The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-18
Board of Revenue Wants s30OO a Year
SOME CHANGES PLANNED
Not Unlikely That Independent High Way Commission for Jefferson County Will Be Created.
 Senator MorrOw's Views
BY HUGH W. ROBERTS

Montgomery, January 17.-(Special.)- Tho members of the Jefferson county Board of Revenue want a little more money for their services,
 It is understood that instead of $500 they want 5000.
 The entire membership has been on the spot working Their. exact plans have | not been made public. and they attended to their business without scattering the details to either of the four winds. But they are after more money. and it is understood that they are willing, in re- turn, to do little more work. As 10 whether or not they will be suc- cessful is unknown. Representative Judge in his position as member of the committee on local legislation, will wield great influence, but whether or not in favor of the members of the Jefferson board Is unknogn. Senator Morrow stat ed this morning that he might favor in creasing the remuneration of the board in case other duties were imposed on the board. Had 8s Candidates for Place In this connection. 1t is interesting to remember that in the last election there were 6s candidates for the five positions on the Board of Revenue. There were eS good men of Jefferson county, in other words who were willing-no anxious-to serve the county for $500 per annum. Five men secured the places, and now this five is anxious to obtain better pay. Orig inaly, the members of the board were paid B per day for the days they worked. Then the salary was made 5000. Then it was increased 10 $150l The move now is to increase the amount to 5000.
 In case the jury commission of Jeffer- son county Is abolished. and it is believed that the commissions of every county will be abolished, and the duties of that com mission placed on the shoulders of the Board of Revenue, and the membership of the Board of Revenue is decreased from five to three then it is probable that Sen ator Morrow will favor increasing the pay of the members from $l5oo to s30oo.
 It is understood that the members of the board are willing to undertake tho duties of the jury commission, but that they are unwilling to see their number decreased from flee to three. Just how
 
 matter of wide speculation in Montgomery at the. present time. One solution pro- posed unofficially is to retain the board with a membership of five, let that board discharge it's present duties. the duties of the jury commission, the duties of the highway commission to be created, and let the pay be increased to 5000 per an- mum.
 There are other plans suggested. Some members of the legislature-chiefy those who criticised the last administration on account of its alleged extravagance- are opposed to increasing the pay of anybody or the appropriation for anything.
 Senator Morrow's Views
 It is reasonably certain that there will be a highway commission for Jefferson county If not for the state at large Senator Morrow favors the ceration of such a highway. He n ade statement this morning for the Age Herald as to his idea:
 "I am in favor of highway commits sion for Jefferson county It is abso- lutely essential, however, that that com mission be made up of representative citizens. There should not be the risk of adverse criticism and there should be
 
 the membership of the commission should consist of such type of men that no one will think for moment of graft in connection with that type.
 T am in favor of forming commission for the construction of good roads in Jeff ferson county the members of which shall be appointed without pay. This commis- sion should be instructed to go ahead and use an appropriation for roads to the best advantage.
 We hase a precedent. and most ex- cellent one You remember the sani- tary commission of Jefferson county. It's members were prominent citizens of lief. ferson, and they served without pay They were empowered to handle the sum of S1,000,000. They spent that vast sum, spent it wisely, and no criticism has been heard even unto this good day"
 From the above, it Is to be gathered ttat Senator Morrow does not favor the idea of the board of revenue dischar;5ing the duties in connection with improving the present and constructing new and modern roads for Jefferson county.