The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-04-09
Bradley, DeWindt and Mor- row Tell of Effect on
 B. R., l.. & P. Go.
NO SESSION OF THE
 COMMITTEE TODAY
Jitney Operators Will Present Their Side of the Case TOmorrow-Pry Deeper Into Subject of
 Taxation

The legislative recess committee on finance and taxation began on yesterday the study of how innumerable jitney buses in Birmingham, depriving the Bir- ningham Railway, Light and Power com pany of its profit from operating a street railway system, effected one of the most prolific sources of taxation revenue with In the confines of the state.
 Lee Bradley. vice president: J. P. H. DeWindt, general manager, and Hugh Morrow, counsel of the company, told the committee of the effect on the company tho jitneys were exerting, and of the al- legged unfairness that this should be the case in virtue of the fact that the com pany was a supporter of the government, and the buses were not-and were unreg- ulated.
 In addition to the jitneys, the commit tee throughout yesterday pried deeper into the subject of taxation, and in the course of this prying discussed with one witness the alleged wisdom in demanding of suffragettes when they are given the ballot the payment of the poll tax At adjournment Chairman Weakley an- nounced that there would be no session
 
 ness would be resumed Saturday. Mon- day the committee will sit in Birmingham, but on Tuesday it will visit Anniston in response to an invitation extended yes- terday by W. A. Davis of that city, who expressed the desire that the commit tee go to one town in Alabama where property is assessed at 60 per cent of it's | value. The final session of the commit he hpl in pir,,,fr er1,o day of next week. Saturday jitney op- orators will be permitted to tell their | story
 Testimony Almost Identical The testimony of the three officials of the Birmingham Railway, light and Pow CT company was practically identical. Each told the committee of the heavy bur den of taxation borne by the company and of how the company was required at heavy expense to pave and sprinkle the streets MT. Morrow testified that thers were only l2 counties in Alabama which paid annually more money for taxation than this one company. The three wit nessea told the committee further that the 1 jitneys paid nothing for the support of the government, and were not liable for any damage that the carelessness of their drivers might inflict. They urged the reg | ulation of the jitneys that they be re- quired to conform to the obligation of common carriers in the support of city, | county and state, and that they be re- | quired to bond themselves in order that anyone injured might recover damages. ''It is estimated" testified MT DeWindt, 1 that the jitneys carry each day 9500 l passengers. and deprive us as result, of about $500 per day, or our profit. We have not quite yet reached the stage in which we will not be able to pay interest | on our investment But very soon, unless | some relief be extended we will be in the condition of the company in Mem- | phis which cannot pay interest on invest ment. Certainly. we will be unable to extend our service and further develop l the city of Birmingham"
 Beatty Testifies
 l I. c. Beatty, who originated the jitney | idea in Birmingham, and who is presi- 1 dent of the Norwood Motor Transporta. I tion company, testified that he had con structed his bus line because he had failed to induce the street railway system to extend its service into the Norwood dis trict. He declared that his company was not making money, but was managing to 1 break about even. He stated that he would be willing to discontinue the service but for the fact that the residents whom he serves seriously objected.
 Hubert Drennen declared that in his l opinion the jitneys would not last long, | was destined to become permanent is- stitution.
 | During a lull in the testimony, Sam Blake, clerk of the city court, took the stand, and was asked to furnish the committee with a statement of fees re- ceived and money disbursed by his office. W. II. Graves testified that the burden of taxation was unusually heavy in Bir- mingham, and that he was forced to pay for taxes about 20 per cent of his income from property
 w A. Davis thereupon extended an in- vitation to the committee to visit An | niston where, he said. property is as- 1 sessed at 60 per cent of it's actual value. i As stated above, the committee will visit Anniston Tuesday.
 Witnesses on Taxation l Regarding the subject of taxation, con- sidered paramount by the committee, D. J. Smyer. B. A. Thompson, E. l.. Brown, I H. U. Sims and s. J. Bowie gave testi- mony. The opinions of these men diff fered in no essential respects. The testi- mony of Mr. Bowie, however, became l interesting when he responded to an in- ouiry of Senator Key as to whether or rot the witness was of the opinion that suffragettes, in the event that they &C., quired the ballot should be required to | pay a poll tax When this question was asked, the committee aroused itself and smiled. The spectators did likewise. How ! ever, MT. Bowie received the question