The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-18
Railroad Regulation and
Local Option Two Chief
Planks of Platform
TAX INCREASES ARE
TOO LARGE BY FAR
Had Not Intended Announcing Candi-
dacy so Early, But Action of
Other Candidates Made
1t Necessary

Montgomery. May 17.-(Special)- CHA rles
Henderson, president of the state rail-
road commission, made formal announce
ment this afternoon of his candidacy for
governor In the next election.
In making mis- formal announcement for
the office of chief executive, Mr. Hen
derson makes mention of three leading is
sues, which he will Incorporate in his
platform, economy in state government
railroad regulation and local option
He declares that the increase in taxa
tion in the state during the past five
years has been 81 per cent. maintaining
that 1T is better to practice economy
than to rob the citizens by taxation" He
says that the Legislature should prac-
tice the same methods as are adhered
TO in business. that before appropriations
are made there should first be obtained
an estimate of the revenues of the state.
In his system of economy, AIr Henderson
further pledges that he will abolish all
useless offices.
Railroad Commission Control
With reference to the railroads, Mr.
Henderson says that the principal source
from which control of these companies
should come is the railroad commission.
The railroad corporations of the state are
a part and parcel of the state of Ala
hama. and they are entitled to the same
fair treatment as any other taxpayer. but
no more,'' he declares Continuing he
says: TT is my purpose to continue with
a strong hand to maintain this control,
but, nevertheless, to be fair and just"
In expressing his views on local option,
Mr.. Henderson declares that he is not
satisfied with the present control of the
whisky business. He recognizes the evils
of the whisky traffic, and declares that
the "surest way to eradicate this evil is
by local option, with the county as
unit" Mr.. Henderson also says that the
traffic should be better regulated and
controlled than it is at present.
He declared that he had not intended
announcing so early for governor. but
that the declarations of other candidates
had forced him to make his announce
ment now. Other issues. he says, and
views on the various questions in which
the people are interested will be expressed
later.
Many Inquiries From Friends
His formal statement is as follows:
Yes. YOU are authorized to say that [
am a candidate for the gubernatorial
nomina tion. / had not expected to make
my formal announcement until later. as
| considered a - month campaign rather
too long, but, inasmuch al the announce
ment of. other candidates has opened the
campaign. and in response to the many
Inquiries from my friends over the state,
as to my intention, 1 make the announce
ment now.
II shall not at this time. mention my
views on all the questions upon which |
believe the people of the state expect an
expression, but will do so later. both from
the stump and through the press. How
ever. there are some questions agitatins
the public mind upon which | believe tha
candidate for gubernatorial honors should
now express his views.
Unnecessary Taxes by State
IAN unnecessary tax by the state is as
great wrong as is an unreasonable
exaction for service. and both should
meet with equal condemnation by the
people. The tax that is now being taken
from the citizens of the state, both in
dividual and corporation. has reached the
point where 1t has become burdensome.
This should not be. The state govern
ment should be and can be run upon
economical lines, so that such a burden
tice economy than to rob the citizen by
taxation.
The taxpayers of the state paid into
the state treasury in 1907 s3,9l5.454 and
for the year 1912 s6,26l2SI, an increase
of 81 per cent in five years. i mentioned
these enormous increases in taxation
when Cie legislature was in session in
1911, and suggested when the revenue bill
was under consideration that business
methods should be adhered to. viz; That
fair estimate of revenues should be
obtained, and that appropriations should
be cut to Nthis probable income. is
done in all good business. pledge the
people of the state. that If | am elected
tieir governor that ! will veto the first
appro priation that goes beyond the rev
ennes that can be fairly, anticipated, with
out making taxes burden. and fur
ther pledge myself TO the abolition Of
useless offices.