The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-05
Plans Outlined to Raise Money to Test Validity of New
 Tax Law
COMMISSIONS ACTION IS
 UNJUST TO BIRMINGHAM
Real Estate Men Name subcommittee of Five to Engage Counsel to Fight Increase In
 Assessments.

The action of the state tax commission in instructing the Board of Revenue of Jefferson county to bring tax values up to 50 per cent of the real cash value of the property created ripple which has developed into veritable whirlpool of discussion as to the justice of the action. Quite a number of people claim 1t is just while just as many claim that it is unjust. The Birmingham Real Estate as- socation has decided that It Is very un- just, claiming that the values at which Birmingham property is now assessed are none too low.
 Meeting Held Yesterday.
 At recent meeting a committee of twenty-five was appointed to consider the matter and to decide upon some plan of action. At a meeting of this committee yesterday afternoon a subcommittee of five was appointed to handle the matter actively. The work of this committee will be to see the tax payers and submit proposition by which each one of them may be represented by this committee upon the payment of one-tenth of 1 per cent of their assessment for 1906. which money will be used for the employment of legal talent to fight the bill from every standpoint. If all of this money Is net used it will be retsrned pro rata to the tax payers contributing it.
 The association is of the opinion that Jefferson county is being dealt an un- just blow and has determined that 1t shall be warded off if possible. The fact that Jefferson county is already paying one-sixth of the total taxes of the state appears to them as being enough for one county to pay.
 A resolution was introduced by T. H. Motion appointing this subcommittee of five which was passed. It is as follows
 "Resolved, That the chairman of this committee appoint a subcommittee Of five to see the tax payers, and submit to them a proposition that each one may be represented by this committee by the pay ment of sum of money equal to one- tenth of 1 per cent of the assessed value of his property for the year 1906.
 Text of Resolutions.
 "Resolved further, That the sub-com- mittee to be appointed is hereby author ized to employ two or more lawyers to represent the tax payers who come into this agreement, for the purpose of con testing the law creating the back tax commission, and also the law creating the state tax commission; that said lawyers so selected and employed shall make a fight for the taxpayers represented by the committee from every possible stand point.
 'Resolved further, That the sub-eom- mittee thus created shall have full power to make contracts with the lawyers wno may be employed, and all other, expenses in addition to attorneys fees, shall be paid by the said committee out of funds raised as herein provided and when all litigation is ended, and the business of this committee Is concluded the money left over, if any, shall be paid back pro rata to the parties who furnished It.
 Resolved further. That this committee stand ready to render any and all ser vices to the subcommittee and the law yers, in any way, when called on.'