Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-03-21
The Proposed Tar On sillia,d Tables.

The ffepesed Tax On Billiard Tables.
Among those endeavoring 10 convince the Wars
and Means Committee that the proposed tax On
their business will destroy II, are the manufse-
turers Of billiard tables. The renowned Michael
Phelan represents them here, and in his circular
setting forth his case he groups much interest
ing Information with reference to the game Of
billiards at this time that we republlsh Il, "a
follows:
heathful recreation at the game Of billiards, the
keepers OF billiard tables for public play and the
manufacturers Of them, TO offer to your attention
some condensation against q tax oppressive In
unjust. The bill before You proposes to tai each
table kept for use twenty dollars year. Now, m
the sole object Of the measure IL 70 bring money
to the public Treasury, - II ought to be- this ex.
cessive tax In calculated 70 fustsate the end In
view A small impost upon each would Weld Q
larger aggregate amount, and this ought to be
conclusive against the tax reported bv the CON-
all those to be affected by this measure are in
opulent circumstances. This IL not the case
The mafers and keepers Of the tables are only
moderssely prosperous, not gathering any larger
business occupations. Nor are the majority Of
the players, generally, In easy circumstances.
The game IL almost the sole means Of hsalthful
Among the German population IL 10 In especial
use and favor. One or two tables are commonly
kept by those who sell beer and wine These
persons are to be chargeable with license Of
for the billiard table will simply drive IL out Of
use In all such places.
There are Thousands Of other small establish.
ments, frequented by clerks and mechanics after
business hours for the enjoymentof this game,
whose profits are too small to bear % great tax
In these the tables will disappear. In those
where three have been hitherto kept, one only
Will be retained; and those who have had nine
will keep bat three A tax Of I've dollars each
would produce larger revenue than this proposed
Of twenty; and II revenue Ii the object, 1t ought
to be substituted II, however, the real aim 10 to
prevent PLAYING the game Of billiards except by
the rich, to destroy the manufacture Of the tables
and distress the mechanics thus employed, the
measure 10 sure to effect IL. IL II 10 persisted In,
an exclusive amusement Of the wealthy. Some
think they have found 4 sufficient justih caton for
this exorbitant tax in the allegation that billiards
,na ssn 90 without PLAYING bill
.oiH do without them; In which case, how 10 the
Treasury to get the money IL might have received
under moderate impost! A tax 20 high a. to
amount to practical prohibition to large classes
Of the people, cuts its own throat.
The committee appear to me to have made an
unjust and invidious distinction between billiard
tables and some other articles not Of prime neces-
sity. carriage worth more than six hundred
dollars 10 to be taxed ten dollars II 10 article
Of luxury and display solely within the means Of
the wealthy. For convenience and utility one
"Ofln ndiI d. HluCn - JUST Is RoO0. upon tnls
article, only used 70 display the luxurious osten.
tation Of the rich, there Is but half much tax
proposed as upon billiard table. The reason
why Tire rate upon the six hundred dollar carriage
was put at ten dollars was probably the convic-
ton Of the committee that q greater tax would
discourage the Of these particular carriages,
and thus defeat itself Why did II not apply this
sound reasoning to billiard tables also! Was IL
because mechanics clerks and others Of like sta
ton play at billiards as well a the wealthy,
while only the latter use the costlest carragesi Ii
10 not easy to imagine any other reason. The
proposed tax, by throwing great mum ben Of tables
out Of use, will destroy the manufacture Of them
root and branch. The capital invested in the
business is above - 600 600, and the mechanics
the manufacturers employ are numbered by
thousands. Moreover, all the materials they ne
In the manufacture contribute largely 70 the
revenue, and they are to be chsrgesble with q
license Al well.
In view Of these considerations, sir, and others
which may with justice be urged, submit that
material reduction Of the amount Of this pro-
posed tax will be wise and eXpedient. II will
not, at the rate Of twenty dollars EACH bring the
largest amount into the public exchequer, and
this alone should be conclusive against1t.
Yours respectfully, &C., MICHAEL PHKLAN.