The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-25
TAX RAISE WILL AFFECT POOR MAN T. H. Motion Issues Interest
 ing Statement ANSWERS GOV. O'NEAL We'll Known Birmingham Man States Governor and MT. Allen Are
 Wrong About Poor Man
 Not Being Affected
ANSWERS GOV. O'NEAL

That the poor man will be taxed heav- fly by the county tax commissioner, and should oppose the recent tax increases for his own protection, is the statement of T. 1T. Motion, member of the Jeffer- son county delegation to the legislature and prominent Birmingham citizen. He says in statement given out yesterday that Eugene l.. Brown Is absolutely cor rect about the poor man being deeply In terested in the tax situation In this county.
 The statement of Mir. Notion follows; TO the Editor of The Age-Herald;
 It appears from what hear and have read in the newspapers that Emmet o'Neal. governor of Alabama, and J. V. Allen, back tax commissioner of Jefferson county. would make 1t appear that the man who pays but little taxes dhe poor man, who Is so dearly beloved by the poi- ticians and oficehoders) is not and will not be effected by the proposed heavy assessments in Jefferson county, and to this proposition would like to appeal to the common sense of the aforesaid small taxpayer and poor man, and suggest that he should think little for himself and be not deceived.
 Poor Man Not Fool I don't believe he is quite such a fool as these officials and politicians seem to think. but deem 1t not out of place to ask him to stand with the large property owner in demand that Jefferson county shall not be discriminated against. In an article published in today's Age- Herald E. L. Brown makes 1t very plain | that the poor man is just as much inter- ested in this matter as the rich man. 1 This is true, even if the taxes on his property is not increased one dollar, but how about 1t?
 Does anyone believe that no poor man or poor woman will be in the list of in 1 creases to be made by County Commits sloner Allen? It was stated through the press. and not denied by MT. Allen that he has list of something over 1000 ready ano the amount of increases by him will aggregate about $f2.OO0,00o. He has not yet given names. and we will never know whose names are on his list, if the board or revenue stands by the taxpayers of Jefferson county as the Montgomery board of revenue stood by their people; and, if I correctly read between the lines. MT. Allen is not so certain but what the board of revenue will refuse to docket his cases, as the board of revenue of Mont gomery county did, and say to him: We believe that property in Jefferson county is assessed high enough. We know that
 it is assessed much higher than it Is in any other county in the state, and believ- | ing as we do, we do not propose to pile up all this trouble and expense against
 4Oo0 of our citizens, just 10 put more money in your pockets and In the state treasury"
 "Is Mir. Allen Sure?" If MT. Allen was so sure of the cor rectness of his position in the proposed increase of s120oo,0oo. in addition 10 the $40, ,OOo,0OO made by the state commission, how is it that he has, through the news papers, invited the taxpayers 10 call on him with a view of compromising?
 As stated by some of those who made earnest speeches at mass meeting held a few days ago, we should stand to- gether and make no compromise, and 1t is my opinion that the man who now compromises will he untrue to himself and untrue to his friends and neighbors.
 Now is the time to make a fight and it will rebound to the good of the tax payer and every man in Jefferson county II will teach others in the state that the state Legislature cannot in such reckless manner make extravagant appropriations with the expectation of getting most Of the money out of Jefferson.
 T. H. MOTION. Birmingham May 2i, 1912