The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-16

would be most hurtful to the very best
interests of the people. Mr.. Flower, one
of the greatest governors New York state
ever had, contended that you had TO
spend money to make the most success
full conditions, both as to business and
government. In state affairs this means
that you have got to keep to a vigorous
standard of excellence the benevolences,
the judiciary and educational vitalities OF
the state. These things | am sure you
will agree should be done as an economy
and not as a charity Of the state.
1t is mistaken idea that our treas
ury is overlooking with money; the
treasury can have no more funds than
, its sources will supply. 1t is true it Is
full today; 1t Is true that you can
empty IL by appropriations, and that
when you have once used 1t, unless the
sources of supply will meet the appro-
prlations of today and the cumulatice
appropriations of the four years to
come, you will be in the condition of
the Prodigal Son.
The auditors report, page 10, shows
on October /, 1905, there was in the state
treasury cash balance of 81, 40l ,5f2.73; on
December /, succeeding Their was $780,
$685.. Auditors report, page 10, Septem-
Der 30, 1906 shows 1854, 653.37; on De-
cember l succeeding there was $l,O05, Toll.
From this statement you can see that
there are not millions in the treasury,
as the treasury has no more than the
amounts named on December l. of each
year, and II there had been appropria-
tions for more than these amounts there
would have been a deficit.
| estimate that with the present Valu-
ton of taxable property In the state,
at the present rate of taxation, that the
state will have for each year for the
next four years surplus Of about $780,
a-lG tnyith a
status of valuation and taxation, 1t will
be only safe to use for cumulative APP
propriatlons about 100000 per annum. But
il is notorious that a very great deal of
the properties OF the state are without
parity in tax valuation, and the state
owes it to every citizen to adopt some
method of equalized taxation which will
secure practical equality of valuations
to all 1t Is right that a man should
pay taxes on his property at fair valu-
ton II il consists of ten head of cat
tie, two mules. wagon. buggy and nifty
acres of land; It Is right that man
should pay on the same standard If the
has 1000 head OF cattle, 100 mules and 1000
or 10000 acres of land. 1t Is equally
right that man should pay the same
ad valorem of valuation II he has
property worth one million or hun
dreds of millions, and 1t is also right
that he should pay on property whether
that property be stock of goods worth
$1,000. or franchise worth million. or
timber lands held for saw mill purposes
with the taxable valuation entirely in the
timber: as soon as the timber is cut the
taxable interest Of the state will be gone.
The taxable valuation of timber land is n
very different proposition to the fifty.
acres, 100 acres. or 1900 acres Of the timber
land of the farmer held on his place
for farm purposes. and which will stay
there indefinitely as a taxable value
for the state, and this difference should
be so listed in the taxable returns OF
the state.
A man with large holdings OF city prop
ertv and public service property. man
with thousands OF acres Of coal and ore
lands, man with a franchise worth a
million or tens Of millions, man with a
railroad worth many millions should
ratably and proportionately pay his share
of the taxes; as a rule none Of them pay
it. Right here l will call attention to