The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-29
AMENDMENT WOULD
 ALLOW CITY 40 PER GENT OF NEW TAXES
Board of Revenue Asked to lndOrse Proposed Division of Income and Excess
 Profits Revenue

| The Board of Revenue was asked tC
 agree to division Of the income and
 excess profits taxes proposed under the
 new revenue bill whereby the city of Bir- i mingham will receive 40 per cent of all
 the income and excess profits tax col lected within the city, 10 per cent going to the county and 50 per cent to the state
 Monday morning by the sub-legislative
 committee of the Civic association, Com missioner J. Ellis Brown, with former United States Senator Frank S. White acting as spokesmen for the sub-commit- tee.
 Statements were made before the board
 yesterday that the proceeds of the income
 and excess profits tax as provided in the
 present bill was unjust in that the state
 receives 50 per cent of the tax within the
 cities and 75 per cent of the taxes out
 side of the cities and towns. It was
 taxes were imposed that as much as 70
 per cent of the tax went to the cities, 20 per cent to the counties and 10 per cent
 to the state
 It was pointed out that the proposed
 tax on coal and iron was vicious in
 principle and an utter discrimination
 against Jefferson and other mineral pro- ducing counties"
 Senator White declared that a similar tax upon cotton, bricks, lumber, tile, graphite and anything which might come under this class would be equally as just as the one proposed upon iron and coal
 He stated that the secret of the wrong lies in that other counties of the state are not bearing their share of the tax burden equally, and have gotten into the habit of using Jefferson for easy money. He pointed out that in many instances some officials of other counties had not raised the tax values, but Jefferson al- ways was forced to comply to the let ter.
 The speaker expressed doubt as to whether or not the excess profits tax would net the sufficient revenue in the next four years as banked upon as a feature of the bill. He said he favored the income tax, as under that taxes are collected from d number of men who otherwise pay no revenue at all.
 c. l.. Harold, secretary-manager of the Civic association, called attention to the Wisconsin income tax law and stated their laws had been in force for more than four years and were proving satis- factory. Municipalities receive 70 per cent of the revenue collected within their boundaries. counties 20 and the cf fa nnf nf tI4 {@1 me this is apparently the best income state tax law adopted" said MT. Harold.
 Joseph F. Collins said: Taxes are high enough, but the main trouble seems to be in the uneven distribution, with the city, county and state, and Birmingham cannot stand much higher taxation. I have frequently heard the remark that the taxes are too high here, and many people preferred to rent than to own a home because of the high rates. A Hartford, Conn.,. man told me recently that the tax rate in his city, which is about the size of Birmingham, was g on the hundred"
 He pointed out the high licenses im- posed in the city and stated the rates should be lowered to rid the city of the reputation of having the highest license taxes of any city in the United States He read an article prepared by himself discussing the question of Birmingham county, in which he indorsed the idea as providing the necessary funds. He com pared taxes with other southern cities and stated Birmingham's rate ran some what along the lines of other cities of the south. but in all of the cities named he said the street improvements made were shared one-thrd by the city
 Declaring that the city of Birmingham needs great deal more income to sup port the municipal improvements and de- departments of the city, J. Ellis Brown, city commissioner. appeared before the board saving he didn't believe the pro- posed division of taxes for the city, and state was fair. He expressed the opinion that the city should have fully 40 per cent of the taxes and in lity it should be GO per cent. He in vited the boards attention to the fact that Birmingham had 52 square miles of territory to care for against Atlanta 9 and Memphis II.
 Thomas E, Huey of the board of rev. erue pointed out that the city now re- ceives s57.0OO from the amount collected as road fund and in addition the county must maintain north and south, east and west highways through the city. He also said that the county collects the city tax ard that there is now bill pending in the legislature to abolish the small fee now paid for the service and stated there is tendency to take away considerable part of the county's revenue.
 The committee appeared at the open ing of the session and Senator White stated the purpose of the hearing was to a six the board of revenue to agree to a more equitable distribution than that provided in the bill It was pointed out that the bill provides that 9 per cent of the revenue collected within its limits remain with the city, counties get g pei cent and state 50 per cent. Outside of inc cities the counties receive 25 per cent md the state 75 per cent. He asked the beard to agree to an amendment to the bill to provide that tho city shall re- ceive 40 per cent of the revenue and the county 10. The board took the matter under consideration