The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-17
TALKS ON THE
 NEED OF AN EXTRA SESSION

pulsory upon 1t, to act favorably upon such subject matters.
 We are all familiar with the unrest that prevails in our business life and ac- tivitles, preceding the assembling of our legislative bodies. This unrest is directly attributable to the uncertainties Of legis- lation. The constitutional convention rec ognized this when 1t limited our regular legislative session to four years. The cit izens of the state recognized this and afterward specifically approved this ac- ton of the convention by vote. declining to amend the constitution so as to provide for biennial sessions, therefore, with the uncertainty of legislation, and the oer- tainty of the expense attending such ses- sion, unless the benefits assured are large ly in excess of the fixed liability, a spe- cial session could not be justified
 If. however, the condition of the state treasury be made the basis for an extra session. the question that naturally pre- sents itself to the thinking mind is. what should be, and what will be accomplished Everyone knows that there are but two remedies. viz: More revenue or less ex- pense Which shall we have? Shall We remedy the condition now existing by cut ting out appropriations and useless ex- penditures or shall the remedy be brought about by the shocus pocus or new revenue bill with new ideas of further and other sources of taxation?
 If the remedy is to be as it should be, less expense, well and good, provided the work is well performed.
 Instead of seeking for reform methods of taxation, let us look for sane meth ods of escaping unreasonable and un- necessary taxation.
 Instead of giving instructions for the drafting of a new revenue bill to increase the revenues of the state s1,000,000 per ari- mum. let bills be introduced that will cut the annual appropriation at least $3Oo.o0o. per annum.
 Can this be done? That depends upon the effort made and how seriously our officers regard their responsibilities
 No one can scan the long list of ap- propriations of the last session without feeling secure in the assertion that sufficient amount could be saved from these without impairng the service Of the state government to materially reduce each year the deficit, which at the present time is increasing alarmingly. This is the only kind of legislation that can re- lieve the burden of taxation.
 q think I can safely say that this amount of $300.000 annually can easily be saved by the abollshment of useless state positions and the proper reorganization. and thereby restriction of expenses of the various state departments.
 Ht llIlie ndS COitle WHtn SO1ut Ollc should speak in behalf of the taxpayer.
 ''He has eheerfully met the calls of the tax gatherer for his regular tax, for his special tax, for his privilege tax. for his license tax. and for his local tax: but he is now becoming restive when some new method is being sought to raise more revenue from his property that is al ready burdened to the last straw.
 Let our law making power lay aside. in all matters pertaining to the expendi- lures of money. the practice of 'sena- torial courtesy which is but degree above the method of the ward politician. We all know what this practice has done for the cities and towns. Brought them to the slough of financial despond with a clamor for commission government and the referendum and recall. The same practices will produce the same results in the state government
 ''It would appear that, inasmuch as it has been said that. He is a public bene- factor who makes two blades of grass grow where one formerly grew that some of our officials have reached the con clusion that he who makes two officials flourish where but one formerly worked is a statesman-that the magnitude of our state Is to be judged by the size of its pay roll.
 Let us introduce into our state gov ernment that good business rule, The highest efficiency with the least ex- pense."