The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-15
Legislators See Serious Af- front to Governor Hender- son in Failure of the Revenue Bill
EVEN PROHIBITION LEADERS FAIL TO
 INDORSE THE BILL
Provision Giving Future Appointments toGOvernOr and Present to Legislature Held Discriminatory
ny l.. S. BETTY

Montgomery, July 14.-(SpeciaID
 That feature of the Weakley rev.
 enue hill providing for the cleo
 ton by the legislature of stnte
 board of equalization in lieu of the
 state tax commission Is destined
 to meet with defeat, according to
 the belief of certain strong mem-
 bers of the assembly, several of
 whom are leaders in the prohibI-
 ton faction.
 In the opinion of many members of the legislature, the creation of a state board of equalization. to supplant the newly appointed tax commission, would be noth- ing less than blow at the administra- tion. serious affront to the executive. For that reason, the provision for the board of equalization has little chance of success, although in theory it may present some advantages over the tax commission.
 As matter of fact, prejudice against the administration is believed to have been the dominant factor In the minds or those who incorporated the board of equalization provision in the new bill for the measure suggests discrimination be- tween the present and future executives in the bfoadest possible terms.
 The bill provides that the members of the board, three in number, shall be selected by the legislature for terms of two, four and six years each. the mem- Der appointed for the longest term to be chairman of the new board But no provision is made for the appoint ment by the legislature of their sue cessors Instead that power is dele- gated to the governor Governor Hem derson it is true, would have the author ity two years hence to appoint successor to the member whom the legislature se- lected for two years, but the successors to the other members of the board would be named by the next governor.
 Discrimination Against Governor
 In other words. the legislature should 1t adopt that provision of the Weakley revenue bill providing for the selection of board of equalization, would put It. self on record as declaring that Governor Henderson shall not fill appointments on the board, but that future governors may exercise that authority. Even those members not in thorough sympathy with the administration declar. that such an act of the present assembly would be the grossest form of discrimination against Governor Henderson. The same opinion is held with reference to the rec ommendation of the Investigating com mttee that the legislature name a state prison commission, to take the place of the present convict board
 Deep-rooted prejudice against Governor Henderson is believed to have actuated those who recommended that the gov ernor s appointive power be taken out of his hands The provision for a state board of equalization is believed to have been inspired by no other motive and the motive Is regarded as unworthy of democratic legislators when it is consid- cred that the method for their selection is vested in the present legislature and in no other.
 Hence Chairman Weakley of the finance and taxation committee, and other radical prohibition members will have a serious fight on their hands in attempt ing to create the board of equalization as at present contemplated, and there Is every possible indication that their ef- forts will be defeated.