The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-06-20

Vines took the floor and if he voted with the previous two, there would be a ma jority in favor of docketing the cases. Ii he voted with MT. Rogers, the deciding vote would then pass to President Go ing, the last to vote. Dr. Vines first few words gave no indication as to his ballot.
 'I realize I am on the unpopular side of this matter" he said, "I believe Jeff ferson county is paying more than her share of the states taxes. l am the tax payers friend. But l can't get away from the belief that there is merit in these cases and that such being the case must vote to docket them. have tried for two weeks to find loop hole. I have hunted for two weeks for rotten rail'' In this matter"
 ''I had you looped, did IF" interrupted Captain Allen from the back of the room.
 Yes, you did, answered pr. Vines, "and have done my duty" he continued, 'as have seen it. MT. Allen, l want to tell you right now that when these cases come up for individual trial on their merits you will have to put up good proof. I will always give the taxpayers the ben eft of the doubt. I will favor the tax payer wherever l can do so judiciously. l vote to docket the cases.
 Made Majority
 This made a majority in favor of dock eting and as MT. Vines sat down an unconscious smile spread over the jolly, rotund physiognomy of Capt Joseph V. Allen. back tax commissioner of the county of Jefferson, state of Alabama and he walked forward to the front oi the room President Job Going took the floor.
 Every member of this board has been honest in arriving at his convictions in the matter, I believe am only sorry that we could not come to a unanimous agreement and vote as a unit. believe there ought to be an equalization of tax assessments all over the county and that Mir Aliens list is not complete and does not do this. Therefore. l stand with the minority l have no political aspirations and 1 do not believe that any other .mem- bers of this board were influenced in this matter by political aspirations. I do it because I consider this course just and right and I vote not to docket the cases"
 This ended the balloting and the mere formal proceedings were taken up. Mir. Rogers made a motion to refuse to docket the cases; it was not second and Dr. Vines made a motion to docket the cases, which was seconded by pr. Lovelady. President Going put the motion and 1t was carried by a vote of three to two.
 Captain Allen Talks
 After the session adjourned in addition to what has already been quoted, Captain Allen said:
 ''No, of course, I don't expect to win all of the cases when they come up for trial on their merits. But I promise you that do expect to win mighty near all of them. I went over everyone of those cases personally and l know that each and every one of them represents an un- dervaluation of taxable property in this county. I have never understood how the board of revenue could hesitate so long on matter which was so obvious.
 'rhe members of the board were mis- taken when some of them said a few minutes ago that they were on the un- popular side of the issue when they voted to docket the cases. The majority of ths people in this county, sne rank and file, wanted to see those cases docketed. l know 1t.
 The argument that has been put up that this list of cases should not be docketed because 1t was alleged that 1 had not considered every taxpayer In the county is without the slightest foun- dation. It has been said that out of 20.- GOO taxpayers in the county 1 only raised about 2500. Nothing has ever been said to the effect that in making those 2501 increases there were approximately 15,- coo taxpayers' assessments examined and no increases made because 1t was not found that an undervaluation existed.
 The cases which the board has just docketed have equity in them. I expect to win them and the county will be bet ter off as result"