The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-09-05

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 The Wood bill was consid.red at a meeting of the committee held yesterday afternoon in the Supreme Court room. Chairman Arnold presided over the meet ing.
 The State Normal School atMontgom- cry was represented by Prof. ". B. Pat erson. Principal of the school, and Capt. J. M. Falkner and Capt. w. B. Jones, members of the Board of Trustees. For the Tuskegee school, Charles w. Hare and two local attorneys were present. Speeches were made by the author of the bill, Representative J. R. Wood of Ma con. who urged it earnestly, and by Messrs. Hare. Jones and FallSner, Pater- son and the attorneys, all of whom were opposed to it. Commissioner R. R. Poole explained the disposal of the agricultu- ral fund.
 A number of Representatives were in- terested spectators at the committees 8 hearing.
 At the conclusion of the speaking, the crowd withdrew and the committee con- sidered the bill in executive session. As | a result. it Is not thought that the bill will get before the House with a favor- able report.
 Considering Election Bills. The Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections met yesterday forenoon. | and discussed the general election bill and the primary election bill. submitted for | its consideration by the Senate Recess Committed.
 The chief obstacle to favorable re- | port, 2it is understood, was the clause | fin the Bankhead bill. which provides that all ballots be numbered as they are boiled and that the poll list beesimilariy numbered.
 This clause is omitted from the bill sub mitted by the Recess Committee. Is Is | the opinion of members of that commit I tee that the numbering of these ballots. although 1t may to an extent destroy the secrecy of the ballot. is a safeguard | which Is prized by every voter. The Committee will meet again this morning before the session of the Senate | and the members hope to have the biil ready for it's second reading by that time. To Relieve Tax Officials. The Judiciary Committee of the Senate has reported favorably the two bills of Senator Craig of Dalias.s which put the Tax Assessors and Tax Collectors on the same financial footing they occupied be- fore the adoption of the new Constltu- ton.
 The new Constitution deprived the tax assessors and collectors of the fees de- rived from the poll taxes. This item in
  Craig yesterday. is a matter of no little importance.
 Ut works a hardship on the tax ofn' cials." said he, and these bills will rom edy the condition. At present the collec- tor and assessor receive as commission in counties where the taxes amount to not moro than $1200o. $ per cent. on the first 8. 900, 1 per cent. on the second sl'0N and ? per cent on the remainder In counties where the taxes amount to more than N2OOO they receive 1-2 per cent. up to $6OOOo and per cent. on the re- mander.
 My new bill provides that in counties where the taxes amount to s900O0 or less, the officials shall receive 10 per cent "n the first 5000. per cent. on the third and fourth q. 900. 6 per cent on the hftn' sixth $1,0OO. per cent. on the seventh and eighth q. .00U. 3 per cent. on the ninth. tenth, eleventh and twelfth N,COO, ana per cent. on the remainder.
 ''Iu counties where the taxes amount to more than s20.0OO. the commissions Will De 3-4 per cent. up to $600o0 and l per cent. on the remainder. This will sup stantially nut the tax assessors and col iec{ors bacH where they were m pu,h' of compensation before the passage of the new Constitution.