The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-01-24
BARBER PROPOSES ID EXTEND LIMITS BEYOND INDUSTRIES Commissioner Would Take in Steel Plant and Semet-
 Solvay Company TAX CORPORATIONS IS REASON FOR PROPOSAL Ward and Truss Declare Against the Pian-Lively Discussion Ensues.
 Question Finally Goes Over
 for Four Weeks

A proposal to extend the corporate linn Ensley steel plant of the Tennessee Coal,
 Iron and Railroad company and the plant of the Semet-Sovay company, proved to
 be the liveliest issue that has confronted
 the commission during the new year. Ar. lie Barber, stating that the state laws provided that Birmingham might take in additional territory if the public well fare or the public health, warranted 1t, proposed to call an election to see to come into the city.
 Declaring that the big industrial plants ought to pay for the benefits that they derive from the city of Birmingham in the form of taxes, he urged the commission to look with favor upon the proposal. His hopes were crushed when George B. Ward declared that he was in favor of adopting legislation that would induce large industries to locate in Birmingham, rather than to drive them away. T un- derstand that the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company will invest be- tween s25 100000 and $50, GOO 900 if the United
 States supreme court renders a favorable decision in the antitrust case. Extend ing our bounds to include the steel plant
 would do more injury to the proposed de.
 velopment, and furthermore, it would
 not be desired. I would not favor suc}: an ordinance"
 Arlie Barber added a bit of spice to the already live issue by declaring that
 he had anticipated just such remar ks from the president. Tt is a thousand
 times more reprehensible that a big in- dustry should be taxed than that it should deliberately place the plant without the
 vent paying it's due share of taxes ha
 declared
 The president of the commission inter-
 rupted him to state that such action was
 not necessary from a public welfare ot
 public health viewpoint. He paid tribute
 to the wonderful work that the Tennes- see company was doing to make health
 conditions better, and mentioned that tho schools of that company were better than
 those of the city.
 "A DANGEROUS PRECEDENTv' Tt is a dangerous precedent for corn- pany to perform public functions" Bar Der said as he slammed his fist upon the table and pounded it periodically for em- phasis.
 You wouldn't have them stop it, would you?'' MT. Ward queried.
 NO. Colorado has been the scene of continual carnage for the past 10 years. There similarly great corporation has been performing public functions. It has provided schools, hired teachers. doctors and even preachers for the employees to preach in churches that are owned by this company. I think it would be better if our children had less education, if it were gained in public schools, than if it were gotten in this manner
 To drive his point home, the commits sioner waved his arms and looked about him. Monte Ullman was reading paper. The Aewspapermen were lolling back in chairs, on the verge of a snooze. Com missioners Hornady and Truss puffed away at their pipes and marveled at such sustained effort, while Commissioner Weatherly was engaged in listening to an alleged lively wheeze from a visitor. But for several minutes more, MT. Barber continued.
 1IuSS .SOt liIcQ Ol near ing the argument, so arose to have his say. T am opposed to taking in more territory, he said.
 We made a mistake in taking in Ems. ley. I am in favor of doing something
 to attract large industries, rather than
 try to drive them away. Here we are
 continually fighting them. and am get
 ting tired of such affairs. F.
 THRUTS AT TRUSS Commissioner Barber could not stand
 for the accusation that he was antagon- istic to prospective industries He de- clared that 1t was merely difference of opinion and asked if Commissioner Truss expected all action of the board to be
 unanimous when he came into it. To
 emphasize how much he thought MT.
 Truss had contributed to the lighting, MT. Barber declared:
 Every action of the board when there were only three commissioners which was before you were member of tha commissioners unanimOus.' .. You were not so rank then" George Ward added quickly, and gale of laugh. ter followed the thrust.
 It seemed that the discussion would go on indefinitely until Commissioner Hor. lnady urged that the matter be postponed another week before considering it. Com. missioner Weatherly was in favor of bringing it up for considera ton foul weeks from yesterday. When the ques- ton was put by Secretary Lloyd, the lat ter proposal was agreed upon and the