The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-28
Ward Tells Why NOncon- tributors Should Help
 Support Schools
S50,O0O IS ESTIMATE
 OF ANNUAL REVENUE
Tax of s to Be Put Upon Those Not Now Contributing Any thing to City, County
 Or State

Commissioner George B. Ward is in re- ceipt of a letter from J. B. Wood, we'll known labor leader in this community, indorsing the proposed ordinance of Mir. Ward, charging "city service tax" of $5 to be collected from every citizen who pays no city, county or state tax or li- cense of any description. The ordinance is now being drafted by the city attor- ney, and will be submitted to a vote of the commissioners next Tuesday.
 It is generally understood that the ma jority of the commission will vote favor ably on the ordinance. and in all prob ability it will become law at the next com mission meeting. In commenting on the letter of MT. Wood and the ordinance in general Mir Ward said
 At the present time, when the city is up against the proposition of having to close the schools two months before the usual time on account of the lack of funds to maintain the education of thou sands of children, something had to be done to remedy this condition. The re- suit was the suggestion of a city service tax to be levied on all citizens who do not contribute in any way to the expenses
  tion of this plan will enable the commis- soners to keep the schools going the usual time.
 POPULATION OF COUNTY
 There is population of close to 250,00 in Jefferson county and nearly 200, 900 of these people live within the city limits of Greater Birmingham. Figuring on a basis of one out of every five being male and of age, this would mean that if all of them demanded their constitutional right to vote and would pay their poll tax, we would have nearly 10000 voters in Bir- mingham alone. Instead of this num- Der of voters we have less than 5000 voters in this city. The balance, or a large majority of them pay nothing to the support of the city in any de- partraent These citizens send their children to school, use the public streets, parks and free library and have all the rights of the citizen who is patriotic enough to pay his poll tax and cast his ballot in every election, although they do nothing for the up- keep of single blade of grass in single park.
 If it were not for the strained finan- caI condition of the city at the pres ent time the question of placing tax on the citizens who pay nothing to- ward the support of the city or county never would have come up, although many citizens think the tax so just that it ought to be permanent.
 YIELD $50, ,000 A YEAR
 Tt is estimated that the levyirg of tax of s on every citizen who con- tributes nothing to the city or county will net us close to $50,0oo per year. have received no complaints against the proposed ordinance and on the oth- CT hand have had encouragement from scores of citizens in every walk Of lire. Uron the passage of the ordinance and the enforcement of it the commission CTS will be able to abolish the tuition fee now in vogue. The paramount is- sue with the commissioners at pres ent is to look out after the education of the children. which we think most important and this should be attended to at the cost of all other measures. The ordinance will be presented at the next meeting of the commission and l have every reason to believe 1t will pc made law at that time.
 INDORSED BY WOOD
 '"The letter of MT. Wood follows:
 "I note that you have proposed an ordinance which proposes to levy spe- cial tax of s5 upon every male inhabtant of the city who does not pay any form of taxes for the support of the city gov ernment.
 Permit me to express my approval or this measure. I am heartily in sympathy with any movement that will force those who do not and will not contribute to the citys expenses, but who do enjoy all