The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-31
VICTORY IN SIGHT
 FOR REVENUE BILL Back Tax Commission Fea- ture To Be Dropped SENATE MAY FIGHT Was Believed Last Night, However, That the Administration Forces
 Would Be Finally
 Triumphant
By BERRYMAN G. BETTY

at midnight tonight was as apparent ly in the balance as ever. But state- ments of all the committeeman who have more hope in the situation upon ad- lournment of the conference committee at 11:15 D. m. tonight than obtained at any -vious time during the day, when the S,> was unreservedly expressed that A ; e noon tomorrow an agree me Q at would pacify both Of the ht " would undoubtedly be made. T co reement will have to be so framed 60 pacify both the house of repre- q g ives and the state senate, the opin- . 2 prevailing being to the effect that
 e senate cannot be expected to rein- sh all of it's amendments to the bill
 passed in the house several legisla- i've days ago.
 Throughout today the greatest tumble that has ever confronted an Alabama legislature was manifest in the deliber- alton of the conference committee, the opinions as to the outcome of these in vestigations varying almost with every hour the majority of views during the daylight hours were to the effect that the committeeman were at hopeless .-deadlocl1" and that peace could not be established.
 With the coming of the night hours. however, this prediction changed to one of greater optimism. in which it was left at midnight. Shortly before mid- night when the committeeman entered the hotel loby 1t was authoritatively given out that no agreement had been reached by the conferees, but later information that such a report, as outlined below, would be made
 The back tax commission feature Of the revenue bill which seeks to deprive such commissioners of fees on tax raises, is expected to be dropped from the measure in as much as the reten- ton of this clause in the bill has been the bone of contention eve, which the lower chamber has been contesting. But the business interests of Alabama will win out in every other point. The clause which makes 50 per eentum valuation Of property the basis for taxation is ex- pected to be retained in the measure, as also that provision which seeks to enlarge the duties of the state tax com- mission.
 In all other respects the report of the new conference committee is expected to be identical with that of the old con ference committee.
 Attitude of House
 It is taken that the house of repre- sentatives will not recede a step fur tler from it's original position ,and it is equally as certain that the governor will not approve the measure unless the Pe- gram bill is altogether eliminated from the document As consequence of this general impression it is altogether certain that the state senate must witness the deciding fight on the question:
 Of the 10 legislators who are members of the conference committee, six of them sat on the original bill and decided by a majority vote to retain the back tax commission feature in the measure. The four new members of the committee are recognized as opposed to the Pegram bill In order for the committee to reach an agreement, as consequence, at least two of the members of the old commit tee must vote to sustain the action of the house. But even should an agree ment be reached and even should this agreement be to the effect that the sen ate recede from the back tax commis- sion amendment, it is exceedingly doubt full whether or not the majority of the senate should agree to the change.
 Matter of Time
 The fact that only one day remains in which the revenue bill can be passed may prove an important factor in settling the matter, inasmuch as a strong following at the legislature is endeavoring by every means to push the revenue bill through the two houses in order that the state can escape further service under the present revenue measure. The gov ernor's position on what he wants In the new bill has been fully set forth in several public announcements which he has made Like the house, he is deter mined that abolition of the county back tax commissioners is a poor business, ard that it should not be permitted.
 But the governor has at the same time announced that the state can get along very nicely under the old revenue meas vre. In making this announcement, he las at the same time fully explained that whatever increased revenues are needed can be secured by increasing the basis of taxation from 60 per centum of valua- ton to whatever percentage should be deemed necessary. Moreover, he has promised to cut down appropriations in the event that the new measure fails of passage.
 Practically none of the important ap- bills has as yet reached the governors desk, hence 1t is readily seen that failure of the revenue bill to pass would entail a great loss to the educa- tional institutions of the commonwealth.
 This argument is advanced by num- Der of the senators in their prediction that the upper chamber will recede from its tax commission amendment.
 Regulation Bill
 On the other hand many of the ad- yocates of the back tax commission fea- ture are inclined to make trouble. They argue that the Smith regulation bill is not yet through the senate, and that a movement could be started which might spell death to the measure at the present session of the solons. The governor has promised to call an extra session of the legislature in the event that the party pledges as to local option are not carried out, and taking of this promise. the senators who are advocating abolition of the of flee of back tax commissioner say that they can hold hack action on the regula- ton f1spft pptil such time as might
 
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