The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-07-02
PREPARE TO FIGHT
(. TAX RAISES BEFORE
|. BOARD OF REVENUE
Birmingham Real Estate
Association Held Meet
ing Yesterday
ISSUE PROCLAMATION s
TO THE TAXPAYERS
Committee Named Which Secures
Services of Prominent Attorneys
to Take Taxpayers Fight
Before Board

The tax raise situation in Jefferson
county was given another airing yester-
day afternoon at meeting of the Rlr-
minghsm Real Estate association In the
directors room Of the Chamber of Com
nlerce. The meeting was held for the
purpose of drawing up resolutions con-
corning the tax raises and for furthoring
plans for fighting the so-called unequal
distribution of taxes in the state.
A committee consisting of T. H. Mol
ton, w. B. Leedy, Fuller Manly and Rob-
ert p. MeDavid was appointed and inn
mediately after the adjournment of the
meeting they met and drew up the fol-
lowing proclamation to the taxpayers Of
Jefferson county:
July /. 1912.
ITO the Taxpayers of Jefferson County:
LAS provided in resolution adopted by
the Birmingham Real Estate association,
the undersigned are appointed commit
tee to formulate a plan to resist the ef-
forts of County Tax Commissioner, Allen
to increase the valuations OF property in
this county for taxation for the year 1912
In an amount aggregating $25 100000. This
Is as you understand, an additional raise
to Sal, 100000 proposed by the state COM
mission. and about 100000 made by the
county assessor.
Consulted Lawyers
I'm compl nee with the duties imposed
upon us, we have consulted with eminent
lawyers, who give 1t as their opinion that
the nrineinias of ao,,o Iva t{on IN r,attarc
of taxation are well founded in law, and
until there is general increase of as
sessments, those proposed by Commits
sioner Allen should not be allowed by
the board of revenue.
I'VE have employed Messrs. r. A.
Thompson. ex-back tax commissioner Of
Jefferson county, and Mr. B. Smyer
well known attorney OF Birmingham. to
represent each and every taxpayer who
desires to be represented by experts. They
arc familiar with the law and competent
In every way to represent the interests
OF the taxpayer.
1--WE have reasons to believe tina il
Messrs. Thompson and Smyer can show
to the board of revenue that Tax Com
missioner Allen has failed to equalize
valuations that the board of revenue
will hold that the increases recon-
IilcHutu ny MI <AiitH SNAIL uoi bt al
lowed, 1t matters not whether our
property is assessed at so per cent OF
its real value ,or not. And the law is
plain in a declaration that ito the end
all property shall be assessed at the
same proportion OF its real value,
whether the same is assessed by any
state board or state officer, tax asses
sor or court of county commissioners,
or other court OF like Jurisdiction
Join in Fight"
Nov. 1t takes Just such experts as
we have engaged to show that there
has been no pretense at equalization,
and to intelligently handle the subject,
so we invite every taxpayer who has
been cited to raise to Join us in
the fight
whether 1t will pay you to join
us and have these experts represent
you, we leave to your consideration
and conclusions, but we illustrate the
proposition In this way. Suppose you
have property situated within the
bounds of Greater Birmingham, then
the rate for state. county and city taxes
amounts to s2.30. which Is s23 on each
$1,000 of assessed value We are not
suggesting for anyone to paw more than
81 for each $1,000 raise proposed by Mr.
Allen. so 1t follows that for 81 or less
YOU get expert assistance to prevent
Mr. Allen from taking out of your peck
ct s93
I'VE believe the taxpayers should
stand together and contest every inch
OF ground against this effort by the
state administration and those inter-
ested In big fees to place upon us an
unjust burden OF taxation.
I'VE hand you herewith power OF
attorney which we Will be glad to have
you sign and return to this committee
at the earliest possible moment. We
leave II entirely to you as to the amount
which you are willing to pay for the
services TO be rendered but whatever
that amount may be. please fill out the
blaIdt left for that purpose and send
us check with this power of attorney.
Prompt action is absolutely essen
tlal in this matter. Yours truly.
II. H. MOTION
wv. b. LEEDY,
FULLER MANLY.
"ROBT +. M DAVID,
Committee"