The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-06-04
THE TAX PAYERS AFFECTED IGNORE
 TAX COMMISSION Only Two Attorneys of Com mittee Appeared Before Body Yesterday
ALIENS INCREASES
 BE FILED THURSDAY
Appears That Plan of Action Now Is to Lay Tax Increases Before
 Jury of Jefferson County Men

When the state tax commission met yesterday at the courthouse to allow protests to be made formally against the s4i.oo0,0oO tax increase recently made here not one of the persons af- fected by the raise appeared to pro- test. Only Capt. A. C. Smith and Maj. E, D. smith, attorneys for the TIT scrapping taxpayers graeed the com mission hearing and the attorneys re- mained long enough 10 get some in- formation about appeals.
 That an uncompromiaing fight is to be waged against the increase and that the jurymen of Jefferson county are being relied upon to say whether this county pays too much or too little of tho state revenue was undeniably evi- denced by the indifference manifested yesterday when the meeting convened. The result of the state commission work here was the doeketing of judg- ments against the 10 cases set yes- terday. There will be some revisions made hy the state tax commission without any consultation with the in- terested parties before the work is over. The commissioners have dock ct set for about three weeks. Every day during that time many cases are to be called In each of them it is believed that judgments will be taken. Subsequently appeal bonds will be filed.
 Two Members Present
 J. Lee Long and Judge 4. A. Evans were the only two members of the commission to meet yesterday Tho two commissioners reached the court hotsse shortly after 10 o'clock and in- vited the members of the board of revenue to sit with them. Captain Smith and E D. smith were present. representing the taxpayers In the court room also was Capt r. & White, Jr former back tax commissioner; J. " Allen. back tax commissioner at present, and others.
 The first case called was against II. l.. Badham. He Is in Berlin on d tour of Europe. The next was against q local real estate company whereupon Captain Smith asked few questions He pointed out that the law was en- tirely too confusing about this tax bus mess with which Judge Evans agreed. The attorneys then asked the commis- sioners several questions about appeal ing the case. The information was given with pleasure and shortly after ward Attorneys A. G. and F. D. smith retired. Capt. Edward Smith said shortly afterward that appeals were being prepared in the cases against those taxpayers who had been raised
 The action Of the tax payers and their attorneys in eYdencing little interest in the meeting of the commission did not come with any surprise. II had been very definitely agreed that a campaign fig 10 be waged against the increases. The committee appointed by the Chamber of Commerce mass meeting has outlined q scheme of warfare that will find its con clusion before F jurymen of the county. It is said the committee. which has em- ployed Attorneys A. c. and E. D. Smith. wilr devote the entire summer to the ac- emulation of evidence as to the tax in- creases In every county of Alabama and this data will be filed before the jury which tries everyone of the TT cases.
 Allen Increases Ready
 Besides the meeting of the state tax commission yesterday morning with Sil. O00.0 900 in raises outlined. J. V. Allen. back taxf commissioner of Jefferson county. who was also present. had hooks which contained increases amounting to S25O0O.-