The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-06-01
MONTHLY REVIEW
 OF LIVE INTEREST
The First National Presents Question of Tax Increases
DISCUSSES SITUATION
State Tax Assessments and Jefferson County-As to Extra Session of
 the Legislature-Crop
 Conditions Improving

The First National banks monthly re- view of the financial and commercial sit- uation follows:
 June 1, 1912.
 Authorities generally predict an easy money market until late in the season, when preparations for the crop move mont should cause rates to stiffen. Tho official bank rate has recently been re- duoed in both France and England; there Is little speculation in evidence. and trade conditions in most lines are satisfactory.
 Pig iron is firm at 11.25 for No. foun- dry, and local furnaces are we'll sold up into the last quarter of the year. Stocks on the yards are still being reduced, and it would not be surprising to see a sl2 basis reached for 1913 deliveries. There is also an excellent demasd for cast iron pipe and for steel products. Mills, foun- dries and machine shops in this section are running on full time.
 Reports from all over the country in dicate that the crop situation is much better than 1t was on May 15, and our own adviees from various sections Of Alabama show that wonderful Improve mcnt has been made since that date. We should say that conditions in this state are now normal. except that the crop IS about three weeks late. A gratifying fea- ture Is the increase in corn acreage in Alabama, which seems to be about 10 per cent greater than last year, while there Is a possible decrease in cotton acreage throughout the state of from 5 per cent to 10 per cent Fertilizer sales are from A fn ant fhu, los year.
 Of Serious Nature
 Reasonable weather has improved trade. both in retail and jobbng lines. and with one exception the outlook is encour- aging. This exception, however. is of q serious nature and we are confronted with great problem, which threatens to retard the future progress and prosperity Of the Birmingham district.
 "The state tax commission has come into Jefferson county and has increased assessments against TT individuals and corporations in the sum of $40 000,000, and the county tax commissioner has an nonnced that he has increased assess ments in several thousand cases in tie sum of about $25,000000, making a total ineerase of $65 0O0,0O0 As Jefferson county has been paying about 20 per cent of the taxes raised by the state, a corresponding litiedHt III HSStSSiutDlS III llle blntf counties would amount to about S300, ,000, 00O No one believes, however. that any thing like a proportionate increase in ths other counties is in contemplation
 During the Middle Ages favorite means of raising money for public use was to extort 1t from the Jews. Such methods were repeatedly resorted to la England and other countries. As recent ly as the year 1891 the British govern rnent. having urgent need for the sum Of Il ,0C0. 900, proposed to raise the greater part of the amount by levying special tax the Jews. The argument was made that this tax could be easily and quickly collected, as the Jews had the money; that 1t would not burden tho masses of the people. and as the Jews had no political influence at that tlme it was thought that the tax would be d popular one. The Jews, sowever. could not be made to see the justice of tax applicable only to themselves, and pro- tested vigorously. They threatened 10 migrate. and finally succeeded In arous iiig public sentiment, so that the proposed tax was abandoned and history does not record that such a tax has ever again been attempted in England
 An Old Expedient
 Tn this good year 1912 the treasury of the state of Alabama Is in need of about Al.NVNtUuOt ana the dutnO1ltles nave con Lceived the idea that the most expeditions and effective way to raise the amount is To increase the assessments on property. of individuals and corporations in Jeffer- son county. This eXpedient has been tried at frequent intervals during the last 15 years, and has been found so effective hat 1t has become popular over the state. except in Jefferson county. The taxpay- CTS of this county feel that the state +h0rffiao a flpp1 fua aa Inc British government attempted 10 treat the Jews more than 200 years ago, and they have concluded that patience is no longer a virtue and that determined rc- sistanee is in order. Whether or not the increased assessments that have been pro posed are within the limit of 60 per cent of value as required by law is not the question at issue. The people of Jefferson county feel that they are already contrib uting their fair share to the state treas ury and do no believe that any effort has been made to equalize taxes all over the state, although there may have been some exceptional cases weher assessments in other counties have been raised
 "Onr friends in other counties shoull realize that the citizens of Birmingham and Jefferson county have serious local problems to contend with. Our city tax rate is not sufficient for the mainten. ance of modern, progressive metropol- itan government Our police force should be augmented. our fire protection is none too good. and our school facilities are far toe limited. The city commissioners were recently obliged 10 decline to authorize a bond issue requested by the board of cd uoation for the erection of new schoo, buildings, although realizing the pressing need for them. Our system of taxation in Alabama should be localized. Each county should bear an adequate portion of it's own burden. When taxes are To- calized, the people can see where the money goes, and can regulate expendi- lures.
 Americans Liberal Taxpayers
 "The American people have always oeen liberal taxpayers and no tax how eyer burdensome has met with much re- sistance, when 1t was shown that it WAS equitable and uniform. but unfair taxes have always been odious and galling. The insignificant taxes that the British government attempted to impose upon the American colonies were regarded as in- equitable, and in 1776 protesting against taxation without representation. the colo- n.es revolted, framed the Declaration of Independence, and fought the revolutions a.y war to establish that independence. What was patriotism then cannot justly 5e called tax lodging now.
 Jefferson county already supplies more than one-fifth of the revenues of the state of Alabama, but it has such propor- tionate representation in the legislature. even in the lower house, and the consti- I ttat J1noo