The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-29
STREET TAX CORPS
MAKES BIC RAID ON
COURTHOUSE CROWD
Everybody Except Judges
Forced to Pay Up or
Make a Bond
BLACKS SECRETARY
RATHER INDIGNANT
Tells Them to Take Him to Jail,
But the Solicitor Comes to
the Rescue with the
BY RICHARD F. LUss1ER


Street tax collectors "got the goat Of
L. Black, yesterday afternoon, when they
attempted to kidnap him from the court
house and carry him to the city Jail.
TT was an outrage" said Mr. Allen.
II had not paid my street tax; in fact,
had never given the matter a thought.
However, I've paid now. AS a matter
of fact, Solicitor Hugo Black paid for me.
II was sitting in my office at work
transcribing grand jury notes when two
big ex-policemen serving temporarily as
high privates in the organized brigand-
age ordered by the city commission,
grabbed hold of me. 1 am naturally ner-
vous and l resented such treatment. as
transcribing stenographic notes necessi-
tates concentration. 1 suppose that l was
a little short in my answers. In fact,
1 am so familiar with the ways of these
officers that l pay very little attention
to them and when l was tackled thought
it was merely a stupid joke on the part
of these 'miSguardians' of the law.
However, l was quickly enlightened
by being stood up and informed that l
was to go to Jail unless 1 came through
with $3.50 for street tax. i haven't got
the money I said. Borrow it, steal it;
do something, they replied. Well, take
me to jail, then, 1 replied, but Solicitor
Black came in about that time and. see
ing the situation, paid the tax and sent
them off to others
OTHERS SUFFERED ALSO
From the interview with Mr.. Allen it
would appear that he was considerably
'miffed, but throughout the courthouse
yesterday could be heard cries of rage,
chagrin and humiliation.
The street tax collecting brigade of
the city commission was making a con-
certed raid" on the courthouse and
everybody was forced to pay or sign d
bend. Court bailiffs, deputy sheriffs,
court clerks, attorneys and the solicitor s
assistants were forced to pay the street
tax. The only persons immune were the
judges.
In making payments for their street
tax yesterday many of the court attaches
had any money in their pockets and, as
pay day" for the courthouse employees is
only two days off, the majority of them
were broke. Many of the bailiffs request
ed to be allowed a few days grace, but
it was to no avail. They grabbed a
newspaper man who was also "brole,
and 1t necessitated telephone CONVEX
SdllOH Will SECRETARY VI Tie lily COIu-
mission Clarence Lloyd to free the scribe
from the violent hands of the collectors.
RESULT OF RAID
One of the direct results of the raid
of the street tax collectors on the court
house yesterday afternoon was the i'm
mediate interest the solicitors office be-
gan taking in the appeal case of Horace
Wilkinson against the paying of the street
tax. Steps were at once taken to have
this appeal case set for immediate trial
and Mr.. Wilkinson will be given some
material aid and comfort in his fight to
prove the unconsttutionality of the i'm
position of the street tax.
THE street tax is clearly unconstitu-
tional," said Assistant Solicitor James
Davis, land l do not understand why
every case is not appealed to the higher
courts. The citizens should not allow
themselves to be bullied.'