The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-22
Number of Changes in License
 Tax.
Measure Was Referred to the Com -mittee on Ways and Means,
 Which Will Begin Its Con-
 sideration Tonight.

The revenue bill prepared by Governor Jelks. State Auditor Thomas l.. Sowell and Attorney General C. G. Brown, as provided by the new Constitution, was sent to the Alabama House of Represen- tatives yesterday by Governor Jelks and was formally introduced by Hon. R. T. simpson of LauderdaIe, Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means to which Committee the bill was referred.
 The Committee, it is understood. will meet tonight to begin the work of con sidering the proposed law,
 Many changes are proposed in the rev- enue laws. They are made to conform to the new Constitution and the language is stripped of all ambiguity.
 State Auditor Sowen said yesterday that mnay persons had evaded taxation and license taxes because of construction of language. in the old law, and bis asso- ciates and himself in framing the bill had been careful to make the language plain.
 One of the most important changes pro- posed in the law is a certificate or stamp tax upon mortgages. It Is expected that this section will precipitate considerable discussion when the bill reaches the House for discussion.
 The first section, the exempting clause, provides that where cemeteries are owned and sold therein for profit such cemeteries shall not be exempted from taxation.
 The new measure also fails to exempt libraries and scientific organizations. Assessment of Stores.
 / It is provided that in the assessment of goous, wares and merchandise their valuation must be fixed at not. less than 75 per cent of insurance carried instead of according to the average amount of stock on hand the previous year as here tofore.
 The shares of ali corporations are to be assessed according to the "rear' value in- stead of the market" value as hereto fore.
 Section of the bill levies an annual tax of '.25 cents on each $100 in value upon the following property''-enumerating the property, which includes shares of stock in corporations.
 On ''other subjects of taxation and rates thereon the bill provides for the certificate or stamp tax as follows:
 "Sec 9. There shall be collected for the use of the State a privilege tax of 10 cents per $100 or fractional part thereof, on all notes, mortgages, bonds, all in- struments representing money loaned or other evidences of debt, which. shall be collected at the time such notes, mort gages. bonds, instruments representing money loaned or evidences of debt are collected, created or made, as hereinafter provided: and no other tax shall be col lected in this State on any note, mortgage bond, instrument representing money loaned, or other evidence of debt; pro- vided, the provisions of this act shall not applyNto open accounts due for merchant disc or to notes, etc., given for the rent or hire of real estate or personal prop erty; provided, further. that 1t shall not exempt any corporation from other priv ileKe taxes, nor shall it exempt from tax ation the capital stock of banks, private or otherwise. or other corporations. i -'Secs f0.-The maker, payee or endorser of every note mortgage, bond, tnstru- ment representa- gmoney loaned or other evidence of debt, shall attach or cause to be attached to such notes, mortgages, bonds. instruments representing money loaned. or other evidence of debt, cer- tificate, to be furnished by the State, cov- ering the amount of taxes due on sucn note. mortgage bond, instrument repre- senting money loaned or other evidence of debt under the provisions of this act; said certificate to be cancelled by the maker, showing the date of such cancel lation. and the initials of the maker ,or should the maker not be able to wrlte' then by one of tho witnesses. No instru-
 
 ceived for record in this State or receiv- ed as evidence in any court in this State until the provisions of this act are com- piled with. afId it shall be valid de- fense against the payment of any debt to prove that lthe certificate required was not attached and cancelled at the time of the execution of such instrument.
 Sec 1.-The Auditor with the approv- al of the Governor. shall provide at the expense of the State, certificates of diff ferent denominations suitable for the in- tents and purposes of this act; such cer- tifcates shall be prepared as to prevent any counterfeit, and shall be signed by the Auditor, and countersigned by the Treasurer and shall be under the control and supervision of the Auditor. It shall be the duty of the Auditor to furnish the several Judges of Probate supply or certificates for their counties, and Keep a record of same, and the Judges of Pro- bate shall be responsible. and account for all certificates furnished them as other monies for the State coming into their hands; they shall receive the same com pensation on certificates sold as they re- ceive on license money collected All monies collected under this act shall be covered into the Treasury and separate account kept of same.
 "Sec 12-The Auditor is hereby author ized and empowered to appoint agents Cin addition to the Judges of Probate). in cities and towns of over 5000 inhabi- tants. such agents to give bond. amount +o he fixed by the Auditor and anuroved by the Judge of Probate. and filed with him. All agents appointed under this sec- tion shall receive 21-2 per cent on all certificates sold by them.
 'Sec ia-The provisions of this act shall mt talra afFect until October 1 1908 and shall not effect the assessments of the