The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-29
Delegation Stunned By His Curt Method of Hand
 ling Matter INITIATES NO BILL MAY BE NECESSARY The Appropriations Can Be Cut and the State Can Be Put on Higher Tax Basis Than
 60 Per Cent
By pERRYMAN G. BETTY

Forty-two of the leading business men of the city of Birmingham accompanied by large delegation from Montgomery and from other cities of the state, all rep resenting the best brain and brawn of the commonwealth, marched up to the capitol today, got pinched on the cheek, and marched right back again.
 They came; they saw and they were conquered.
 Their trip to Montgomery was for the purpose of importuning the legislative conference committee which for several days has been Investigating the status of the state revenue bill, to urge re- cess of the legislature in order that the present revenue measure might be so revised in the interim, as to be accept able to all parties concerned; and to lay the same plans before Governor Elm met ONeal All this the delegation did. They saw the conference committee, and they talked with the governor. But they were spanked for their troubles.
 They were told that the very ends which they desired to see achieved would be defeaetd by such plan. They were informed that the recess would only serve the purpose of breeding more l. to the good ability of the legislature to right the situation. It was suggested to them that compromise in the situation could be effeced
 But it was not the conference com mitteemen who told them all this. It was the governor
 Splendid Showing
 The showing that the bushes men made on their trip to the capitol was splendid one, interesting at all times, and unique in many particulars. On the brows of the visitors was written keen desire to have the present tangle un- tied and in the hearts of all was en- thusasm for the cause which they rep resented But all their hopes were dis illusioned before the day had been end ed, when their cause became known as lost one.'
 At their hearing before the conference committee the delegation in a few words, urged the desirability of re- cess of the state solons at the present t.me as the means of relieving an em- barrassng and troublesome situation, and as sure means of preventing an extra session of the legislature. The dele gation called attention to flaws in the present revenue bill which is now under consideration, and spoke in glowing terms Of time, the great healer of all wounds. They stated that recess would enable all parties to get together in such way as would provide more revenue for the state, and at the same time furnish a more equitable basis of taxation.
 After the presentation of their argument to the committee, composed of Senators Plowman. Tunstall and Spragins, and Representatives Brindley, Percy and Rice the delegation was referred to the gov ernor as ''the power in the corner office, to whom the plans should be unfoded. The committee did not make any sugges- tion as to whether or not they would advise a recess.
 In Governors Office Assembly of the delegation In the of fee of the governor was one hour after the talk with the committee the confer ence with the chief executive not being had before a few minutes after 3 O clock. At this latter session the plans which had been laid before the committee were told 10 the governor. And then 1t was that the delegation got scalped.
 Governor O'Neal stated to the delega tion that he was opposed to extra session of the legislature, and he added that he would hardly call one unless there should be a hitch in the liquor l, regulation that would make one neces- | sary. He reminded the business men that the state is at the present time operat- ing under a revenue bill which can be made adequate for all purposes. While expressing desire, however, to have the legislature get together on such com promise in the present bill would sat 1sfv all factions, the governor neverthe- less intmated that in the event of failure to agree the state could fall back on the statutes which provide for the fixing of taxes. Custom has made this tax 60 cents on the $1, but the chief executive intimated that custom could easily be dropped, and that the basis of taxation could be fixed at dollar for dol lar, t.us assuring for the commonwealth --on that basis-whatever revenue is necf ssary for the operation of the gov ernsnent tf''ttf'
 Moreover the governor suggested to the delegation that appropriations which are desired to be made can be materially re- duced. thus permitting the state a means of adjusting itself to the old revenue measure under which the state now oper- ates.
 Sessions in Detail
 The business men were ushered into the supreme court room, where the confer- ence committee has been sitting, a few minutes after noon The visitors were well coned by Senator T. s. Powman, who in few words explained to the committee that time was so short as to permit them not more than half hour together. He expressed the pleasure of the committee at having the delegation appear before the body.
 Acting as chairman of the delegation W. w. Crawford of Birmingham ex- pained the purpose of the visit of the Birmingham business men, at the same time reading the resolutions which were on yesterday adopted by the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, in which legis- lative recess was suggested as means of tiding over a critical situation. Mr. Crawford then introduced w. P. G. Hard ing, of the First National bank, also of Birmingham. as the first speaker
 MT Harding was happy in his address. Things are never so good sor so bad as they seem,' he stated, by means of an introductory. Fer instance, when came up 10 the capitol today noticed especially the beauty of the day. Every thing appeared calm and serene. yet we all know that everything is not calm and serene.''
 The speaker thereupon called the at tention of the committee to the doubt which exists as to the wisdom of the revenue bill now before the state solons, advising as a means of clearing away all doubt a recess of the legislature, in the interim of which such a measure could be written as would readily be acceptable to the state. He said that time was a great assuasion of grief. and that same inevitably brought all warning
 tCoNTINUED ON FACE lO