The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-04
Many Feel 1t Will Indirectly
Tend to Discredit Con-
victs on Roads
HARD TO EXPLAIN
CAUSE OF THE RAISE
Action, 1t Is Said, Gives New Life
to Those Who Have Been OPP
posing Taking COnvicts
From Mines

The announcement in The Age-Herald
yesterday morning that the board of rev.
enue had increased the tax " cent, or 80
cents on the $1,000. came as a distinct
shock to the business interests of the
county, and will probably result in an
effort to have the matter reopened.
1t is argued by these interests that it
is unwise In the very moment of increas =.
values to increase the rate also. Further
more. those who pay taxes in Jefferson
county claim they have been so far unable
to ascertain the reason for the increased
rates.
The taxable values in Jefferson for this
year will amount to $4,000, 900, or an in
crease of approximately s25. 100000 over the
values of last year. Whereas this in
crease has occurred, the sources of reve-
nue. have not been cut into save In one
particular-the putting of convicts of the
county on the county roads. 1t had been
generally thought that the increase in
taxable values would more than counterr-
act the decrease in revenue caused by talk
ing the convicts out of the mines. The
revenue of the county for the year will
be increased by the addition of the new
rate approximately $65,0O0.
The increased rate was put into effect
by majority vote of the members of the
board, DIR. Lovelady and Mr.. Bivens hav-
ing voted against the measure. While 1t
is impossible to obtain formal statement
from either of the members, it is known
that those who opposed the increasing of
the rate feel that the increased rate will
tend to make the building of roads by
convict labor unpopular. There has been
a concerted effort made for some time to
put the innovation into disrepute. Circu-
lars issued have stated that the transfer
renee of convicts from the mineN to the
roads would necessitate the increasing of
the tax rate. Nothing, it is stated, can
now make the people believe other than
that the claim of the circulars was just
and accurate.
The members of the board have not at
tempted to make the people believe but
that the revenue of the county would be
decreased by putting the convicts on the
road. DIR. Lovelady said yesterday after
noon that it would be impossible at this
time to give estimate as to how much
the county has lost in revenue by remov-
ing the convicts from the mines.
July l, however," he said, I'VE will be
in position to make a statement, for
then the courts will have ceased to oper-
ate and our supply of convicts will not be
subject to an increase every day or week.
Then We can reach a just estimate in the
way of an official statement. When we
can do SO. shall favor letting the people
know exactly where we stand, and exact
ly what the cost of building roads by con-
vict labor has amounted to or will amount
to-"
While the members of the board are
thoroughly aware that the action of the
board in increasing the county tax rate
will give those who are attacking the idea
of "convicts on the roads," new material
with which to shoot, and while they know
that no argument can dissuade the people
from their present position of believing
that the tax rate was increased on ac-
count of the cost of putting convicts on
the road they are determined, neverthe-
less, to continue their work as If nothing
had happened.
I'VE will pull through" stated one of
the members yesterday, even should the
pull be harder than at the present time.'