The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-31

the Shelby representative and maoe vigorous spech against exemptions
 He was asked by Representative Fite of Tuscaloosa if he did not vote to ex. empt water power companies from taxa ton in 1907.
 Was Deceived by Representation
 Yes sir did" replied Colonel John. But want to tell you was deceived. was told that those companies would develop lime nitrogen to such an ex- tent as to benefit all the farmers of Alabama. But they did not tell the truth; I was deceived"
 Colonel John then looked over at the Tuscaloosa representative,
 And 1t was not the first time man has been deceived. Our first mothers s son was deceived by the devil himself and from that day to this her sons and daughters have been deceived as we are being deceived today
 Representative Davis of Walker, who did not vote on the question of ex- emptions last Tuesday, was the next speaker. He explained that he took no part in the former debate on the ques- ton because at that time his mind was occupied with multitude Of other mat ters.
 q don't believe there should be any exemptions in Alabama" he said. "As understand it, the chief purpose Of this bill Is to equalise taxes. h not that purpose defeated when we bring In a bill to exempt water power com : panies from taxation?" he concluded. Similar sentiments were expressed by Representative Shapiro of Jefferson county, who declared in answer to an argument that the legislature was not l keeping faith with the power com panies by repeating the exemption clauses, that 1t was mot question of 1 keeping faith with water power com panies but question of keeping faith | with the people of Alabama.
 Letters From Constituents
 MT. Shapiro said he had received a number of letters from people of Jeff 1 ferson county during the past few days and that every letter had urged him to vote against exemptions 1 "I won't read these letters" he said | ''because I would be charged with at l tempting to reflect upon the prohibit ton party. But prohibition was ob- .ained at too great a price | Continuing, he said: This is not g | question of whether you are going te continue a policy, but whether you are going to continue a dangerous ane | ruinous principle"
 Then followed a number of speeche' | against exemptions, Representative whorton of Marshall making his mai HEn speech or. tHe PTebchtt A0e iaiossf session in opposition to granting thes' privileges. Representative Darden O Coosa followed with the statement tha
 it was "class legislation" to grant th'
 exemptions, while Representative blun
 of Washington delivered the hrs
 speech of the day in favor Of exemp
 tions.
 Rogers Urges Calmness
 Representative Rogers of Sumter fol
 lowed with a speech that was later de
 cIared by Speaker Carmichael to b. the most brilliant he had heard on tn floor of the house in many years, Tn eloauent Sumter representative. speaking against exemptions. said h hoped this would be the last day o' which he would hear the terms pro
 hibition" and local option" used.
 He counseled calmness. The Hol
 Book tells us that Job was the great est man in all the east" he said. T
 tells us that Job owned cattle on
 thousand hills But wasJob great be
 cause he was the richest man in tha country or was he great because 1T, n
 and afflictions God placed upon him
 Representative Rogers then told tn :. house that tomorrow he will De T ' years of age and that there would the I only remain to him 1s years Of tn n three score and ten allotted to maj !, 'I shall devote the balance Of tne' | years in trying to be the best father an t the best neighbor in Sumter county h [ concluded amidst resounding applause.
 Following the speech of MT. Roger - Representative Grayson of Mobile dc ' bated the cause of exemptions. He wa I followed by Representatives Ryan or Cul . man. Smith of Geneva and Byrd of La p mar, all of whom spoke against exemr tions.
 Representative Hogan said: 'Tf wer $ to express my individual opinion and cor s victions. I should vote for exemption if But my people have let me know in n '- uncertain terms that they are opposed 1
 exemptions.'
 d In closing the debate on behalf of u