at the rate of fifty thousand dollars in every i've years, and, as our lands grow poorer, and as our farmers become more pro- gressive and more intensive, the con- sumption of these fertilizers will in crease, and the proportion which now exists will be destroyed. Ere long they will be paying probably twenty or twenty-five per cent of the revenues derived by the state from all sources. Today this tax amounts to nearly fourteen per cent of the ad valorem taxes of the state, and tell me then that it Is bagatelle! Tell me then, that the farmer who mas to pay it does not feel the burden! l say, MT. President, and gentlemen or the Convention, 1t is indefenslole; is wrong, and it ought not longer to exist.
 Why impose upon this one class. class that produces more wealth. gives employment to more people, maintains more homes, supplies the schools with more children and the churches with more membership, than all other classes in Alabama, why single them out to bear the weight of his unjust burden? They are already staggering; they are already reeling under the inn position of taxes because they are less prosperous than almost any other class of people in Alabama. Why make them the burden bearers of the State! l appeal to you and ask you 1t 1t IS not wrong?
 Does he pay 1t? have it from a
 
 questioned. here or anywhere else, that he buys fertilizers without the tag at fifty cents a ton less than with 1t. The very same fertilizer. Clip the tag, and the srice is cut fifty cents on the ton, and have no douT that any man who has the cash in his pocket in the spring of the year, can walk up and buy his fertilizers for cash, waiving the guarantee represented by the tag, ne can buy it for just fifty cents a ton less than he pays for It with the tag.
 MT Foster-Will the gentleman al- loy an interruption?
 Mir. White-Yes
 Mir. Foster-Your amendment con- templates, does 1t not. that eommodi- ties may be inspected?
 Mir White-Oh. yes, but the cost of the inspection only shall be charged.
 MT. Foster-It Is to be charged against the commodities-the seller of the commodities?
 MT. White-Yes, sir.
 Mir. Foster-Do you consider that the salary of the inspecting officer is a part of the cost?
 MT. White-Well. don't know what the legislature might provide along that line.
 MT. Foster-Isn't this whole thing a matter for the legislature?
 MT. White-Why, of course, 1t Is for the legislature. But this is Gmita- tiOn upon taxation. and it provides that the legislature shall not levy more than that That is all. Some gentle men contend that this is legislation.
 MT. Fostcr-May l ask another ques- tion?
 MT. White-Yes.
 Mir. %oster-Does your amendment then prevent the. legislature from inn posing any license tax that they see fit?
 MT. White-No.
 MT. Foster-Isn't the whole matter in the discretion of the legislature under your amendment, as to what consu- tutes the cost of the inspection?
 Mr White-The cost of the analysis. and of inspection is the limit.
 MT. Fostcr-But 1t is within the dis erection of the legislature as to what constitutes the cost?
 Mir Whte-Of course they will have to determine that. but they cannot go beyond the reasonable cost of inspec- tion.
 MT. sollie-Tfe actual cost.
 Mr. White-And understand that is now some five, six, seven or eight cents a ton.
 They say that this is legislation. What? A limitation upon taxation legislative act? Why the unlimited oF MN oV16 delegates of the Convention carries with it the power of confiscation. Any man who has ever written or spoken upon this subject, will tell you that the power of taxation unlimited carried with it the power of confiscation and destruction. We limit. in this very section of this article, the power of the legislature to levy an ad valorem tax. We only ask you to do in this, exactly what you have done in the old Constitution, and what the committee recommends you shall do in this. The argument so often made that we are entering into Legislative fields. Is one of those convenient arguments that can be made when a gentleman is against a measure. and can be used by him the other way, when he is in favor of a measure This Is an argument when made. which should always he consid- cred well. and to which your earnest drought should be applied.
 But. MT. President. l do not think that my amendment was quite as wide and comprehensive as 1t should have been. and therefore I send up a sub stitute.
 MT. Graham (Taladega)-Win the gentleman permit a question before he goes on?
 Mir. Graham-T desire to refer him to section 3S of Article " of the present Constitution. which states;
 No State office shall be continued or created for the inspection or measur- ing of any merchandise, manufacture or commodity; but any county or nunicipality may appoint such officers. when authorized by law" and ask if his resolution or amend meat cf yesterday does not by impl- cation create, or give the Legislature the right to create offices of this kind? MT. Whitc-Well MT. President, that is the se5 5tion. commonly known as the ''coal oil' seGtien.--
 MT Graham CTalladega)-I under stand that the gentleman had some in direct connection with the coal oil business a year or two ago.
 Mir White-YeS, 1 burned some of it. and I watched the suffering public burn more The Supreme Court of the State declared this coal oil act void, but the gentleman now asks if my sub stitute does not in effect repeal that provision.