The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-02
POLITICAL AND OTHER
 GOSSIP AT THE CAPITOL
BY HERVEY ". LAIRD.

Montgomery, June 1.-(Speelal)-1t is very clear at this time that the legis- lature will be asked to repeal the law that places a tax now thought to be ex- cessve on the lending of money in the state by those on the outside. It seems also pretty well established that Governor Conner will fight such move to the ex- tent of his influence with the body and at the end, it is recalled, refuse to ap- prove the statute so doing. At this time it is hard to speculate with any degree of certainty as to which side of the feel ing Is the strongest.
 The governor is not making any great to do about the agitation for repeal having expressed himself candidly in a public interview short time ago, but it is known that he is willing to discuss 1t and ready to advance argument in favor Of leaving the tax as 1t is for any who may be doubtful about the matter 1t was suggested to him by the writer that some of his best friends had taken a different view from that which he holds about it. They do not fully understand it." he re- piled "There is no reason on earth why this class of outside enterprise should have any advantage over others
 Perhaps Representative Jack Cranford of Walker county, who has been here much of the week, has expressed the ideas of many who are interested in the ques- ton and at the same time averse to put thing themselves in the attitude of oppos- ing the executive theoretically, the idea is a good one" said MT. Cranford, when speaking of the preesnt law, but practically, there is reason to believe. the law is not going to work out well. The foreign loan companies ought to pay for the right to do business in the state and pay as well as other businesses put the fact seems to be that there is held in other states with less restrictions. They will be apt to go where this Is so as long 1t keeps up.
 There Is another feature of the situa- tion Money, in anticipation, has aHeady become high. man of Montgomery toiu the writer this week that he could not place any sort of loan at per cent save in cases where the local banks accommo- dated special friends He said that all money had gone up to per cent. He dla not know how much this resulted from bluff on the part of the loan companies. That may be their plan to kill the law at the July session; if so it was having el- feet.
 Friends of the measure in question: the tax commission bill and the rall- road laws of the present session be- lieve that the action of the loan com panies in withdrawing from the state and the withdrawal of all car material orders on the part of the railroads with inc suspension of much of the building and improvement of the rail lines. IS an effort to bring the laws into disrepute. On the other nand, there are good busi- ness men who take the othcr view and express the conviction that the eondl- tions are the real results of the laws passed
 The commercial organizations of the leading cities have taken up these questions and are trying to get the best out of them, in most cases ealing for the elimination of the money tax law. So far there has been no out break against the tax commission act, though there is more or less murmur- ing that is expected to develop pro tests in the making of the valuation tables later in the summer
 large insurance company writes the insurance commissioner, Frank N. Julian, that they will not loan any more money in the state as long as the law taxing foreign loans lasts.
  in all loans and refuse to renew them In the latter case great hardship re- suits, as farmers had expected to be carried into next year and Will now have to hurry out and make other ar engagements.
 Montgomery and Jefferson counties may lead in protesting against the tax commission statute. The members Of the board of equalization of Montgom- cry have openly said that they will not make the raises in values to the point demanded by Chairman Mitchell of the state board, l. e., so per cent of the commercial value shown by the sales in the market. We will equal ize any rates that may be out of pro- portion" said one of them in talking of the matter, but I am very sure we will not take 1t up to 60 per cent of the trade values of last October. The commercial values are not what prop erty might have sold for at that time, and with crop prospects bad and strikes over the country the prices are not what they were even two months ago"
 Chairman Mitchell Is very much In earnest In what he says to county rev enue boards, but has told them at all times that the state would not be un- reasonable. The commission wanted no more than was right and represent ed fair portion of what any particu- lar county should pay for the taxes of the government He says that in some counties the rate is far higher than in others and to make all pay about a like 1t had been determined to bring values up to about 60 per cent of the trade values. It is interesting to remember that the state can collect on the values fixed by the state board if 1t becomes necessary for the board to go into the counties complaining and in.lke the rates.
 Governor Conner and the educational de- partment men are back from the univer- sity commencement, and the executive Is in glow of enthusiasm over the outlook for this beloved old institution. In his opinion it Is a great school and destined to do great things for the state. He be- speaks the careful and painstaking sup port of every constructive element in the state for the school. and is going to give 1t all his best and heartiest support
 Next week the governor will run over, with his staff, to the Polytechnic com mencement at Auburn, where, on Monday, with his gold lace associates, he will have dinner with President Thach. This will be the first trip of the party as whole, and they are expected to make fine