The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-13
COTTON CROP IS
 NEVER 4 FAILURE Examiner Brooke Discusses Matters of State Interest TAX EQUALIZATION BOARD Thinks Talk of Corners Possible Ad- vancement to the Senate at This
 Time Is Out of the
 Question.
TAX EQUALIZATION BOARD

Harry G. Brooke, state examiner of public accounts who is now engaged in an examination of the pententiary books at Pratt mines, spent some time in the city yesterday.
 MT. Brooke talked interestingly of gen. eral conditions in Alabama, and the fact that he travels much and is a close ob- server, makes readable anything he may say. He is an optmist and his views are refreshing.
 Did you ever know of such a thing as cotton crop failure in Alabama?" asked MT. Brooke. No; you never did; no matter how the calamity fellows com- plained of too much rain too much sun or too much grass, Alabama always her proportion of the needful supply of the market If the crop is short in Ala 1 bama it will be short in other states and that will mean higher prices Labor and weather conditions in all the south are about the same, and the Alabama farmers are not in debt.
 "Our present state administration is wise, conservative, progressive and hon est and Is winning success for the com monwealth. It has given an impetus to our educational system by such broad and liberal appropriations as will carry the state high up the ladder The chill dren and youth of a state constitute the very basis for the future and this means that Alabama shall become stronger with | each succeeding generation"
 Asked about the state tax commits sion, MT Brooke said
 Simply an Equalization.
 That is simply an equalization board, nothing more nor less. If by equalization assessments be raised to even a moderate ly reasonable amount, it will make a great big showing for the growth of the state and for it's financial strength and will thereby enable heavy reduction of the tax rate Reasonable assessments and less tax rate is the strongest indi- eating card to capital and to people It would mean stronger public and private credit
 The personnel of the state tax com mission Is a guarantee of square deal all along the line. If the great county l of Jefferson contains one-siXth or even a greater proportion of the wealth of the state. as is indicated by productive ca pacity her people ought to be willing to pay their share of taxes in proportion. That is very plain.
 "One thing ought to appear quite clear to every thoughtful citizen and that is that the state is owned and controlled by it's people. That no aliens have voice in its management; that it's gov ernment Is of it's people, by It's people and for its people, and that tax money is simply mutual contribution for mu- tual protection and advancement. Ala bama will never tax herself beyond her needs. If by a readjustment or rear rangement of taxable values, or by the rapid growth of the state in any one year, which was not foreseen by the tax ing power a heavy surplus should go to the treasury, the people would be cred tied therefor by reduction of the tax rate the succeeding years. As I said be- fore all property should bear its pro portion of the cost of government, ac- cording to it's productive power
 All Proud of Birmingham.
 Every true Alabamian is proud of Bir- mingham,s said MT. Brooke. "The mar velous growth of the city is an inspira- tion to the state, and means much for the future of Alabama.
 By the way, what transforma ton has here taken place since my early boy hood days. l lived here in 1882, when the streets and even the sidewalks were mud bogs and. when the Linn bank and the lately demolished Webb building were 1 the only buildings of so much as three l stories when there were no brick hotels and few brick stores; when there was no passenger depot and not shade tree, 1 a gas nor an electric light and not a | street car. I can hardly realize that this is the same spot of earth.
 Death of Senator Morgan. "The death of Senator Morgan is recog- nized as a calamity remarked MT. | Brooke because he was a great man. an American of the highest type, and of whom Alabama was peculiarly proud l I may or may not have agreed with | him in all his ideas, but I did love and respect him. However, he had severd his l time and has gone to his reward. Others | will follow him. Today I hear rumors | of a succession to his place by our hon. ored governor. Men familiar with the | constitution of the state know. or should know, that this is an improbabiity. Gov ernor Conner cannot now, under section l 116 of the constitution succeed Morgan l to the Senate He is absolutely unavail- able until one year after the term of l office to which he was elected as gov ernor While I know that Governor Co., ] mer would reflect credit upon the state 1 in the higher house of Congress, and believe that some day he will be called to that position. whether not he ] responds 1t is out of the question just | now for his name to be considered, He has laid down an excellent plan of work in the gubernatorial office, has completed much of it. but still has much to do. 1 Just watch Governor Conner. He knows exactly what he is doing"
 Was We'll Known Journalist.
 .dr. Brooke was editor of the Luverne l Critic when appointed to his present po-