The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-31


 farmers in all Alabama pay the federal tax on incomes, but he believed the state would collect more than federal govern ment as each farmer would be watching his nelghbor. He objected to raising any more revenues than are necessary, deciar- ing that the people are already overtaxed by the federal government. The first fed eral income tax was only one per cent Yet Alabama proposes starting of with rom two to four per cent, he said.
 UP TO LEGISLATURE
 Judse Murphree of Etowah said it was squarely up to the members of the iegisla,- ture to determine whether the proposed increased revenues would be raised and how; whether by raising values or oy taxing incomes. He said the committe ? had decided against raising values. The farmers are exempt from the income tax
 Answering question asked by Rep resentative Faulk Of Geneva, Judge Mur- phree, stated that in his opinion a ton. naSe tax on coal or iron ore would ue valid despite the constitutional provision eXemptins from taxation incomes derive 1 from real estate on which the ad vaIoren, tax is paid. He insisted that the income tax sections be adopted as originally drawn.
 Representative Brindley of Morgan, dis cussins the income tax proposal, made an attack on Jefferson county, declaring that 1t was q case of representation with out taxation. that able representatives were sent to the legislature by the bis corporations and that they were constant ly on the job to keep taxes off of them
 Representative Cobbs of Mobile caller attention to the exemption allowed money deposited in bank and solvent credits allowed ia an amendment adopted yestcr- day, whereby from thirty-five to fifty thousand dollars worth of property was exempted. He charged that if the policy of enlarGing the exempted list it wouldn't be long until there would not be enough taxable produce from which to raise money to run the state departments.
 For the purpose of determining whether the income tax provisions should be re- tained in the general revenue bill vote on that direct question was taken. The result was 67 for to "A against, several members present not voting.
 HOW THEY VOTED
 Here is how they voted: For an income tax: Speaker Merritt. Adams, Albright, Allen. Andrews. Arnold. Austin, Baker, Barganier. Bracken, Brindley. Burns, Calvert, Carnley Cliett, Cobbs Collins. Dausby, Dickson, Dunnaway, Ellis ot Elmore. Gilbert, Graham of Autauga, Graham of Clarke, Hall of Henry, Hall Of Marion, Hale, Hare, Harrison, Holmes of Baldwin, Ingram, Jones of Escambia. Jones of Marengo, Jones of Montgomery, Johnson. Jordan, Lee of Butler, Lewis. Long of Sumter, Longshore, Lynne, Will ford, Mooner, Murphree, Mcdonald. Oakley, Oliver, Orr, Parker. Partridge, Pittman, Preston, Reynolds, Russell, Sal ter, Scale, Shaw, Sherrod, Sparks. Stewart, Trammel, Truss, Van de Graf, Waddell. Whorton Williams, Wilson-e7.
 Against the income tax: Alexander Benners, Christian. Christopher. Dodson, Edwards of Pike, Ellis of Bullock, Faulk, Fletcher, Green, Guy Hardaway. Hawk ins. Holmes of Elmore Lee of Perry, Long of Butler, Mcleod, Peters. Simp- son, Smith Tompkins. Tunstall, Woodland, Mathews of Wilcox.
 A long drawn out argument took place over amendments exempting incomes ue- rived from land on which the ad valorem tax is paid. \ The clause exempts "any debt or hire of real or personal property while owned by the landlord or hirer during the current year of such year 0. rental or hire.'i Various attempts to amend the clause but all failed. It was contended that only land that pays tax. the valuation fixed by law should be exempted and several amendments into to make this limitation were voted dowr
 Following the vote on the income tax proposition, Representative Benners of Jefferson again offered hfs amendment reducing the tax rate. Arguments in sup port of the amendment were made by Mir Van de Graf and MT Benners.
 On motion of MT. Lynne of Morgan the Benners amendment was tabled by Nthe vote of 60 to "A, and section 316. fixifp1, the tax rate at per cent on the first five thousand dollars. PIE per cent or al ever five thousand and not exceeding S7,- 5co, per cent on incomes over S,50O and not exceeding ten thousand, 31s per cert exceeding ten thousand, 31a per cent on incomes over ten thousand and not ex- ceeding fifteen thousand, and pertcent on all incomes in excess of fifteen thou car do1lar V