The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-07
OPENING SESSION. MAY CUNT NIUE FOR. ONLY I WELVE DAYS.
Four-C -Cornered Fight Indi- cated for Speaker of House. Taxation Will Be the
 Main Topic
6Continued from Page seven.)

(COntinued from Page Seven.) was issued by MT. Werner with Gov ernor- elect Brandon's letter, were prominent citizens of Tuscaloosa. among them being E. l.. Dodson, campaign manager of Judge Bran don in Tuscaloosa county and closely identified with the Brandon cam paign from the beginning. Among other Tuscaloosa citizens who came to Montgomery to battle for MT. Werner were Edgar l.. Clarkson, Con gressman W. B. Oliver, Fleetwood Rice. John Mcqueen and Judge Henry B. Foster.
 Judge Merrill Confident.
 About the time Mir. Werner issued his statement and made public the latest letter, sudge Merrill, from his headquarters in another section of the Exchange hotel, made public a Short statement fn which he exA pressed confidence that he would win. ''I am confident of more votes when the balloting begins than will vote for any other candidate" said MT. Meddlls statement. My friends also share my confidence In the out come. l feel sure that l will be elected"
 J. Lee Long of Greenville and R. J. Goode of Gastonburg, the other candidates for speaker, had not ar rived when the other candidates is sued their statements.
 Less than a dozen members of the house had arrived and only three members of the senate had appeared In the lobby of the Exchange hotel Saturday night.
 The general impression gained during the evening was that the 7 h iG nj D6 forces, favored the election of MT. Werner.
 MT. Verner's statement contain ing the letter of Governor-elect Brandon, written just before the Tuscaloosa delegation left for Mont gomery, follows:
 While aware that it difficult to avoid in political contests unfound- ed rumors>from gaining circulation, especially on the eve of an eleo- tion. yet I am surprised to learn that certain rumors were afloat which tend to make the impression that Governor Brandon was not fla vorable to my candidacy for speaker
 q consented to run for the legis- lsture only at the earnest solici- tation of Governor Brandon and an nounced for speaker only after strong assurances from him that my elec- tion would be entirely satisfactory to him.
 My relations with Governor Bran don have always been and still are of the most intimate and cordial character, and in my race for speak CT I was prompted to do so with a desire to cooperate fully with the governor to the end that his announced policy shall be carried out and his administration made sue cessful. believing as I do that IL will be most helpful and beneficial to the state.
 "No one would be more willing and ready, I know, than Brahdon to give full Endorsement to the statement from me and in this con nection I wish to refer to recen{ letter from the governor to Senator J. M. Foster.
 (This letter is published by The Are-Herald today on page 10, col umn 3, under caption "Oliver Sup ports").
 T feel perfectly satisfied with the station and am confident of my election as speaker"
 Agitation now is in favor or recess of the legislature after not more than 12 legislative days. The proposal is not to attempt the pas sage of any important administra- ton measures until the adjourned session which will begin about July Governor -elect w. ". Brandon IS requesting an adjourned session III order that recess committees may make investigations during the sum mer and prepare recommendations for submission to the Legislature al the adjourned session.
 Governor elect Brandon has al ready announced that he believes a recess committee should investigate the various departments of the state with the view of abolishing useless offices" and he will make this sug- gestlon to the legislature. Abolition plank in the platform on which Gov ernor Brandon was candidate.
 Brandon and Taxation.
 Taxation and revenue are peren- nial subject of legislation. This year it is probable that this subject will be the absorbing one. Judge Bran don Is committed to the abolition of the tax adjusters which were ere ated by the legislature in 1919. He has announced that he will propose a return to the old system whereby
  assessors.
 But information in recent days is that the next governor will not per init tax assessors to make assess ments which will meet their own ideas, ideas which may be subordi- mated ito their political futures, bur that the state tax commission will have power and authority to review all assessments of the tax assessors.
 The story Is that the tax commis- sion will keep in touch with the sit uation in the various counties through field agents. who will go into the counties and make inde- pendent investigations for submis- sion to the tax commission. If the tax assessments are too low or too high 1t may set aside the assess ments and make new assessments in conformity with the ideas of the state taxing authorities.
 It is also well understood that