The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-06
DRAWS NEW TAX BILL ID CORRECT ABUSES Tomlinson Would Abolish the Back Tax Commissioners MIR. BOWMAN RESENTS IT Says the Fight Is Personal One Made Against Him and That He Also
 Proposes to Fight
 Back
MIR. BOWMAN RESENTS IT

A bill to abolish the county tax com- missioner has been prepared by John W. Tomlinson and Roy Mccullough, local at- torneys, and is In the hands of the rep- resentatives of the counties of the state. The purposes of the bill are. first, to abolish the county tax commissioner and
 the pernicious fee system connected therewith;' secondly, to give the regu- lar county tax assessors the powers now vested in the tax commissioner: thirdly. to increase the number, salaries of tbe members and the power of the state tax commissioners; fourthly, to provide for nish-ciass, conservative. capable men for state tax commissioners, and the efficient collection and equalization over the state of taxes
 The bill If adopted will increase the state commissioners from three to five. each Of whom will receive a flat salary of soVo' IL Is said that many legislators are In favor of the bill because it is popular with the people, their constituents. Those opposed to the bill. however, argue that many are in favor of 1t because the aboli- ton of the county tax commissioner will prevent the increase of taxes from the ngures originally given in. Those opposed 10 the bill argue, too. that the county tax commissioners have poured into the state treasury more than s1,25o.OO0 and that their creation has resulted in a new and permanent source of revenue for the state.
 In this connection P. G. Bowman who
 IS generally understood. will be the | next tax commissioner of Jefferson coun- " II the office is not abolished, stated
 before leaving for Montgomery yesterday
 that the fight against the tax commis-
 sioner originated in Jefferson county and
 IS light against him personally and not against the office or the system NOW stated MT. Bowman, If this oiil IS introduced, I will rent a hall and invite all members of the legislature to near me discuss the proposition. I will siVe the reason why several gentlemen or this county are making a fight on tho commissioner. I will give figures to shou, that these men and others with them are siVing In their taxes at little more than 10 cents on the dollar.
 T will also state to the members of the legislature that the commissioners nave turned in more than $,25O,0o0 to the state treasury, sum which did not &C., crue before the appointment of the com- mlssioners. And 1. will ask them if they intend to cut off this source of revenue because of personal fight being made on me in Birmingham"
 The county tax commissioners are not paid salary, but draw 10 per cent on all raises, on all increases, and on all supple mental assessments. The report of the state tax commissioner for 1910 shows that the office of county tax commission CT IS Tat one in some counties and a poor one in others. The average amount paid the county commissioners last year was little more than $500. The largest amounts drawn were by the commission CTS or Jefferson, Mobile, Calhoun and Walker counties. The Jefferson commits sioner earned more than s14,O00 A water haul was made by the tax commissioner Of Washington county. The commission CTS of Fayette and Monroe were paid re- spectively and cents for their services for the year.
 The Jenerson county commissioner had a big year not only for himself but for the county and state as well. He collect ed $143,90422.
 The fight on the county commissioners IS expected to be one of the livest and bitterest before the ensuing legislatu ture.