The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-10-04
Guard Against Reckless Expense When Treasury
 Is Full'
LIMIT OF TAXATION
 HAS BEEN REACHED
Commissioner Disagrees With His Colleague, MT. Weatherly, on Suggested Increase in
 Tax Rates

In statement issued last night Commissioner A. O. Lane goes on rec ord as being opposed to any increase in the city tax rate. In discussing the proposition Commissioner Lane says that it Is better that the expenses be reduced than it is to create more taxes for the people. In his statement Com. missioner Lane ayers that 1t is the sentiment of the people. as he sees it.. to reduce expenses rather than to cre- ate more taxes. He points out that a make injudicious expenditures which should always be avoided.
 His interesting statement, in which he does not concur with sentiments ex- pressed upon the same topic by his colleague, Commissioner James Wealth. erly. follows:
 Tt is well known to everyone who has had experience with civil govern ment, that 1t is always difficult to bring the expenditures within the in come. full treasury Is sure to create extravaganza in legislation. This ap- plies almost universally to individuals, as well as to legislators. although, of course, there are some exceptions in both cases. While 1t Is true that the tax rate in Alabama-and especially in it's towns and cities--is lower than it Is in most other cities, at the same time, I believe the great sentiment of the people is in favor of cutting ex- penses, rather than increasing taxes It is well recognized principle that a plethoric treasury incites in those not members of the government an inordin- ate desire to reduce 1t; and 1t recon ciles the consciences of those in author ity to spend it by the creation of new offices, or by making expenditures that a comparatively empty treasury would suggest avoiding.
 Efficient Government
 Tt is essential, of course, that all gov ernments-state. county and city--should be efficient; and 1t is necessary in all that large sums should be expended to this end but temptations should not be held out for expending more than the actual demands of the government re- quire. I do not think 1t is now an op- perfume time to increase taxes, but if the expenditures are exceeding the in come of course one or two alterna- tives must be resorted to- Either the income must be increased or the expenditures must be decreased. think the latter should be resorted to.
 "To secure good government, it is of q. l.; should be satisfied with the method of administration, whether true or untrue. My opinion is, that the great majority of the people think that the limit of taxa tion has been reached. We have had comparatively prosperous times. It was but natural that governmental repre- sentatives. the people furnishing the money, should not have been indifferent to the methods of expenditures. I be- lieve, however, that a rigid adherence of collecting all that is due under the law. and a scrupulous scrutiny of every dol lar that is spent, would enable those In authority to make ends meet, where the discrepancy is not too great. There are many ways of spending money which could be avoided, such as consolidating necessary offices, abridgement of pur chases, and the abolition of useless of- ficesfi and if these objects were carefully looked into and effected, and then this followed up by supplying our wants by curtailng our desires we would no longer, perhaps. be so often met with empty treasuries
 "There are times when people must call halt and look about them, and I believe that this is one of the times. A review of the past and contemplation of the future are equally necessary to either individual or governmental quali- ties"