The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-28
SENATE WORKED UNTIL LATE
 ON GENERAL REVENUE BILL

an amendment by Senator Acree of Dale imposing a tax proportioned to the orig inal bill on dealers in cigarettes and cigarette paper was adopted.
 The subdivision oealing with dispens- aries brought out numerous amendments and a good deal of debate.
 The only amendment that carried was one by Senator Jones of Wilcox provid- ing for a tax of $250 in towns of 800 in- habitants or less.
 Senator Hogue was for doubling the tax on cotton exchanges, stock exchanges and bucket shops" $i.00o instead of 160o in cities of 10000 inhabitants and in smaller places $500 instead of $250
 'He was opposed by Senators Wooh of Marengo and Dunn of Clarke
 Against "Bucket Shops"
 Senator Rodgers of Sumter held that 'bucket shops should not be legalized at all, and objected to their being classi- fled with the exchanges, which he re- garded as legitimate enterprises.
 Senator Hogue's amendment was ta- bled and the subdivision was adopted in its original form.
 Senator Hogue also sought to increase the license tax on liquor dealers, but was defeated.
 A new section was introduced by sena- tor Screws of Montgomery imposing a tax on all slot machines. The amendment was adopted.
 The tax of $1oo on dealers in pistols. bowie knives anr other weapons was cut in hald by the adoption of an amendment by Senator Woolf of Marengo.
 Senator Goldsbys amendment reducing the tax imposed on plumbers and gas- filters from $50 to $1O in cities of 10000 inhabitants and from $2O to s5 in smaller places was adopted.
 Tax on Warehouses.
 An amendment submitted by Senator Spragins of Madison touching the sec ton fixing the tax on warehouse and ele- vator companies was adopted. This fixes the tax against operators of warehouses for the storage of cotton or other mer- chandise in cities of 200o0 or within one mile from the city limits at $50, and in all other places go.
 The section of the bill relating to the exaction of a license fee of s10 of firms or corporations engaged in buying wit ness certificates or other claims against the State. on motion of Senator Norman, was stricken out.
 Senator Spragins offered two amend ments to the subdivision of the bill re- lating to the recovery by the county tax commissioners of back and escaped taxes which were adopted. This provides fur ther protection than the law now secures to taxpayers against possible abuses at the hands of the Back Tax Commissioner
 Senator Spragins. in defending his amendments. declared himself as opposed to the back tax law as whole. He held that 1t had outlived it's usefulness, had become an incentive to dishonesty on the part of the tax payer. and should be put away.
 Debate on Mortgage Tax.
 An amendment in the form of a sub stitute to the subdivision fixing the tax on mortgages and deeds of trust, sub- mitted by Senator Dunn of Clarke oc- casioned considerable debate.
 Senators Bullock of Franklin and Blackmon of Calhoun were the chief op- ponents of the substitute holding that it's provisions imposed upon the people a virtual stamp tax, and would impose an unwarranted burden upon borrowers It was held also that the measure if adopt ed. would work an advantage for money lenders outside the State over those with in.
 The substitute was championed by its author, Senator Dunn and Senators Rodgers, Powell Morrow and Thomas. The substitute was tabled, and consId- eration of the original section was taken up.
 A large number of amendments were offered and many were adopted, the de- bate during the consideration of the sub ject being at times of almost riotous