The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-02-22
It is TO be Called Recording
Fee But the Effect
is the Same
REVENUE BILL is SENT
SAFELY THROUGH HOUSE
Senate Passes Bill Allowing Appropria-
tion for Boys Reformatory at East
Lake-Tax of $4,000 Is Put
On Oil Companies.

Montgomery, February 21.-(Special)-
After ALL the stamp tax was put on real
estate mortgages in the revenue bill as it
passed the house today. No actual stamp
will be used and 1t is called a recording
fee, but the effect is the same.
The tax on these mortgages as solvent
credits is taken off and a fee of 10 cents
for every hundred dollars required in
stead. The amendment was adopted un-
animously.
The amendment putting license tax
of $4,000 on oil dealers met strong oppo-
sition as it was charged that it calcuat-
ed to run out everybody but the Standard
Oil company. Mr.. Tunstall moved the
amendment at the last moment to the.
complete surprise of everybody. 3
No other amendments of Importance
were made. Mr.. Londons effort to abol-
ish the back tax commission by an
amendment was anticipated and the point
made that If it passed the governor would
likely veto the bill.
The last amendment put on the revenue
bill was a trifie sensational and tribute
STALL
Tunstail's Oil Amendment.
The house had been in continuous ses-
sion from 8 clock in the morning and
just before in the afternoon, when
the bill was completed in committee of
the whole and the committee was about
to rise, Mr.. Tunstall offered an amend
ment providing that on all dealers in
illuminating and lubricating ofs in, this
state there shall be levied license tax
of $4,000 for the state, $lG0 for each coun-
Hty and not more than $50 for each city
Everybody saw at once what 1t meant
and the objection was at once interposed
that it might by driving out all other
dealers besides the Standard Oil company
make the monopoly of that concern COM
plete.
Mr.. Tunstall agreed to $4,000 to meet
the objection. He went on to say that
some years ago law subsequently, de-
clared unconstitutional had been enacted
levying tax on oil to pay for its in
Epection. 1t was said at the time that
the price would go UP, but 1t had not
This is a tax not to create monopoly
but to compel a monopoly already in ex-
istence to pay fairer share of the bur-
dens of the state.
Mr. London said he sympathized with
the purpose of the bill but he feared it
would close up some small dealers in
Birmingham. Mr.. Blackburn asked If the
Standard company might not withdraw
from the state and other concern be-
ing able to pay the tax, what would we
do? Mr.. Tunstall said there was no
such danger ahead.
There was some colloquy back and
forth and Mr.. Tunstall revised his amend
ment to provide that the tax should not
affect oil sold direct from well or crude
oil. This met the objection of members
who hoped that oil would be struck in
Alabama.
Mt. Walker of Madison opposed the
amendment He had considered it the
best he could in so short time and he
believed it would strengthen monopoly
The Standard Oil company would pay
this tax with one hand and with the
other take vastly more out of the pockets
of the people Rockefeller could puila
another negro college in Alabama out OF.
his extra profits for which THIS Woulu
furnish the excuse
Mr. Hoffman spoke for the amendment
and it passed by vote of 81 to So'
Revenue Bill Amendments.
number of important amendments
were put on the revenue bill. An amend
ment by Mr.. Maner leyies a tax in the
shape of recording fee of 10 cents on
the s100 on all real estate mortgages in
lieu of all other taxes. After a brief de-
bate in which It was shown that under
the tax on solvent credits the foreign
lender pays no taxes and the home lender
lodges It, the amendment was unani-
mously passed. 1t is believed that this
provision will add more revenue than all
the other new devices combined.
The license on pawn shops was raised
o..d 81. x+fo lfxfl.4
ter and gas companies from $100 to $500.
Street railways were included.
Mr.. London had proposed $500 increase,
but Mr.. Lyons opposed it unjust, al
least to the Mobile street railway, and
a compromise was reached at $500
Mr. Starr secured an amendment re-
quiring that medicine peddlers must first
submit their wares to the county health
board and secure its certificate that the
medicine is not injurious to health.
Mr. London sought TO Increase the IL
cense on future dealing and cotton ex-
changes, commonly called bucket shops,
from $500 to $780, but the debate showed
a sharp line of division between bucket
shops and legitimate exchanges Mr.. starr
making the principal speech against thv
undscriminating raise supported by Mr.
Rich, Mr.. Benners and others.
Back Tax Amendment Fails.
Mr. London made fight to amend by
abolishing the back tax law, but the
vote for 1t was very light. The tax of
$40 on individual plumbers and gas-fitters
was repealed and $50 license put on the
J dealers instead, and Mr.. Lyons and Mr..
Hoffman made an effort to repeal the sec
tion altogether, but had little support
from the up-country.
The revenue bill passed by a vote of SO
to q, and the house adjourned to noon
Wednesday.
In the senate today the committee on
privileges and elections reported favor
ably the tarrWaddeII elective railroad
commission BILL 1t was referred to that
committee on yesterday after brief
struggle by its opponents to have it re-
ferred to some other committee, the COM
mittee on corporations being the natural
course for 1t to take. The success of its
friends in having 1t referred to a COM
mittee known to be friendly and it's
prompt report back to the senate in