The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-16
BILL IS
 THORN IN FLESH Open Meeting Will Be Held
 Tonight NEW MINING TAX Proposal Is Also Made To Tax All Poultry Valued Above $50. Brooke Explains Bills
 Provisions
By HUGH ". ROBERTS

Montgomery, February 10.-(Special. J. To the average individual and to every corpora tion of more <lirect or personal interest than either the liquor or com mission government legislation is the O Neal revenue bill-claimed by it's enc mics to be the most drastic attempt 10 hold up ever made, and by its friends to be merely an effort to make the cor poration aid the little fellow in the pay ment of the taxes of the state.
 The task of the members of the ways and means committee Is gigantic one. The bill is one of 250 typewritten pages, and there is some opposition to practical ly every one of its innumerabe sec tions
 To meet the delegates protesting from every corner of the state the committee has determined on and put into effect two plans-first, to hold an open ses- sion of the committee Thursday night in the capitol, to which every man and every committee of the state will be in- vited; secondly, to appoint a sub-commit- tee, consisting of Representatives Mar tin of Calhoun, Kilburn of Lauderdaie and Hollis of Walker to-make close study of the bill, section by section, so that the arguments of the opponents of the bill can be answered.
 New Mining Tax
 In the meantime, following instructions from the committee, E. D. deGraffenried. legal advisor of the administration, is pre- pairing an amendment putting a tax on coal and iron mines of the state on the basis of cent per ton of coal and iron mined. MT. deGraffenried told the ways and means committee that this plan was followed by eastern mining states with profit to themselves and without em- barrassment to the corporations The committee seemed pleased with the sug- gestion. and Chairman Brindley intro- duced MT. deGraffenried to draw the amendment
 H. Y Brooke, examiner of public &C., counts, who was chiefly instrumental in drawing up the revenue bill has sug- gested to the committee the advisability of taxing poultry above the value of $50
 There are many breeders of fancy poultry" stated he, "who are getting rich disposing Of highly priced fowls and eggs at $5 per dozen. This tax should be directed against them. There is no in- tention of reaching the farmer with his dominique"
 AS to whether or not the committee will adopt this amendment there is no doubt The meeting tomorrow night will be we'll attended, however. It is thought that committees from every section of the state will be on hand.
 Some Modern Methods
 MT. Brooks states that he was instruct ed to draw up a revenue bill to meet a deficit of $1.500,00C
 T think have done it. he says
 He then explained that the most sig nifio ant step taken was in reference to taxation on a basis of insurance valua- tiCn.
 Under the bill,'' he states, "a person giving in his property for assessment must state under oath whether or not his property Is insured, and for how much. No assessment will be made for value less than the property in question Is in sured for, and by provision of the bill the assessment can be more than the in sured value. It is expected bat this in rovation will bring into the Heasury an annual revenue of $200,000 above what Is obtained at the present time.
 "The increased taxation of coca-cola companies and those dispensing coca-cole is expected to bring in an increased reve. nue of at least $50, 900. The coca-cola com. panies, I understand, are preparing to nuke violent appeal to the committee to prevent an alleged discrimination. Thu companies, however, are making a great deal of money and their taxation should be increased.
 Sleeping Cars, Too
 At the present time there is no taxation on sleeping and refrigerator cars operated through Ala bama. There should be. From this source the rev enue bill will bring in $25.0O0 per an mum. From increases and innovations in taxation there will accrue another $75, ,000 With all these and with an in- novation in the mortgage tax provi- sion of the old code. I calculate an in- crease of from $350,o00 to $40O,0O0 per annum.
 This amount. coupled with the nat ural increase in tax valuations, will more than make up for the $1,500, ,000 deficit which is anticipated"
 It is expected that there will be sev- eral amendments made in the commit tee and several more made by the mem- bers of the legislature when the bill is presented for final passage.
 The first draft of tie bill. however has created a sensation or a furor all over the state.
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