The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-06
THOUSAND VOTERS
 ID SIGN PETITION Local Taxation Committee Hold Second Meeting. ENTHUSIASTIC TALKS MADE Board of Revenue VIII Be PetItloned to Order Special Election for Juno 1s-An Influential Committee
 to Be Appointed.
ENTHUSIASTIC TALKS MADE

 tee of citizens of Jefferson county, ap- pointed to take Up the matter of holding an election in the county to determine whether or not 1t is the desire of the tax payers to adopt local taxation for the public schools was held yesterday after noon at o'clock in the Commercial club rooms.
 Prof. I. w. MeAdory, chairman of the committee, presided at the meeting and there were a number of members pres ent. As result of the meeting. petition signed by probably 1000 voters of the coun- | ty will be presented to the board of rev. enue tomorrow morning at Il o'clock by E. K. Campbell, representing the commit tee, calling upon the board to order a local taxation election in the county for June 13. Several hundred signatures have already been secured on the petition.
 Full Discussion.
 There was a full discussion of the sub | ject at the meeting yesterday afternoon Prof R. V. Allgood opened the discussion by saying that he thought June 1S should be the day decided upon by the commit tee as the time for the special election.
 Prof. J. M. Dill of Bessemer did not think that anything could be accomplished by postponing the election He said that he had found some opposition to levying the tax, but that the men who really pay the taxes are in favor of 1t. He said the only opposition was among the "chronic kickers."
 pr. Edwards of Nvylam said there was | f,, aic town; that it had been endorsed by the city council, the board of education and the citizens generally.
 Not Fully Enlightened.
 E. K. Campbell said there was, in his opinion, some opposition to local taxation, some of which is caused, he thought, be- cause the people are not fully enlightened on the subject. He thought it was nec- essary to inform the people that the tax ation meant better schools in the coun- ty. He said that he was in favor of the issue and would vote for it. whether or not the election was held in June or in November He was afraid, however, that June would be too short time to wage campaign.
 Mir Campbell explained that the tax payers of Alabama paid into the treasury $145.O00 for state taxes $24,0O0 for county taxes and $12,000 for poll taxes, and that only about 50 per cent of the state taxes comes back in the county. He said that the county would not, in his opinion, col- lect as much poll tax next year for the reason there is no election to be held
 Strong Campaign Necessary.
 Mir. Campbell said that unless a strong campaign is waged, the issue will not carry at the polls He said however that majority of the large corporations and taxpayers of Birmingham would support the movement, and he thought 1 leading citizens could be induced to go out and take an active part in the cam paign.
 T. H. Motion. who was present at the meeting, said that he had not heard much about the matter so far, but thought that the practical common sense | business men would be in favor of it. He referred to the recent s2OO 900 bond is- I sue election of the city of Birmingham, saying the city did not nave the funds with which to maintain the new schools that are to be built without an addition al taxation, and he thought the general l local taxation would be much better than raising valuations, for the reason that all l Is to go to the public schools and none | lu. said that he understood the city would derive about $1S,0OO annually from the local taxation. He pledged his support | to the movement.
 J. B. Gibson thought that if proper campaign is conducted the issue will win on June 13 He thought however the campaign for local taxation should l be sharp and quick.
 Question of Taxation.
 This is strictly a question of taxa l ton," said Prof. S. A Ellis, "and taxa l ton always brings forth much discuss | sion. l am afraid that June 13 is too short a time for the campaign to be con- l ducted, but if others are of a different opinion 1 am willing to abide by their decision"
 Dr. J. H.Phillps said the important reason for holding the election in June was to get the benefit of the levy this year. He said there Is a demand for available funds for the public schools, for next year. this being the case not only in Birmingham, but in Avondale | Bessemer. Woodlawn, Pratt City and, in | fact, all over the county. He said that | if the issue fails to carry this year. un- der the law, another election capnot be held until 1906. Dr. Phillips said the community was in favor of education just at this time; that the "echoes of the re- cent conference for education in the south held in Birmingham have not yet died out"
 Dr. Phillips stated that at the con- i ference recently the keynote was local l taxation for the schools. He did not think the campaign should be one of the teachers. but of the business men of the county. He said that in his opinion there | would be no organized opposition to local taxation, and with the press of Birming- ham committed, the conditions look very l favorable.
 Will Work.
 l He said he was willing to work, to write and to speak in favor of local taxa 1 ton. His feeling was that the committee l should go ahead with the campaign
 MT. Gibson said that Woodlawn would l vote in favor of the movement, about two to one, and Professor McNeill thought there would be no doubt as to the result | in Pratt City. w. R. Starbuck of Avon- dale and Professor Dill of Bessemer, 1 thought their towns would be in the ma | jority column at the election
 Dr. Phillips said there would be no in- | crease in general taxation He told the committee that the new constitution re- duced the general taxes from 75 cents to | 65 cents, but gave the counties of the state the right to fix focal taxation for the schools at 10 cents on the hundred | dollars of value.
 Prof. T. R. Walker of Vivian, thought that now was the accepted time for hold | ing the election. A motion was then made and adopted calling upon the Board of Revenue to fix June 13, as the time Tor holding the election.