The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-18
CAMPAIGN BEGINS IN EARNEST FOR TAX AMENDMENT Committee Gives Out B Reasons Why Birmingham Should Be Trusted GIVES CITY RIGHT
 TO INCREASE RATE Campaign of Publicity Is Now to Be Conducted for Benefit of
 the Voters of the
 State

Appeals to the voters of the state to go to the polls on Monday, December 27 and cast a vote for the Birmingham amend ment are being made by campaign of publicity conducted by those favoring the movement.
 The election on the above date is for an amendent to the state constitution giving the people of Birmingham the right to vote for an increase of five mills in the tax rate if they so desire . A vote for the amendment does not in- crease the tax rate nor authorize the city commissioners to increase it. It simply authorizes the people of Birmingham, if they see fit. to raise their own tax rate after October l. 1916
 There are 8 multitude of reasons ad- vanced why the people of the state should vote for the amendment on the 27th, among them the following 33 reasons sug- gescted hy the publicity committee:
 Home rule.
 People of Birmingham want it.
 It doesn't affect any place but Bir- mingham.
 Birmingham wants adequate police pro- lection.
 Birmingham wants adequate fire pro- lection.
 Birmingham wants adequate school fa- cilities, good streets, lights, free text books, free schools.
 Birmingham is willing to pay for these things.
 Birmingham has lowest tax rate of any city of 100000 population in the country.
 The people of Birmingham must vote their own tax rate every three years.
 Only qualified voters of Birmingham can raise the tax rate after the amendment is adopted.
 Montgomery and Mobile have much higher tax rates than Birmingham
 Birmingham has invested $l0,000 in this election.
 Birminghams Chamber of Commerce indorses it.
 Birmingham's Real Estate exchange in- dorses it.
 Birmingham's Business Mems league in- dorses it.
 Will make Birmingham progressive city.
 Will re-establish playgrounds.
 Will re-establish welfare work
 Will re-establish appropriations to char itable institutions
 Will help Birmingham grow, thus help- ing the state to grow.
 City's expenditures per capital are less than any city of it's size
 Receipts are less per capita than any city of it's size
 Will tend to equalize taxes
 Will reduce business licenses
 People won't vote raise Tn rate if it is not needed.
 Birmingham can't get relief by increas- ing it's assessments The state fixes as- sessment in Birmingham through the states own officers and the city must levy Its tax on wha values these ofri- cials fix.
 BirminghamS collects from licenses on merchants and other vacations, in actual dollars and cents, nearly as much money as New York or Chicago. This is forced by the cityS small tax rate
 These licenses on business should not be increased further.
 Will rehabilitate public library.
 VII, enable Birmingham to compete on an equal footing with other large south ern cities
 Birmingham has smaller income now than any other city of it's size in the United States
 It gives no new authority to public off cials; but does give new authority to the people.
 If the amendment carries, it will not in crease taxes, but will simply give the people the right to increase them. if thev wish
 Birmingham citizens simply ask for the rlght to pay for conveniences that are es- sential to their progress, and they urge the people of the state to cooperate with them in acquiring this democratic privi. lege.