The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-06
COMER'S LICENSE
 IS GUT ID $15O Former Governor Goes Be
 fore Commission MAKES LONG SPEECH
McCartin Presents Grievance-Action Is Deferred on Electric Signs.
 Five-Cent Fare Matter Comes Up Today

On a plea that the Avondale cotton mill receives no direct benefits from the city as do other concerns in this com munity, former Gov. B. B. Conner induced the board of commissioners yesterday to reduce his license tax on the cotton mill property from $500 per annum to s150.
 The commissioners met at 10 o'clock and had previously arranged to hear Gov ernor Conner at noon. He appeared ex- acty on time and without any prelimi- naries launched into a speech setting out various reasons why the tax should be nothing. Governor Conner said that he paid s2500 to the city, state and county and he was of the opinion that was enough.
 "The city gives our property nothing" said Governor Conner. And to be very frank with you gentlemen, would rather ham than fin your city. That plant was erected in 1883, when affairs in this com munity were not bright. We did not en- ter the cotton business for the purpose of getting rich, but to give employment to those in this community who wished to work. Those were hard times Again, when I was governor it required a very stanch regard and friendship for Bir- mingham to induce me to rearrange the lines of Greater Birmingham in order to get our mill property in the city. We have our own water works, our own fire plugs, our own schools, and we have no stores at which our employees trade. So we get no concurrent benefits from this city such as other corporations.
 T will point out to you gentlemen that business has been very dull, and for the investment at Avondale I think $500 set as a license tax is unjust and should be remedied Sloss furnaces pay only $2oo, the Continental Gin works pay only $50, and there you have instances of a just and righteous taxation
 Judge Lane, immediately after Gov ernor Conner showed him that other in- dustries were paying this low rate, moved that the tax be reduced to $50. President Exum interposed an objection, saying:
 Exum Objects
 Judge, you perhaps labor under the impression that the school at Avondale spoken of by Governor Conner Is diff ferent," said Mir. Exum. However. I wish to state this In the kindest feeling conceivable. The report is that the school at Avondale spoken of by Governor Co., mer is not so very much. do not know, but if you wish to cut this license so very much on that idea, 1t seems to me we would make a mistake. We should perhaps cut it to s25o."
 Governor Conner thanked President Exum for his vigorous pointer, but said:
 T would have you gentlemen to know that I pay the rent, coal, water, lights and everything connected with the school But the county board of edu- cation has it's administration. We have nothing to do with 1t except pay and $500 per year. We have our own kin which is maintained solely by the company.
 None of our children attend the Birmingham school so far as I am ad vsed.'
 Judge Lane said that he did not in- tend to reduce the tax on the school altogether, but upon the theory that the Continental Gin com pany and the Sloss furnace were get ting out so very well under the taxa tion. The motion of Judge Lane was seconded by Commissioner Weatherly. whereupon President Exum smiled be- highly upon Governor Conner and re- marked, T will be more than pleased to make 1t unanimous, governor"
 The reduction was thereupon order ed. However Governor Conner said he was surprised that Judge Lane did not move that the property be relieved of all taxation inasmuch as the other taxation now existing was quite suffi cient.
 McCartin Has Grievance
 At the morning session quite a tilt brewed between John McCartin, former city street commissioner, and now prominent contractor. and the engi- neers of Birmingham. MT. McCartin ap- peared before the commissioners and made a talk, setting out the fact that he is engaged in the sewer construc- ton on the Northside and pointed out some differences that had arisen be- tween the engineers and himself. The point was that the engineers endeav- ored, so it was reported, to discourage the construction and threatened to withhold the approval of the work, all though MT McCartin said he was fol- lowing specifications literally.
 Maury Nicholson, city engineer, said he had no idea any of his men had attempted to throw any obstacles In the way of MT. McCartin and that he believed the matter could be settled amicably between the two parties most interested.
 It was finally agreed that Commis- soner Weatherly should become the mediator and an armistice was ar ranged for few days until the peace advocates can gather and visit the construction.
 Words were sizzling with suppressed anger at the meeting. and it was, taken by and large. the most unpeaceful incl dent that has arisen since the commis- sioners went to work.
 Swinging Electric Signs
 A letter was read from Marcus Well,