The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-28
W.W.ODUM

principally in the interest of the Muscle Shoals development project on the Tennessee river.
 He declared that cotton mills and water power plants had helped to de- velop the country and that for that reason it was unfair to tax them for certain period of years.
 He was asked by Representative Judge if he were not an attorney or the Alabama Water Power company
 q am not only not employed by the Alabama Water Power company but am not employed by any other public serv- ice corporation" replied Representative Bradshaw
 Anyone who makes this charge in the future must do so with the un- ders standing that Such a statement Is false"
 The Lauderda representative then told of the efforts to secure govern- mont aid in the development of the Muscle Shoals project. stating that ev- cry person in the Tennessee valley was interested In the project and was hopeful that the legislature would do nothing 10 impair their interests in that particular direction
 Representative John closed the de- bate on the amendment proposed by him. He said the United States gov ernment had frequently exempted homesteads from taxation but that the government had never exempted cor porations.
 Power Company Controls Streams
 T have been told that the Alabama Water Power company has actually bought up the water power rights in streams near the city of Montgomery, said Colonel John. Why? I ask you, It is because that great company wants to keep down competition" he said.
 "A more greedy monopoly never existed than this corporation. What would Thom- as Jefferson say were he to step back on earth and see such undemocratic pro- coedings? What argument will you make when you go home and try to explain to the poor farmers of your county your vote on these exemption clauses? How will you explain to the poor farmer that you voted to tax every piece of machinery on his place, his homestead. his cattle and stock. while you voted to exempt the Alabama Water Power company and other big corporations from taxation?"
 At this point the committee of the whole temporarily adjourned and the house re- cessed for lunch.
 The debate on exemptions was resumed
 immediately after recess, Colonel John closing his speech with a fervent appeal to strike from the bill those provisions ex- eu,pting big corporations from the pay ment of taxes.
 Representative Brown of Etowah fol- lowed Colonel John and told of the de- vehement of the Gadsden district by the
 great steel plant erected there many , ..4f. ago The next speaker was Repre- sentative Vaughan of Montgomery. who spoke against exemptions
 Carmichael Speaks for Exemptions
 Speaker Carmichael then called Repre- sentative Merritt of Macon to the chair and took the floor in the interest of ex- emptions. At the outset of his remarks the speaker took exceptions to remarks made in the morning by Colonel John to the effect that powerful lobby was hero in the interest of the water power com pany. He said these remarks did the Dallas representative little credit. When I voted for prohibition I did not expect any reward" said the speaker in explaining the prohibitionists attitude on exemptions. 'I pity the man who is L political prohibtionist, and I pity and despise the man who is a political local optionist."
 He denied that he was connected with the Alabama Power company. In concluding his speech he said q want the prohibitionists of this house to show that they can legislate on some thing else beside prohibition. The peopl. of the state are satisfied with what the prohibitonists have done, and If they con- tinue to serve the people as they did dur ing the first session they can return to the legislature if they wish to do so." Representative John again took the | floor.
 The learned speaker of this house l has taken exception to my remarks about the powerful lobby here in the | interest of these water power exemp- l tions," began Colonel John. He said | he is not afraid of Hobbies. I want to ask him if he did not sign this consti- tutional provision prohibiting lobbies 1 from legislative halls"
 Several other short speeches were