The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-21

1 of licenses. for the cities, the first sum seemed steep. MT. Simpson explained that the licenses as fixed in the bill were satisfactory to the express companies, and the amendment was lost.
 MT. Lusk offered an amendment pro- viding a privilege tax on the railroads of $10O per mile, and supported it uy an argument to show that the roads are undervalued for taxation, and that with this privilege tax added the taxa tion would still be lighter than in some other states. He instituted comparisons between the valuations across the imagi- nary line of Alabama and Tennessee, but on the valuations of the Alabama Great Southern and the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis he read from the wrong page of the auditors report and based his argument the valuations of sid ings He was making an impassioned speech on the subject. but when his att tention was called to his. error in the page it-broiSe his argument down. Foster on Tennessee Assessment. MT. Foster of Tuscaloosa said that in Tennessee the assessment was made only on the main track and the sidings and depots were thrown in, while in Ala I bama all are taxed, which went far to account for the larger valuations in Ten nessee. MT. Simpson said the trouble with MT. Lusk's argument was it was made to the wrong thribunal. If the, valuations were too low the state board of assessment was the tribunal to right 1t, not the legislature. The amendment was lost only MT. Lusk voting for it.
 MT. Lyman offered an amendment pro- viding that the graduated express license should be based on any census that city might take for itself subsequent to the Federal census, and it was adopted On motion of MT. London an amend ment was added to one section providing that where an assessor knowingly fails to put property on the tax list he shall be guilty of wilful neglect of duty. On motion of MT. Waddell it was provided that merchantile agencies shall pay a license of $10 in every county where they do business.
 Then the dispensary license clause was reached and MT. Bankhead moved to amend by fixing a graduated scale of licenses under which all dispensaries shall pay an amount according to popu- lation. He was arguing this proposition when the hour of arrived and the sub ject went over as unfinished business.
 Afternoon Session. At the afternoon session of the house. by unanimous consent, on call of MT. Rich the bill creating the office of chief clerk to the secretary of state was passed. It fixes the salary at $l5O0 This clerkship has heretofore no existence except in the general appropriation bill.
 MT. Benners called up the bill increas- ing the salary of the land clerk in the auditors office from s12O0 to $500. There was considerable opposition. The state ment was made that he had increased the receipts from tax sale lands from 5000 to $16,000
 Osteooathy Bill.
 The house then took up the osteopathy bil and after little sparring the house concurred in the senate substitute by a. vote of 5 to s.
 The house last night passed bill to appropriate sufficient money to pay com missions now due the solicitor of the thirteenth judicial circuit. So much ob- jecton was made against it this morning that on suggestion of MT. Porter of Tus- caloosa the bill was reconsidered by com mon consent.
 It seems that the salary is fixed at 5000, but the act failed to specially allow him the commission on his earnings in excess of his salary, which the general law all lows to all other solicitors. MT. Hoffman, in charge of the bill, contended that the legislative intent is that solicitors shall all have this commission as an encour- agement. He said the amount carried by the bill is s397.
 Wood Led Opposition.
 MT. Wood led the opposition to the bill. He based 1t on the inhibition in the con- stitution against giving back pay. The bill was indefinitely postponed on the issue of constitutionality [ MT. Goodwin began a personal state ment as to an agreement between himself and Mr. Maner both of Montgomery, as to not calling up the Montgomery court consolidation bill, which he was claiming had been violated in his absence last night, when MT. Maner called up the bill and passed it. The clock before he had finished it adjourned the house. House Bills.
 | The following bills were introduced ir, | the house today:
 By MT. Byrne-To authorize the county commissioners or boards of revenue of the several counties of the state, to borrow for their counties sums not exceeding 5000 Local legislation.
 By MT. Thompson with notice and proof)-To better provide for working the public roads of Bibb county, Alaba ma Public roads and highways.
 By MT. Byrnes-To punish persons who make false representations for the pur : (continued on Second Pase)