The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-12-22
Chairman Bowie Calls At
tentiOn to Necessity for
Cooperation to Get
Results
THREE PLANS ARE
UNDER DISCUSSION
Chairman Gives Intimation That He
Would Favor an Increase in
the City's Tax
Rate

The large committee named some time
ago to devise a scheme for the financial
relief of the city of Birmingham, will this
1t is very probable that the committee
will consider plan for the immediate
relief and another for the ultimate and
permanent relief of Birmingham. The
former plan embodies the idea of a bond
issue of s1,00O000, this amount, with in
terest, to be cared for through a period
of 10 or 10 years with increased revenue
to be obtained through the plan to be
adopted for permanent relief.
As has been pointed out, three plans for
the permanent relief of the city have
been suggested. The one embodies the
idea of an increased rate of taxation, the
other the equalization of taxation, and
the third, the creation OF Birmingham
county, a combination, in other words, OF
the county and municipal government
within an area of sos square miles. Each
of the plans has its advocates. The least
popular of the three, it is believed will
prove to be that of equalizing the burden
of taxation, the general impression APP
parently being that under popular gov-
eminent where officials are amenable to
the people for reelection 1t is impossible
to apprehend the tax dodger.
Chairman Bowie's Statement
s. J, Bowie, chairman of the committee
in a statement issued yesterday, makes
plea for harmony. He calls attention to
an error which appeared in The Age
Herald of yesterday morning. and inti-
mates very strongly that he himself
favors increasing the rate of taxation in
Birmingham. He declares, however, that
he will willingly submit TO the plan to be
settled upon by majority of the members
or all of the members of the committee.
His statement follows:
In the article prepared by your Mr..
Roberts In reference to the first meeting
of the committee of 100 which Is TO be
held Tuesday afternoon at o'clock,
tion should be called.
Mr., Roberts in analysing the different
plans which will be presented for consid-
Grafton by the committee speaks first of
the suggested plan to increase the tax
rate. On that subject he says, in part, "A
third objection is found in the fact that
in whatever increased sum of money is
realized from an increased rate, the
county and state would share" 1t is not
usual that Mr. Roberts errs in matters
of this sort He is In error, however, in
this: The raise In the rate would apply
only In the city of Birmingham for city
purposes, and every cent of it would go
to the city of Birmingham; neither the
county nor the state would share in IN,
creased revenue to any extent whaiso-
ever.
Regrets the Prospect
u was disappointed TO see Mr.. Roberts
prediction that It would be impossible to
secure unanimous action on the part of
the committee; and, / was also disap-
pointed to note his prediction that a ma
jority of the members of the legislature
and of the city commission would oppose
the action OF the committee II it did not
happen to coincide with their precon-
ceived views. l sincerely trust that Mr..
| have my convictions as to what ought
to be done, ] am willing to yield every
one of them, IL 1t is necessary, in order
TO secure harmonious and united action,
and / shall hope that every other member
of the committee will enter upon it's de-
alterations in like spirit, and / know
that a majority of the city commission,
il not all OF them, will do likewise.
II have not interviewed the members
of the legislature from this county, but
! trust and I believe that they Will en-
ter into consideration of this problem
with open minds ready unitedly to sup
port whatever plan Is presented that
seems best adapted to meeting the pres
ent situation. What Mr.. Roberts says
would be the effect of an increase OF the
rate in this city, while inaccurate in this
respect, is entirely applicable to the Sec
ond plan suggested of increased assess
ments, a change In the assessments from
60 to 100 per cent, or a general increase
in the assessments would result in many
dollars paid into the state and county
treasures with very limited proportions
ate return to the city
Idea of Equalization
I'm other words, Birmingham would be
called upon under that system to pay oui
many dollars In order to get the bene-
fit of a few. | would apprehend that In
creased assessments in this city or county
will not be met by a like increase
throughout the state. However ! am In
favor of a just and proper equalization
of taxes in this state, city and every.
whore. | doubt, however, IL we can hope
for relief from this source
"As to the new county. much can be
said In favor of 1t, but there are many
points of objection thereto which will
have to be earnestly considered and
weighed before we could wisely give our
approval to 1t. All of the merits and de-
merits of all of the plans should, and
/ believe. will be carefully considered and
thrashed out by the committee in its de-
alterations. ! sincerely trust the public
and particularly the press of Birmingham
will give to the deliberations of the COM
mittee all the announcement that Is
possible, and that they will help in
bringing about conclusion upon which
all can stand. / think now Is the time
when, II ever In the history of this
community. 1t Is true that united, VIC
stand; divided. we fall. The work of the
committee will necessarily fail unless II