The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-03

00 not propose 10 weary the 8entienel but e very few minutes. The imme diate question Is whether the tax rais ed by the counties is to be voted by majority or two-thirds of the county or voted simply by those who con tribute the money. That is the issu as raised by the amendment of the gen tleman from Jefferson. Again. so tha I can understand 1t clearly myself. thu question is whether this taxation which is to be raised by an election II the different counties, is to be voted by the counties at large, or whether | is to be voted by those who have it tt pay
 Well, 1t seems to me, MT. President that we need not go far for a solution of this question. It is in the nature oi . contribution to the public schools bs those who are able to contribute, ane to hold that a contribution, or any thing in the form of a contribution shall be required by the vote against those who pay nothing. and who dt nothing except to vote against those who have the property out of which tt furnish a little money. would be strange thing to do. Inasmuch as q counties are, under proper proceedings to hold elections for the purpose oi taxing the people for their contribu' tions to the schools, think 1t Is wrong to subject those who have to pay tht money to the will of those who have no money to pay and who do not pay any money. 1t seems to me 1t would be in the nature of taking mans property without just provision of law Look at it as you are situated in your own county. I do not care whether the property holders have a majority oi not, in many of the counties they are not in the majority. This Is propo' sition to hold an election for the pur- pose of advancing additional support tc the public schools, supplementing the State fund, and strengthening the schools of the county. As as matter oi course, every man who has got house full of children, and no money to pay for their tuition, would be in favor oi taxing his neighbor to the full extent The committee seems to thing it wise to limit the taxing power to those wht have the tax to pay. It is well enougf for us not to forget that under th' present school system, everybody Il paying for schooling everybody else's children, and here is an additional ant supplementary proposition to pay fol everybody else's children but his own I repeat that I do not care how tn, majority may stand in county, but repeat further that I do not believe that men ought to have the casting vote upon that question who have tt pay the means by which the schools are to be carried on.
 Now you turn the man who has som' little ability to give this contribution to the schools into the power and con trol of men who have no means to con tribute to the schools, even if they de sired to do so. and have no means tt aid in the enlargement of this fund and let them vote this charge upon the property of the taxpayers, you thereby add to the burdens those property holders have already borne, which are chiefly the burden of the administration of the government of the State.
 Mir. Long CWalker)-May l ask tht gentleman a question!
 MT. Williams (Barbour)-Certainly but I don't know whether l can an swer him.
 MT. Long (waIker)-Suppose a mem- Der of the legislature Is a non-proper- ty owner, would he not have the right to vote on any question relating to taxation in this State?
 MT. Williams (Barbour)-To taxation generally, as a matter of course, but that means general taxation for the purpose of carrying out the legislation of the State, but the gentleman must not forget that this is a special tax to be laid by a vote of the people oi the county, for the purpose of raising & special fund to educate the children of that County. and it comes in the nature of a special tax.
 MT. Long (Walker)-Suppose there was a special tax for the State. They levy a special tax of one mill in this State for the Confederate soldiers Would not the poor man be allowed to vote on that question in the legis- lature?
 MT. Williams (Barbour)-That is gen. eral legislation. The question is in a nut shell. MT. President, and that is why I desire to be understood as speak Ing only on the single proposition. and not long on that. and the issue comes right ssRare down to all of us. Here Is a proposition in any county you may name, to raise an additional tax out of the people of that county. for the purpose of supplementing the general kund in that county. There are people In that county who could do nothing towards it. however much they desired )o do so. There are others who can. Now. who shall have the privilege of determining when, where and how much of the means of the taxpayers sf the County shall be appropriated Do the object of schooling?
 MT. White-Will the gentleman al-
 pw question?
 MT. Williams (Barbour)-Yes.
 MT. White-Then if the property owner ought to be allowed to vote, what about females that own proper y?
 MT. Williams (Barbour)-I have got nothing to say about women voting, whether they own property or not. lm against their voting to the end.
 It is a common saying that those who are able to pay taxes, must come ap to the command of those who are not able to pay taxes. and pay in Sheir funds to educate the children, You property owners that pay the laxes of the State, We who do not pay the taxes of the State for the schools pr anything else. we say to you. you must march up like good fellows to the ring here, and submit your fund to this general fund for the county for the Education of our children, and we will reap the benefit of it.
 Mir. Bulger-May l ask the gentle man question? ...
 The President pro tem-Does the gem lleman permit an Interruption?
 Mir. Williams (Barbour)-Yes, the gentleman may ask any question he pleases. do not pledge you I will an- Bwer 1t.
 Mir. Bulger-Do you not think it would be wise to postpone the further consideration of this section until the Committee on Education reports a like section on this subject?
 MT. Williams (Barbour)-Yes, think