The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-01
GREATER BIRMINGHAM
BILL IS RECOMMITTEO
Tax Commission Measure Passes the
House and Goes to the Senate Com
mittee-Governor Conner
Mixes With People.
BY C. M. STANLEY.


Montgomery February 2S-(Specal)-
The Alabama legislature in joint session
late this afternoon elected Judge C. C.
Nesmith and Judge II. A Sharpe to the
two newly created associate judgeships
of the city court of Birmingham. This
result was reached only after some of the
most spirited lobbying ever witnessed in
the corridors of Alabama's historic capt.
tol. The other two candidates who were
third and fourth, respectively, were Judge
| A. C. Howe and w. c. Garrett. The
election was made ON the first ballot, the
official result being Nesmith. 81; Sharpe,
6i; Howe, 81, and Garrett, 80. 1t may
not appear upon the surface, but the vote
cast for Judge Sharpe by the senate was
a magnificent tribute to the esteem in
which Senator Miller of jefferson is held
in that body.
Senator Miller was one of the original
champions of Judge Sharpe and he real
lied that although Judge Sharpe was so
highly endorsed by the bar and citizens
of jefferson county. the juristss well
known modesty and aloofness from any
thing bordering on political scramble
might imperl his chances when certain
| O
were working among the Legislators with
such ardor.
The senate stood by Senator Miller in
the crisis so loyalty that every man in
the upper house, with four exceptions,
cast their ballot for Judge Sharpe.
Judge Nesmith also received hand
some vote In the senate. He is a for
mer member of the legislature, has
wide acquaintance all over the state.
lNas highly cltloyfed Q home and ihs
eiection sSs s3y0lti d,sys ago generally
conceded.
Judge Howe got the loyal support OF
the black belt. The delegation from
| Perry county his old home, bore his
| banner aloft and his high character, Ju-
dicial attainments and the fact that lie
served the Confederracy so faithfuliy IN
the bloody period and gave himself heart
and soul to the democratic party in the/
| dark days of reconstruction, won MN
many supporters. He made great race
| Mr. Garrett, the former register In cham
| Gerry in Jefferson, received hatterlng
vote In view of the fact that he Is prop
ably not so we'll known over the state
as his opponents.
Judge Sharpe and Judge Nesmith will
both reflect honor on the bench of JEFF
ferson county. Judge Nesmith has. peen
serving on the city court bench since the
| illness of Judge Sem. Col X. ii. Pear
son of Birmingham, probably expressed
the sentiments of many when he grasped
Judge Sharpe's hand this evening and
| said to him: "I want to congratulate
| the state, not you." There was intense
| excitement this afternoon when the SEN
ate filed into the hall of representatives
| and was shown to seats in front Repre-
| sentative King of Jefferson, nominated
| Judge Nesmth Senator Miller placed
| Judge Sharpe's name before the joint
| body.
Representative Pitss of Dallas NOM
mated Judge Howe and Representative
| Urauhart of Jefferson named Mr. Gar
rett Judge Howzes nomination was
seconded by Representative Pitts of
| Perry, and Representative Sam VIII
| John announced the fact that Judge Ne
| smith and Judge Sharpe were endorsed
by the majority D. the Jefferson delega-
ton The baloting then began and all
| votes were viva voce.
| Smyer's Greater Birmingham bill was
given a solar plexus blow this morning,
from which it may recover or may not
It If does recover 1t will probably never
look the same.
The senate voted to recommit IL. This
means that II goes back TO the commit
| tee on local. legislation for amendment
| when Il comes out of the committee
again the month of July will probably
have rolled around, and the chances are
| some very radical changes VIII be mace
| in 1t.
Felix Blackburn is probably respon-
| sihle for this result His speech made
| strong impression on the committee yes
| terday Mr. Blackburn wishes II UNDER
! stood that he Is not opposed to Greater
| Birmingham but that he wants 1t on an
| eonitable basis. He argued that IL was
not fair for him to have to come IN ana
| nav taxes while the Greene estate
| fov, wards away and X. s. Munger and
| T. i Snyer all come IN exempt ifoH
| taxatIorf.T because their property consists
of more than ten acres and has less than
! twenty voters on IT, TINS plea seems 70
have made a decided impression on the
| committee. for the members were unahl-
| nous in declaring 1t unjust.
| 80 We shall probably not hear more of
| Greater Birmingham until july.
| The new tax commission bill passed the
| house this morning. II Will come up Tor
| consideration tdoay before the senate
! committee on finance and taxation. 1t
| begins to look as though 1t might become
! law because the administrator is ior
! it and what the administration says goes
| down here.
| or course all big Industrial enterprises
| of the state are up in arms against IT
| and. indeed, it is said that when the
farmers of the Black Belt ma tneir
| taxes have been doubled they, too, Will
| he against it. 1t is Ita3ted out that
this committees duty viii be to raise
| assessment values, and that 1T will not
| fail To raise them. And as tax assess
| ments were never known to be lowered.
| they will keep on getting higher aliNthe
| ,in,e Unless something Is done Very
oiIlckly the bill is going to pass and be
| signed by the Governor.
! lust to show that this Is Birmingham
| week in Montgomery and that Brimihg-
liam citizens are alive to the fact here
arc a few Birmingham men seen in the
hotel iobbies tonight;
| John l.. Kaul. George B. Ward. u b.
Babb. +. c. Mcdonald. Felix Blackoprn.
| lessee Stallings. r. p. q Brien, JohrASic-
| ~
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