The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-11
THE BIRMINGHAM AGEHERAID, SATURDAY JUNE H. 1921

many as tu oSASSdNeS. .duO6Tudie county. which was further away 90 delegates. So much for the rep resentation and tho counties repre- scented.
 Costs In Past Years
 Tt should be interesting to the tax payers of Alabama to know how mucL an excess of every adminis- tration since 1874 this cheapest thing in Alabama is costing the tax payer. take these figures from an article Of Mir. J. T. German, in which he Eegins with tine administration of that great governor, George $. Hous. ton. The Houston ministratio7 cost the state, during its four years of dministration, $3.106. 203.52, an average of $77e,550,SS per annum; Cobb. four years, S2,S55,3SS.25. an av craze of S7tS,S45.s1 per annum; O'Neal (E. Al, four years, $S,554, 4,231.2l, an average of SSSS,557.S0 per annum; Seay, four years. S5,730,2 ,295.22, an av- craze of $1,432,573.S0 per annum; average of s1716,05o,s3 per annum; Oates, two years, s3.S33,619, an av- craze of $i,916.S09 per annum; John son, four years, $fO.046,645.56, an av- craze of $2,5t1 .66i.39 per annum; Sanford and Jelks, six years, $19.- 234,414.39, an average of S3,205,769,1i per annum; Conner, four years, S1S,- 7l2.746.20, an average of S6,e7S,- lS655 per annum; ONeal (EmmetD, four years, $24,62O,S ,S0o.56, an average of S6,155,200.14 per annum; Tender son, four years, s29.954,71S.34. an av- craze of $7,4SS,6 per annum, Kilby. two years, s20.737,047.35. an average of $10,36S.52S.e7 per annum
 "An increase in 1920 over 1919 oe t3,61e, 545.33 and an increase over the Houston administration per an mum of S9,59t, ,972.7S and this is the cheapest thing in Alabama will cost the tax payers at the present rate at the end of this administration. s41.474 ,0946S. Take this in, tax pay CTS of Alabama; and realize what this cheap governor is costing you.
 Do you know, my fellow tax pay CTS, upon what meat this, our 'Cae- sar, feeds that he has grown so great He Is feeding upon the homes of the small tax payer of Alabama. He brides himself that he lets us off with less than our neighbors in Tennessee. I wonder if he has con sidered the penalty that Governor Roberts paid for his nal -administra- tion. He lost his political life as well as the respect of his fellow citizens.
 County Tax Assessors
 "Mr. Kilby tells you Alabamians that should the legislature abolish the office of tax adjuster and you were allowed to assess your taxes with the help of your county tax assessor, a custom established and maintained over a hundred years. that the state would be on charity. He says the repeal of the law pro viding for the tax adjusters would be in effect. tantamount to leav- ing the assessment of the property 10 the owners themselves. which would be little better than estab l,shinC a system of government sup portcd hy voluntary subscription. This is an insult to every man, woman and child in Alabama. 4 system established by the founders of this great state and continued until 1900, had afforded ample revenue for an economical admins tration of the state government. We still have the county assessor, a mere figure head under Kilbyism. your elected officer, no more than clerk for the Kilby appointees. Do we need both? Get rid of one or the other Either the assessor or the adjuster. If we are honest men the democrats. let's retain the man we elect. If we are perjurers and generally untrustworthy, let's forge our letters so tight that never again will we call ourselves free men and retain the governors appointee.
 q would call your attention, my fellow tax payers. to one more error of our chief executive. He says we asked for the abolishment of the law enforcement department Those of you whom the governor has hon ored by mailing to you one of his pamphlets, q ask him to state whether paid for with his or the peoples money). I ask you to care- fully read the resolution passed by the mass meeting and see if one world is there of any reference to that department. MT. kilby or MT. Gormley say in regard to the law enforcement department, Tn this time of unrest and lawlessness throughout the nation, I count our state fortunate in having this force for the maintenance of law and or der, supplementary to the regularly appointed agencies of the law. In- deed I think the maintenance of such a department should be the settled policies of the state
 ''The county sheriffs with their force have been regarded from time 1nmemOri3l SuIIlctent to fhdi l<ti II order in this law abiding state; and what about the national guard, to he used in time of riots and dis orders? I have heard that the main object of this law enforcement squad Is the use it has been put to of ar resting protesting tax payers. bringing them from their home counties and lodging them in n Montgomery jail. In fact, I have seen this in newspapers.
 Property Suffering
 The list of property advertised for sale in the various counties for non payment of taxes will be the most appalling reading that your eyes have ever rested upon. And this cheap state government of ours is respon- sible for a condition that never ex- isted in Alabama before. The gov erncr says property in Alabama is not over assessed. and we would re- fer him to the tax sales about to take place. This condition breeds unrest, discontent and anarchy; and perhaps MT. Kilby anticipated the condition he has created is wise in congratulating himself that he has