The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-23
Exemption of Property.

1t is claimed by those in a position to
know that no state in the union has
more liberal exemption laws than has
Mississippi, and it is a common saying
that IL one owns up to what is exempt
from execution he is in pretty good
shape.
A few years ago, in order to encourage
the location of factories in the state it
was ordained by the lawmakers that all
factories making a finished product should
be exempt from taxation for period of
10 years and municipalities were given
authority to make the same exemption.
That law has had its effect, no doubt.
1t may be that the factories would have
come just the same, but the fact re-
mains that they had not come up to the
date of the passage of the act of ex-
emption, and that they have come since
that time in great numbers.
1t is now suggested by those interested
in the building of farmers warehouses
over the state, that they also be ex-
empted from taxation, and doubtless a
bill to that end will be offered when
the legislature shall have assembled next
January. Just now there are more cot
ton warehouses and more warehouses
owned by farmers in Mississippi than
ever before heard of. They have been
built for the sole purpose OF enabling
the farmers, the producers Of the south s
great staple. to hold their cotton for
better prices.
More than 100 such warehouses have
been built during the past two years, and
they are worth, on an average, $1,000
That means $50 taxes on each. That is not
very much, but is something, and would
amount to a good saving to the farmers
when state, county and municipal taxes
are counted in, as the total would be
about 800 per warehouse in the way of
taxes. The state could well afford to
lose the mills it gets from the ware
houses, and the counties and the cities
and towns would fall in line on the propo-
sition to exempt
So far as known the farmers themselves
have not suggested any such exemption
from taxation, but they would no doubt
appreciate such policy, every little help
ing.
Another exemption which will probably
be proposed to the next legislature is on
cut-over lands, waste lands, worn out
lands and lands generally from which
no profit is or can be derived by the own
er. This exemption will be suggested as
a means Of encouraging the forestry
movement in the state, and will be al
lowed only to such farmers as plant good
and serviceable timber bearing trees on
their lands. The idea is that in 10 years'
time there will be growth on these
barren lands worth paying taxes on.
Central Warehouse System.
President G. r. Hightower of the
Farmers union was among the speakers
at a big picnic at Utica Saturday, and
during the course of his very excellent
address took occasion to explain the man
ner in which the central warehouse is to
be managed. In the first place, according
to President Hlghtower, there is not to
be any monster warehouse at McRaven,
just outside the city limits of Jackson,
as has been stated time and again, but
there will be office there, and samples
of the cotton held in the nearly 100 ware
houses scattered about over the state will
be sent to Jackson and graded by an
expert grader and elassifer, one who
knows the business thoroughly, and in
this way it is possible for the farmer to
put his cotton on the market with full
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