The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-21

J . lects an income tax that means nothing to the state. I realize that the income tax probably would hit some persons who do not deserve to be hit, but it would strike many who now are immune from taxation. I have 1t on good authority that there are in the city of Birmingham 1000 men who pay no kind of tax at all to the state. They live in Birmingham and in Alabama and prosper and enjoy life and yet they do not pay for that privilege. They are wealthy and have their property in such condition that they have to pay no taxes remember a case that occurred here several years ago.
 "A wage earner bought lot which ad- joined strip of ground from which b lots, each the size of his, had been made by a large and wealthy concern. His property was assessed for what he paid for it and he paid an assessment of 50 per cent of it's value In doing so he paid as much tax for his lot as the con cern did for it's entire Is lots.
 "The income tax was originally meant to reach only the men who had an in come exceeding 5000 a year. It was con sidered that a man could earn that, but that when his salary reached $25.000 and above 1t very probably was a case of favoritism and should be taxed. But the wealthy and the men of high incomei
 
 to 5000, so it would affect the poorer people and, thus become an unpopular law We need the law and Birmingham needs a part of the tax collected in Bir- mingham. Hitting the rich who escart taxation would be worth the sacrifice oi those who being affected, probably should not be-"
 COL. T. H. MOTION
 "Tve always thought that the federal Al. f,;r tSf tax ever levied" said T. H. Motion. ''i likewise think that a state income tax would be just and fair method of rais- ing money to meet governmental ex- penses, but I am little afraid for Ala bama to have 8 state income tax, when her sister states have no such tax. It might result in keeping out investments in Alabama and encourage them in other states that have no income tax"
 J. H. BROCKMAN
 | H. Brockman, acting president of the legislature committee for the Real Estate Exchange of this city. when asked wha' effect the state income tax would have upon real estate, said:
 .'I have not seen the pamphlet, de- scribing the state income tax, as pro posed and cannot therefore judge of its effects upon real estate or other lines of business. However, I do feel that any
  this immediate vicinity, without direct equivalent benefits, would injure economic development here"
 FLOYD F. BOWERS
 In speaking of the state income tax, Llyod Y. Bowers. lawyer, said
 "The law is carefully drawn, but pre- sents many complexities. Several items Of interest to-individuals and to corpora tions are now before the courts, and, of course. many more will come up in the future Certain changes must be made in order that clarity may be obtained, ard until these changes are made all one can do is to keep up with late decisions The present rate of taxation is undoubt- edly too high. but this comes down sys- tematically next year and will in addi- ton in all probability be reduced by legislation.
 "It is no wonder that the average lay man when he deals with the law is pug zled bzut the government seeks always to be fair, and excess paid in taxation may be recovered. As soon as the tax payers become more accustomed to the laws they will have much less trouble in understanding them"
 J. L. YANCEY
 q am opposed to the present income | tax, about to be levied upon us in addi- | ton to our already heavy burdens of | taxation, said J. l.. Yancey
 Real estate will be affected adversely | as that of other business enterprises It | will reduce to a large extent a mans | ambition to accumulate and develop re- | when he knows that large DOT ton of his income will be taken from | him."
 ATTORNEY MARK HANNA
 Mark Hanna of the law firm of Mur- ray and Hanna stated:
 'I think the income tax is the fairest | and best way of taxing people, but l do | not know that this is the time to add | an additional tax on them. While l have not given the question much serious thought. it appears to me it would be | good thing to wait until the tax imposed | by the government was lowered, as the l public has generously contributed to the | various demands made on them during the war"
 COT, RTIRR FERGIISON