The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-14
No Comment to Make On Controversy Over Certain
 Jefferson County Cases
RETICENT ON TALK
 OF EXTRA SESSION
Also Declines To Be Quoted on Other Subjects Which Have Recent Iy Been Up For Discus
 sion

The action of the board of revenue in declining to docket cases against the Pratt Consolidated Coal company, and the Sloss-Sheffield Steel and Iron com pany, is responsible for the visit to Bir- mingham last night of the governor of Alabama. While in the city, he conferred with JohnN s. Mooring. chairman. and Henry P. White. associate member of the state tax commission, and Capt. Joseph V. Allen, back tax commissioner of Jefferson county.
 The state tax board informed the gov ernor that there was every reason why the assessment against the industrial cor porations should be increased. and de- cared that the board of revenue of lief ferson county in declining to docket the cases had merely followed the precedents set by Marengo, Montgomery and Fayette counties. The chief executive, however, had nothing to say for publication.
 T had telegram some days ago set ting out the fact that the local board Of revenue had declined to docket cases based on claims that assessments against two industrial corporations should be in creased" said the governor. Tt was for the purpose of hearing details in this con nection that l stopped over in Birmng- ham while returning to Montgomery from Florence. The tax board has gone over the situation thoroughly, but l am not in position to make q statement It is probable that l will have something to say following my return to the capitol. '
 As a whole, the governor was extremely reticent last night in discussing matters with an Age-Herald reporter. In regard to the caucus held in Montgomery last week which resulted in a determination to call the legislature in extra session. in regard to the threat of Representative Brindley that in the event of an extra session he would introduce a resolution demanding a statement by the governor of the expenditure of the contingent fund in regard to the necessity confronting him of remaining W. c. Agee and II. Wilk- inson or appointing their successors to serve on the local excise commission, and in regard to the petition of the cor oner that he be furnished with a lawyer to aid in conducting examinations into local murder mysteries, the governor de- clined to talk.
 Tn regard to an extra session." he said, T decline to be quoted I have had several applications for position on the excise commission. I will make known the appontees at the proper times In regard to threats of MT. Brindley l have nothing to say. l have not been informed that the coroner is desrous of legal as- sSfance in Investigating murder mys- teries. Sometime ago in Birmingham, informed him that if the solicitor could not aid him, l would do so. At that time, the solicitor declared that he would be able to give d man to the coroners serv- ice. If the solicitor has not been able tc do so, | will endeavor 70 see that Cor oner Spain is given legal aid
 The governor declared that he would continue his journey to Montgomery this morning. It is anticipated tha. as soon as he reaches Montgomery he will issue statement in regard to the action of the local board of revenue in refusing to docket cases for increase in tax assess ments against two corporations. For it IS known that he was informed last even- Ing that unless the state tax board was supported by the authority of the gov ernor the work of the board would be nullified. Tt is known, also, that the governor was informed that unless he acted, that which has been done by Ma 'rengo, Montgomery Fayette and Jefferson counties would be taken as a precedent by every other county of the state and that the work of equalzng taxation would be necessarily estopped
 The governor readily discussed the European war; and expressed the hope that in the near future, following A de- cislve battle, the differences would be arbitrated.. He smiled when asked to dis cuss the methods which he George B. Ward, and other distinguished citizens. Tn conjunction with the Chicago Examiner would pursue in order 10 bring about a speedier adjustment of international diff ierenees across the waters.