The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-25
COURT OF APPEALS AND TAX COMMISSION
 WILL BE RETAINED
Talk of Creating Convict Commission Losing Enthu- siasm-WhOlesale AbOli- tion Not Probable As
 Reported
Ky l.. $. BETTY

Montgomery. January 24.--tsp~cial.b With the exception of the bureau of cotton statistics md the imnig ration department. it is highly improbable that the legislature wiiIsAsboiish any other state offices. The first of these abolish thnt department having passed the senate several days ago. IL hns had one rendinS In tho house nnd will be passed by that body during the prcs- cnt week, unless all indications fnii.
 The immigration department is a.so likely to be abolished. though progress toward that end has not been so rapti as in the first case. The bill seeking to cut off that office has not yet passed either house, but. unless there should be an entire reversal of legislative sen- timcnt it's days are surely numbered.
 There has been some talk of intro- duoing substitute measure to that seeking it's abolishment. This bill. 1t is said. will propose the creation of d de- partment of immigration and publicity. to be presided over by commission of three, with the director at the head. The contemplated measure further pro- poses an appropriation of $15,o00 or S2o.- poo annually, an amount which is deemed sufficient to run the depart ment along successful and progressive lines But tha bill has not vet been in- troduced.
 Will Retain Court of Appeals
 The court of appeals. created by tho legislature of 1911, will in all pVba- bility be retained. Two bills to abolish this court have been introduced, one in the senate and the other in the house. but neither measure has been reported.
 The senate measure went to the ju- diciary committee, and at first therc were rumors that the majority of that committee favored tho bill. Later 1t was learned that the committee was in- elined to make adverse report, and there is now every indication that this course will be taken. The house com mittee on judiciary is expected to make similar report.
 since the legisla ture convened there has been considerable reversal of sen.' timent relative to the court of appeals. Had the members of the two houses been able to vote on the question O. the court on the first day os the session, 1t Is more than likely that the tribunal would have been cut off as part of the state government. But since coming to Montgomery the ma jority of the legislators have faniil- iarized themselves with the work of the court of appeals during tho past four wears, with the result, it is declared, that most of them now favor retaining 1t as q permanent state institution.
 Tax Commission Safe
 The state tax commission Is also safe. 10 indications. The bill to abolish that department has been ad- versed by the senate committee on finance and taxation. and 1t is expected that similar action will be taken by that committee in the house. before which body companion measure was intro- duced
 But the county tax commissioners will not he retained during the pres ent administration. Sentiment in favor of abolishing the back tax commissions CT is almost as unanimous as that fa- voring the abolishment of the bureau of cotton statistics. If the back tax commissioner Is not discontinued by
 (Continued on Page Eight.)