The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-09-06
Administration Puts
Through Revenue Bill
as Amended by Senate
econtinued from Page One,

tax that ii was as much of a punitive
measure as anything else, that 1t was
directed ordinarily at the industry OF
the Birmip ham mineral district as
punishment for some fancied SIN II
Is the entering edge to class legls-
lation in Alabama. which may cause
trouble to other interests in the future
The administration crowd is Jubltant
tonight but Just watch the fight When
the distribution of the revenues be
gins. How are they going TO scale
down the appropriations to meet the
estimated decrease in revenues? The
budget committees estimates on the
bill as originally drawn was $lOo oo-
900. The final draft of the bill cuts
this by about $1,000,o0o.
UNABLE TO AGREE
Imediately following the reading of
messages from the senate, a report was
received from the revenue conference
committee stating that they could not
agree on the senate amendments.
Calling Mr.. Lynne of Morgan to the
chair. speaker Merit took the floor
TO urge the house to concur in the
senate amendments.
Speaker Merritt said the only thing
that seemed open to the house now IS
to concur in the senate amendments.
He said he would not say Il told you
So" but that in effect he did say on
effected through another conference
committee.
He said II had come to the point OF
concurring in the senate amendments
with assurance of the governor that he
would return, the bill with an amend
ment, striking out the taxing of ma
chinery and the exemptions to water
power and other plants. He stated that
he had received letter from
the governor stating what he proposed
to do. His letters to the governor and
the governors reply thereto are as fol-
lows:
SPEAKER MERRITTS LETTER
Montgomery, September 5, 1919
Governor Thomas E. Kilby, Montgom-
cry, Ala.
Dear Governor: In the event there
is . reported disagreement Of the join,
conference committee on the general
revenue BILL are you willing to author
ize me to say to the house of repre-
sentatives that in the event the house
concurs in the senate amendment ano
the bill is presented to you for YOU
signature, you will submit back to the
house of representatives an executive
amendment striking from the bill the
provision for a district tax court ane
substituting for the taxing machinery
provided for in and by the senate
will provide for one county tax ad
juster in each of the counties of thu
state, except Jefferson. which shall
have three adjusters, and providing fur
Their that when each adjuster shall
have assessed the value of the propert,
the tax payer may object thereto ant
appeal therefrom to the commissioner
court or board of revenue OF his coun
ty, and in the event he is not satisfied
~ a. - IT, - ~
appeal to a trial by jury in his count,
in the circuit court, and If again dis
satisfied with the assessed valuation
as fixed by the jury, to appeal there
from the the court of appeals or -su
preme court Of Alabama, and will yo,
also submit an additional amendment
eliminating from the bill all references
to the provisions for exemption t.
water power companies, nitrate ant
cyanamid plants and shipbuildinl
plants? Respectfully.
I'll P. MERRITT,
Speaker"
THE GOVERNORS REPLY
"Montgomery, September s. 1919.
Hon. Henry F. Merritt, Speaker of thu
House of Representatives. Montgomery
Ala:
Dear Sir-I have your letter of toda,
in which you ask whether: In the even
there is reported disagreement of thu
Joint conference committee on the gen
eral revenue bill. are you willing to au
thorize me to say to the house of rep
resentatives that in the event the hous
concurs in the senate amendment ant
the bill is presented to you for your sig
nature. you will submit back to tn
house Of representatives an eyecutiv
amendment striking from the bill the pro
vision for a district tax court and sub
shutting for the taxing machinery pro
vided for in and by the senate amendmen
the taxing machinery which will provid
for one county tax adjuster in each of tn