The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-17
JUDGE TEASLEY
 LET'S SPEOP[E SEE HIS PLATFORM
Montgomery Can did a te Gaining Ground as Con- structive Platform Is
 Becoming Known

The political campaign is warming up in Alabama and for the first time in years Montgomery has candidate in the field. He is Judge Charles D. Tea sley. who is making his campaign on what politicians term the strongest platform put forth in recent years Judge Teasley has not jumped on to popular issue to pull votes to him, but Is making his race on a clean, conser- yative business platform which will stand the scrutiny of the people. As far as he Is concerned the campaign is formally on.
 Judge Teasley Is spreading through out the state copies of his platform and 1t has brought him strength which he had not counted upon. It is as fol- lows:
 His Platform Is in the Interest of
 the Masses of the People
 After mature consideration I have decided to become candidate for gov ernor, subject to the action of the democratic primary to be held on the second Tuesday in August 1918. The motives influencing me in reaching this conclusion are: First, to gratify natural ambition to be the chief execu- tive of my native state, and, second, the confident hope and belief that may be of assistance In working out the many great problems which will confront our people during the next four years. In this connection sub init, for the consideration of tho demo- zaI. Al 4.A r1a upon what I consider the more impor- tant matters which will demand the attention of the next administration.
 Taxation
 "The question of taxation directly af- fects larger percentage of our citl- zenship than possibly any other sub Ject to legislative action, yet it is given Tut little attention in political cam- paigns. The result in the past has been that when the legislature assembled it had little or no information upon this question and consequently contin- ued all revenue matters until the last days of the session. In the meantime 1t proceeded to pass extravagant ap- propriation bills, and when the time arrived to consider the revenue bill tho only object in the minds of the members was raising taxes to meet these appropriations.
 EN6Iy dll6Iipl dL GQudllLdtlOH IdS resulted in increased taxes, until the taxpayers regard their dealings with the government in the relation of plaintiff and defendant. each assum- irE an antagonism which will not cease This condition is due to s,e fact that the people have lost confidence in their state government. and feel that they are not receiving benefits in pro- portion to the burdens imposed. This ,foe ,sc,,, xxyt1I people shall have become convinced that they are getting value received for taxes paid. The federal govern ment will for many years exact from tho people large part of their in- comes to pay the extraordinary ex- penses of the present war. Any raise in state taxation would mean almost bankruptcy to property owners. 'If elected governor, I will recom- mend and urge the legislature to pass an act extending the present tax values for term Of eight years ln- stead of four years, with the right to revalue under certain conditions as now provided by law. By doing this the expenses of the county tax boards would be reduced materially and they could give their attention to property which is now escaping taxation Ii would also prevent extravagant ap- propriations during this period, and would restore the confidence of the people.
 "The legislature should provide for small tax of Is cents per hundred on all transfers of property recorded in the probate office, to be distributs< ;n the same proportion as the mortgage tax. This would be just tax and would reimburse the several counties for the expensive records to be kept tor this purpose, and would assist in maintaining the courts which are open to enforce the rights created by these transfers of property. The revenue from this source would aid materially in reducing the present floating debt. small increase in the mortgage tax on long term mortgages to be paid by Inc lender would also produce some revenue for this purpose. and would not be any hardship as these mort gages are exempted from other taxes
 The mining department should be self-sustained. small license tax should be levied on operators to Lay this expense. The banks are assessed to maintain the banking department, and there is no good reason why other Departments should not be self-sus- tairing also.
 There are more than $200,O00 delin- quent franchise taxes due the state. With no effective machinery to enforce collection. There are also more than a quarter of a million dollars due on lands bid in by the state for taxes Legislation should be enacted provid- ing for the prompt collection of these amounts and all other uncollected rev enue.
 HIS Record h . Guarantee of Fufthf.sl
 Service to the People
 All wealth. corporate or individual. should be required to contribute it's Just proportion to the burdens of gov ernment. and he entitled to and re- ceive the equal protection of the law.
 The county franchise tax on cor porations should be uniform and pro- rated among the several counties in proportion to taxable values Under existing law the county making the lowest levy receives tho entire tax, which is unjust to others required ta pay license tax
 Ways and means should be pro- vided to meet promptly all obligations of every character due by the state The governor should be given author fly to make temporary loan to pay the floating debt. the same to be paid out of current revenue. This can only