The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-08-05
RESOLUTIONS ON
PROPOSED TONNAGE
TAX ARE ADOPTED
Local Civic Bodies Unite to
Fight Against Tax on Coal
and Iron Ore-Com-
mittee to Meet

The general committee of all the COM
mercial and civic clubs of the city will
meet at 1880 o'clock today at the South
ern Club to perfect plans for impressing
upon the legislature and governor the
unwarranted discrimination and menace
10 the mineral district contained in the
tonnage tax.
At the meeting held yesterday of the
civic association, Col. T. o. Smith, vice
president of the Birmingham Trust &
Savings bank; Fl. II. Smell. A. c. Crow
der, Senator Frank S. White. Maj Wal
ter s. Brewer, w N. Drennen, Sid w.
Lee and representatives of the civic clubs
drew up resolution condemning the tax
and providing that the central and joint
committee present the matter to the SEN
ate and the senate committee as adopt
ed.
Col Smith stated that he believed that
if the proper effort is made, Governor
Kilby can be convinced that the neces-
sary increase in revenue can be raised by
the state by more equitable methods,
without imposing what he characterized
as a gross and audacious discrimination
against the mineral district and against
the commodities of coal and iron.
Mai. Brewer said the statements have
zone unchallenged both in Montgomery
and in this city. to the effect that the
Michigan and Minnesota laws levied 4
+onnage tax such as that proposed in
Alabama.
such is not the case" said Major
Brewer. neither Michigan nor Mime
sofa levies any such tax on coal and
iron. At numerous sessions of the Min
nesota legislature such method has been
attempted, but as regularly been defeat
ed, either by the legislators themselves
or by the direct veto of the governor.
There is a strong conviction at Mont
gomery in the legislature that Minnesota
has set a precedent in this manner This
is a clear Misrepresentation. and I think
that it is time to challenge this matter
and nail it for good"
1t was argued by Senator White that
even if Minnesota did levy such a tax
it did not become this state to follow
suit because the mineral ores of Mime
sofa are dug by the millions of tons an
naually and practically all shipped out
Of the state to the manifold enrichment
of the distant states of Pennsylvania
New York, Ohio, and Illinois, the min
eral ores of Alabama are smelted into
iron or steel and have created millions
and millions or dollars worth OF new
values on the surface.
Witness the sky scrapers, the factor,
| buildings, the warehouses and all thu
physical activities going on in this dis
| trict" said Senator White. .They were
born in the prosperity of iron and stee
manufacture and coal mining industries
| that constitute the values instituted b.
| the ground and on which the state make
| it's heaviest levies for the support of it
schools and institutions.
| The general committee, Representing
the commercial and civic clubs of tn
city, appointed by the representatives o
the clubs yesterday follow:
| Senator Frank S. White, civic asso
citation: Sid w. Lee. ]. A. Simpson. Com
munity club; II. II. Smell, Civitan club
Arthur w. Crowder, Chamber of Com
merce: Robert Jemison, V. J. Nesbitt
Rotary club; ]. r. Kennamer ORGANIZED
labor; W. NJ Drennen, Farmers Union
| Frank Hewitt, board of revenue; j. NJ
DeShaze, retail merchants; r. A. Por
ter, wholesale grocers; F. E. Butler, rea
estate exchange; A. c. Seibles, fire in
surance.