The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-23

MT. Percy then discussed the salary | which the county tax commission of Jef- | ferson county had received during the past four years. He read from report prepared by the state tax commissioner regarding the compensation of the tax | commissioner during the last four years He declared that the county tav commis-
 sioner had received during three years approximately s6O,0oo in fees
 The speaker said he did not want any | especial favors shown Jefferson county.
 but that he thought his county was entitled to relief. He declared that Jeff
 ferson county paid nearly one-fourth | of the taxes which the state receives every year. He said his county did not complain. but that his people thought they were entitled to relief from the 1 present system which prevails in Jef- ferson county.
 q appeal to your idea of fairness, said MT. Percy, "Is it right that our | system should prevail in one county and another system in some other county? Should it not be uniform in every coun- I ty in the state?"
 MT. Percy then discussed the provisions 1 of the Pegram bill. He said that the bill provided for the employment of as- sistants by the state tax commission, one of which assistants should spend his 1 entire time in Jefferson county. MT. Percy said that one of the state tax con- missioners would also spend much of his time in Jefferson county.
 l Reverting to the system which pre-. | vails in Jefferson county, MT Percy said | it was nefarious. He declared that the | poor widows had to suffer, the small tax payer. He said that the large taxpayer | would fight when raises were made. but that the small taxpayer could not afford to fight.
 4l.. present system in Jefferson county long before MT. Pegram introduced his bill He said that he did not oppose the sys- tenn because of any appointment which had recently been made, but that he had always advocated a change in the pres ent method.
 Not Aimed at Any Man This bill Is not aimed at any particu- lar man." said Mir. Percy. Gan anyone say that it is aimed at any particular man when the bill is advocated by the state tax commission, and when it was recommended by Governor Jelks in his last messa ge to the legislature"
 Almon Speaks
 Judge Almon followed MT. Percy in the discussion and spoke in favor of the Pegram bill. The speaker of the house declared that the Arnold sub stitute provided for the continuation of the present system which obtains. He said it was a continuation of the ne- farious fee system which had been dis cussed so much this session on the floor of the house.
 "The state tax commissioners. ap- pointed by Governor Comer." said Judge Almon, Opposed the present county tax commission system: the tax commits sioners appointed by Governor O'Neal say they cannot do as much good for the state as they might do if the pres ent system were abolished"
 Opposition to Bill
 MT. Martin of Jackson, speaking against the bill said the speeches which had been made were filled with i'm passionate eloquence, but that they had advocated a plan which was wrong in theory The Jackson representative maintained that it would be impossible for an assistant of the state tax com mission to visit the various counties in the state and assess the property after remaining there five days He said the Pegram bill was theoritical proposi- tion.
 MT Martin said it was not the small taxpayer that was opposed to the present system, but the large tax payer. He declared that the system was too old to be abolished, that the new system was untried and that the state should continue in the same beaten path in which It had continued for so many years
 Bush Favors Bill
 Mir. Bush of Mobile arose to speak. At the same time MT Huddleston of Elmore tried to get the floor MT. Waddell, who was in the chair, rec ognized MT Bush, stating that MT. Bush | had the floor. Mr Bush was standing on one side of the room and MT. Huddleston, who had not seen MT. Bush, said:
 MT. Speaker, l am not Mir. Bush, and am not the gentleman from Mobile q am glad he is not" replied Mir. Bush, 'but I wish he would hove to Mobile
 Launching into his speech, MT. Bush said he considered the bill one of the most important that had been before the house during the present session. and that he hoped the measure would pass. Mir Bush then moved that the Arnold substitute be tabled This motion pre- vailed by vote of 40 to 37.