The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-03-27
TAX LOW IN ALABAMA
THE ADMINISTRATION HOLDS REC
 ORD FOR ECONOMY.
Weafh of State Grows, Assessable
 froperty Is Doubled Since 1878

1 As n prosperous State ana IS growing in prosperity as may be seen by the tables of valuations of pro- perity for taxation. The total taxable property in the state has increased from $135.5s5,792 in 1876 to sa24,124,- S45 in 1904. The most rapid increase has occurred during the last fifteen years. The amount of general taxes collected has recently been much small 1 Ter than in the past It is smaller than IL was thirty years ago. The reve- nues of the state come from other sources. The total amount of general taxes collected in, 1876 was $1.016,51S, while in 1904 it was only $S10.350. The rate Of taxation has also been reduced from seven and a half mills per dollar in 1878 to two one-half in 1904, with a special tax of one mill to raise money to pay pensions to infirm and disabled confederate veterans, and three mills for school purposes This rate of tax ation is fixed by the constitution adop- ted In 1901 at a maximum of two and one-half mills per dollar for general purposes, reduction from five and one-half mills.
 There has been general increase in the receipts of the state treasury, which allows a little more liberty in the appropriation of money than has been heretofore enjoyed. But the leg islature is rather penurious and gives
 
 purposes. The receipts of the treasury for 1904 were $3.201,S3s. The expenses of the state government for that year were $3,015.6S9, leaving a balance of nearly $200.000 in the treasury. There was similar balance in 1902 and 1903 In 1900 1t amounted to nearly $5oo.ooo and the balance has been on the right side of the ledger almost annually for the last twenty years. so that there Is now a surplus of more than $806,000 in the state treasury--a very comfortable condition for a state like this.
 It is not a subject of ordinary jn- terest but I have no doubt many of my readers will like to know how economically the machinery of A state may be managed. and the administra- tion of Alabama is the most economical or any government in this country. at least. The largest. item in the list of expenditures is for common schools. being nearly two-fifths of the entire receipts of the government. The state IS heipful In It's pensiins to confederate veterans, although by no means so generous as the United States govern ment- The second charge in amount ia for interest on bonded debt, which amounts to $9,357.6oO. This is a small debt for a state. Many of the counties have no debt at all. They are not per-
 
 pose without a special act of the Iegis- 1ature.
 The school appropriation which amounts to $1,295,967 is divided among the various counties pro rata, according to the school population; $54500 goes to four normal schools and the following institutions each receive the amount opposite the name:
 University of Alabama .. . ..$36000 Polytechnic Institute .... .. .. 20. 28O Agricultural and Mechanical. ... scnooi .... "A. 775 Girls Industrial School. ..... 24775 Boys Industrial School. ... .... 5000 Institute for the Deaf and Mutes (white) .... .... .......... 39,S12 Institute for the Deaf Dumb .. and Blind (coloredD. 1150O These are very small amounts com pared with those paid by othe< states for similar institutions
 The following are the other items of expenditures:
 Interest on bonded debt ... ..s449o30 Pensions to 15.o3s confederate. veterans .... 337, ,002 Pentitentiary and reformatories 295.00s Judiciary ......... ....... .. 121.7S1 Agricultural department ...... 59.658 Mililia ''.'.. ...... 2S,S07 Executive department. .... 66.67S Legislative department ....... 1894 Public printing ............ .. 14344 Railway commission ... l1s16 GeoIogicai survey .... .. =. 7.660 Puolic health .. .. ;.... 4400 Mining inspection .... .. .. 6S37 Insurance commission ........ 3,0S5 These are the principal items in the Alabama budget. and I doubt if any other state Is more frugal. The legis- latlVe expenses are particularly low The Congress of the United States could not run an hour on that income The members of the legislature re- ceive per diem of $4. and 10 cents per route travelled. The legislature may not sit more than fifty days. hence each member cannot receive a total | compensation of more than $2O0. The governor has a salary of $5.000 per year Just now a double salary Is being paid because Governor w. D. Jelks was compelled to leave the state more than year ago on account of poor health ard Is still in southern California Dr R. M Cunningham, ono | the leading physicians of Birmingham, who was elected lieutenant governor, | has been acting as the chief executive Tor more than year. and draws the compensation authorized by law Dr. Cunningham is man of marked abili- | ty. progressive ideas, an eloquent ora | tor. thirty-third degree Mason. and has served his country in both houses | of the legislature and in the recent | constitutional convention. His ad- | mlnistration as acting governor has I been so satisfactory that he will un- doubtedly be reelected for the full term.
 The salaries paid to the officials in | Alabama are very small compared to | those of other states. and there is lit tie chance for graft. There are no sine cures, not even railroad passes. for under section PA of the new constitu tion any member of the legislature or any offical of the government or any person exercising judicial functions shall be fined not exceeding $500. i'm prisoned for a term not exceeding six months and be removed from office if he shall except a free pass or a railroad ticket at a rate lower than is paid by the general public. or if he shall solicit free transportation or re- duced rates for the benefit if any oth- CT person or persons.
 The secretary of the railway com mission says that this law is strictly enforced. but railway officials smile in a significant manner when they are questioned. and decline to give any information on the subject. There are a good many railroads in Ala bama. and they need legislation from time to time just like those of any other State