The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-21

II they would keep strictly to the business
in hand if called together. Most of them
''wculd consider it impertinent, for every
locality has some needs that should be
attended to-"
Abolish Immigration Commissioner
Mr.. Percy expressed himself as in
favor of abolishing the office of COM
missioner of immigration. saying that the
office was of no use. He said that he
would advocate the passage of bill to
this effect at the next session of the leg
islature. He touched lightly upon the
liquor laws and assured his hearers that
If the legislature convened it would not
take up this matter at ALL but would re-
mand it until another time. He said he
believed that a tremendous amount of
important business could be dispatched by
the legislature in very short time from
the fact that the legislators were all ac-
quainted with one another and were al
ready organized.
T. II. Motion was the next speaker. He
stressed the Importance of appealing to
the judgment of the people, and said that
the business of the city could not be run
without more money. Mr.. Motion adyo-
Gated the increasing of the rate as
one remedy for the depleted treasury of
the city He said that it would greatly
but said that this thing must be got out
of the way, and | will go to Montgomery
and stay until it Is finished He ex-
pressed his confidence in the present city
and was cordially applaud
ed as he resumed his seat
Barber Gets the Floor
Arlie Barber got the floor after Mr..
Motion and delivered an address in which
he expressed surprise that the city of
Birmingham could not be run on the
present income. He cited figures attempt
ing to prove his contention that an income
of little more than $2,000,000 a year was
sufficient for city of Birmingham S size
and said that he would be opposed to in
creasing the rate of taxation. He attacked
the commission bill, said the revenue bill
was rotten" and expressed fine contempt
for the framer of section 36-F. saying 1t
was the most iniduitous clause ever in
serted in the statutes of any state
Mr.. Barber attacked the method of as
sessments and favored the former back
tax commissioner He cited alleged in
stances of property being assessed at
low rate and the back tax commissioner
increa sing the assessment. He said that it
would be well If property was assessed
according to the insurance policies of the
owners In two or three instances he
made veiled allusions to Mr.. Percy and
referred to the governor of Alabama, say
ing this man has admitted over his own
signature in the public press that
delegation of $50 Birmingham citizens
went to Montgomery and bulldozed MIN
out of passing the proposed revenue bill.
''If this committee proposed by Commits
soner Lane Is appointed it is over my
strenuous protest, and that of hundreds of
humble taxpayers in this city, he said
Percy Replies
Mr. Percy arose to reply to the ref
erences to himself made by Mr.. Barber
and said in part: II don't believe that
Mr.. Barber would willingly state an
untruth but it is certain that he states
many things which he don't know or
of which he has incorrect information.
AS we'll as l have been able to learn
the average assessment throughout the
state Of Alabama is approximately 80
per cent The law for many years set
it at 100 cents. Farm lands In this
state are hardly ever taxed at more
than $40 an acre. and the taxing system
of the state today Is chaotic. 1t is
easier for the authorities to raise values
in the wealthy and prosperous commu-
mites than it IS 70 raise taxes In the
farming sections.
Il was one of the gentlemen -espon-
sible for the 60 per cent law and
want TO tell you, IhI. bdiDtip tHet iHtic
is nothing did in Montgomery of which
l am not proud.
"How about that revenue bill?" inter-
rupted Mr.. Barber.
Il worked on it, came the answer
Thirty six F?" snapped Mr.. Barber
Il had nothing to do with it," an
swered Mr.. Percy.
Mr.. Percy told Mr.. Barber that he
had framed the commission bill, and
that in the bill as it was originally
planned the people had the right to
elect the commissioners. He said that
he had to compromise with those op-
posing the bill in the. Legislature. and
was glad to get it through at all. He
was enthusiastically cheered as he re-
sumed his seat.
T. II. Motion arose and said that as
member of the ways and means CON-
mittee of the state legislature, the rev.
eple bill, referred to by Mr.. Barber
as originally presented would have
taxsd the poor man of Alabama as he
had never been taxed before. The orig
inal bill, said Mr.. Motion, was objected
to by every man on my committee.
They revised the bill, he said. ''and
If there Is any mistakes in it II is
because they had to hurry in order to
get II through Mr.. Barber says that
under this bill the street railway COM
pany in Birmingham does not have to