The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-24
FEE WOULD YIELD OVER 5000 DAY
 ON LIQUOR SHIPMENTS
Keene Interest Shown in Plan Raise Revenue But Dozens of Citizens Seen Yesterday Preferred Not Be Quoted on subject--Lawyers Differ Regarding Legal
 ty of Proposed Measure

{ that the law would not stand and that 1 it was without a doubt unconstitutional. All of those learned in the law who were asked to be quoted declined emphatically. Numerous men of prominence belonging to the prohibition and local option fac tions were called on to express their views for publication. In every instance they would say that they did not want to be quoted and that they were hands l off Repeatedly, those asked for their views on the subject would reply:
 Now, this is not for publication, but | I believe"
 One of the active leaders of the prohi- 1 bition party was asked to say something l for publication and he promptly said he l had nothing to do with the running of 1 the city and that since he had not been
 called on officially to give his opinion in
 regard to the proposed ordinance, he
 would say nothing.
 MANY ARGUMENTS ADVANCED 1 Many arguments pro and con were | advanced by those approached on the subject. It was pointed out by one that l the law would not be fair to the man
 who ordered liquor occasionally, for he l could not afford to buy the same brand ] of liquor as before on account of the raise in price caused by the inspectors | fee. Another said he thought the plan ! an excellent one for the raising of funds, ! and that it would solve the financial diff cultieS of the city.
 Some were of the opinion that liquor
 was scarce enough at present and that 1 the price was high and would be higher | if the ordinance went through. Some ex-
 pressed the opinion that the city might 1 be able to enforce the ordinance with 1 the exception of making the express and 1 railroad companies maintain extra help | so as to see that the city got it's money. i One said that the whole thing was ab- l surd inasmuch he was positive that l the law would not be constitutional and
 that the whole proposition would fall | through upon a trial case being brought to the supreme court.
 It was pointed out that the city had no l right to interfere with interstate ship
 ments in any manner or form and that the opening of package without the consent of the consignee would be ile- 1 gal and the one who did it would be in violation of the federal laws. Those do- 1 ing business in Birmingham as merchants nearly all expressed themselves as being l hopeful that the ordinance would hold water, "so they would not be taxed still further for doing a legitimate business" | All of them added that they did not want l to go on record publicly one way or an- | other
 l The public of Birmingham is vitally i'm terested In the proposed ordinance, and l as to whether or rot it will be constitu- tional in the event it is made law is a source of much discussion among those | who are learned in the legal profession. From the different opinions heard yes terday it was imp ssible to discover | whether or not the i'opulace was for or | against the proposition. At any rate the
 action of the commissioners tomorrow
 on this subject will be noted carefully.