The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-03

| u
GVI ado has been made about the
tax commission bill which was
adopted by the legislature yesterday
This has been a pet measure of Governor
| Conner, and while l have not agreed with
him on many of his alleged administra-
| ton acts [ do agree with him on this.
| 1t is nothing more nor less than a
measure providing for equalization of as
| sessment for taxation in the state. 1t
might be said that this bill provides for
| a board of equalization assessments for
the state.
In fact it provides for a board of tax
| commissioners with a secretary and nee
| essary clerks, and an expense account
for the employment of experts if neces-
sary to pass upon assessments of proper
ty in each and every one of the coun-.
ties of the state.
As it is now there are no two counties IN
the state that assess property at the
same ratio in proportion to the actual
market value The object of this
bill is to bring about a fair and just
assessment of values for taxation pur-
passes in the several counties of the state.
If honest and just men are appointed on
the board, which shall be composed of
three men, it will be the best thing which
could happen to the prosperous counties
of the state like Jefferson. In jefferson
at the present time some assessments are
high and some are low Lands in JET
ferson, for instance, are assessed at per-
maps ten times the amount similar lands
in other counties in the state are now
| assessed at. The main object of the bill
is to equalize assessments and cause
taxes to be levied in fair and just pro-
portion upon all properties in the state
of Alabama.
Some of the corporations of Jefferson
county and some other counties in the
state have been protesting, fearing that
an unjust board would be appointed.
which would delve deeply into the affairs
OF the large corporations and punish
them. I do not believe this is the pur-
pose of the bill. and I do not believe that
It's leading advocates have any such
idea.
Because the governor has been. in a
measure. rabid, | might say, in raking
over the railroads l do not believe he
proposes to be rantankerous or other
than right in administering the general
affairs of the state.
IL IS true that Governor Conner has
! been a bit more than righteous in his
rulings in favor of the alleged platform
upon which he was elected. He has ruled
the Legislature with an iron hand, so to
speak. He has not hesitated to get ont
OF his office, stand on the front steps of
the capitol go down to the Exchange
Hotel lobby, and really lobby. himself.
IN favor of the measures which he he
! lieVes, by virtue of the platform upon
| which he was elected, that he is com,
mitted to. He has worked like a corn
field hand. He is a vigorous fellow phy-
sically, and much SO mentally He is
possessed of muscle and energy, and he
means to fight for his conception of the
right. He has some good advisers and
some bad ones. He has some around him
who are looking out for number one
some who are ambitious for self and
self profit; and these same ones have
shown themselves in some acts and pro-
posed acts. Some of these acts, how
ever, have been scratched and cut and
deprived of portions of their vicousness
Governor Conner himself has largely been
the instrument in eliminating much
Nfciousness He is really a man who
means well and proposes to act we'll
lie is doing ii, also, in the fnality of
man, acts. He, however has a hard
job on his hands.
Be it said with truth that he has every
crank and every exuberant person in
the state urging and arguing to him and