The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-20

states that there is no uate available
as to the ad yalorem taxes OF foreign
corporations as shown by the list of
permit fees but that they. of course,
amount to a considerable total. These
corporations also are paying franchise
tax and have very generally paid up
promptly. Mr.. Troy states that exclu-
sive of the franchise taxes collected
by him and Mr. Evins the total coll
lections of all sorts from foreign cor
porations appear to be s60,690.09. / at
tach hereto list of foreign corpora
tions and penalty cases as prepared by
Mr.. Troy and mark the same exhibit A.
as we'll as a list of collections of iran
chise taxes reported and paid to the
auditor to April 10, 1913, made by r.
B. Evins and D. W. Troy under con-
tract of September 3, 1910.
Franchise Tax Difference
Through the examiners of public
accounts 1 have collected about s15,-
coo of franchise tax difference due
between tive old revenue law and the
new one that went into effect June
], 1911. In addition ] have kept the
examiners constantly at work search
Ing for every dollar of revenue due to
the state and the result has been that
they have made $40 examinations for
the state and $50 for the counties,
total of 1920 examinations during my
term of office They have reported
Sf79,667.18 as due the state of which
$50, 985.64 has been collected and paid
into the treasury. I have also in
structed the examiners 10 recommend
improved methods of bookkeeping in
every department of the public serv-
ice so as to improve such service and
pace it on a systematic and business
like basis
"On April s. 1913, the state tax commits
sion furnished me the amount of increased
taxes and licenses collected for the state
in the past two years. The following is
their statement:
THE increase in assessments in 1911 was
221, which netted the state s164.-
81. 49,
THE increase in licenses collected in
1911 over 1910 was SAG, 1865, making a
total of $211. .717.7S.
"The increase in assessments in 1912
over 1911 was $4S, 164,126, which netted the
state $313,066S1.
The increase in licenses collected In
1912 over 1911 was $160.s63.S9, making a
total of $473, 3,930.64, showing a grand total
of increase for the two years of my ad-
ministration of $685., 64S42 The bulk of
the increased assessments was the prop
erty of the larger corporations.
THE receipts during my administra-
ton from January 10, 1911, to April Z,
1913, inclusive We're S14 152, ,21490 the dis
bursements during that period were $l3,-
| 956 43l.5O, leaving balance in the treas
ury on April Z. 1913 of 1886, 1880. For all
of these disbursements, proper vouchers
are on file in the auditors office.
Avoid Paying Out Cash
1T had been the custom of the convict
department to purchase the cotton re-
quired for consumption at the mill at
Speigners from wagons in small quantities
during the season. Early last fall the
ant Of ha faf inf Il
me that it would be necessary for him to
retain from 100000 to S150,00O of the reve-
nues then due the state to be used in the
purchase of cotton. | informed him that
the condition of the state treasury was
such that I could not permit this money
to be retained for such purposes.
asked Mr. Oakley how much cotton in
addition to the amount raised by the state
would be necessary to supply the mill for
the remainder of the season, and he in
formed me that he had been informed by
the superintendent at Speigners, Mr..
Stewart, 1t would require about 1900 bales
This cotton would not be required until
March. l then instructed him to have
the superintendent of the cotton mill at
Speigner to make q contract with some
reputable and solvent cotton commission
house for the delivery of the 1900 bales
commencing in March and extending dur
ing the entire season. / stated to Mr.
in my judgment it would ever be
during the season, and that the state
would save a large amount of money
by making the purchase at that time,
and by adopting this method we would
avoid paying out the cash and only have
to pay interest and carrying charges.
Cotton was then selling at little over
10 cents
Mr.. Stewart the superintendent pur-
chased these 750 bales on a basis of 10ls
for middling cotton to be delivered on
the last of March, 1s of a cent carrying
charges. He informs me that the day he
purchased this cotton under my orders
the market had reached the lowest point
of the season. Mr.. Oakley, however,
failed to comply with my orders to pur-
chase 1900 bales, the reason he gave me
afterwards was that he honestly believed
that cotton would decline and he could
| make the purchase at a lower rate later
| in the season. The superintendent in
forms me that the entire mill supply for
the season, about 2400 bales. has been pur-
chased at an average price of 1880 cents,
| which is as low as any cotton mill in
| the country have secured their supplies.
| The report of Examiner Evans shows
| that this mill has netted during my ad-
| ministraton the sum of $50. .16S 92 and the
| superintendent informs me that the mill
property is even in better repair and con-
| dition and of greater value than when L
assumed office.
Inherited Burden of Debt
Notwithstanding the burden of debt
| my administration inherited upon my en-
| trance into office, a burden which was
| increased by additional appropriations
\ made by the legislature then in session
| of over one-half million dollars and other
appropriations which | believed that the
| demands of the public service and the in
| mn 10 ro.
lease | have so far been able to meet
all the liabilities of the state, and it is
| my hope that by continuing system of
rigid economy, in the management of
every department of the state govern
ment, by the introduction of better meth
| DDS of bookkeeping, the reduction of ex-
penses and rigid scrutiny of each and
| every purchase in the convict department,
by equalizing tax values and preventing
escapes to be able, before the end of my
| term to make the receipts exceed the
disbursements
NTr.fx. .