Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-06-16

committee on Street commissioner and
Chain-gang.
Mr.. Comstock stated that an ordinance
> had been passed to test hay and grain
scales. but no means provided for testing
!, such scales, and he therefore offered the
following resolution:
Resolred, That the standing committee
0 on Markets repert to this Council at its
next meeting, the expense of 500 pounds
of cast iron in weights of 100 pounds each
with ring in each piece, ana to be tested
by the county weights, for the purpose OF
r testing hay or grain scales, in accordance
1 with an ordinance passed upon this SUBJ
ject.
The resolution was adopted.
Mr.. Donaldson presented the following
Resolued, That the Marshal be and he is
hereby directed to put in force the ordi-
nance to destroy all dogs, bitches: &c,
| found running at large unmuZzled in the
city, and that he give notice by posting up
handbills that said ordinance will be en-
forced from and after the 25th instant.
Mr.. Reinhard moved to refer the resolu-
tion to the committee on Police. Lost
yeas 8, nays IL.
The motion recurring on the passage of
the resolution, it was passed-yeas 13'
nays 2. -, s.yg
Mr.. Beekey, from committee on Ordin-
ances, reported back the following, which
were read a third time.
An ordinance to grade and pave on the
south side of Friend street from Seventh
street to Ridgeway alley. Passed-yeas
|l3.
An ordinance to grade and pave on Gay
II.
yeas Is.
An ordinance to grade and pave on the
south side of Long street from Fourth to
Seventh street. Passed-yeas 13.
An ordinance to grade and pave with
boulders the first alley east of Seventh
street from Oak street to Converse alley
Passed-yeas l3.
An ordinance to grade and pave on the
south side of North street from Third
street to Center alley. Passed-yeas 13.
A communication from Jacob Silberua-
gle in regard to proposed change of grade
on Front street between South Public lane
and First alley, was read and placed on
file..
Mr.. Armstrong presented the following
resolutions:
Resolued, That his Honor the Mayor be
requested to order s. E. Samuels to fill up
his lot on the corner of East Cav and Gen.
ter streets, to the satisfaction of the Street
Commissioner.
Passed.
Mr.. Reinhard, from the committee ap-
pointed to request II. w. Jaeger to with
draw his resignation as City Civil Engin-
eer, reported that he refused to withdraw
the same.
On motion, the Council adjourned.
TAX ON PUBLIC AMUsENENTs.-We find |
in the Internal Tax bill now under con-
sideration in the House of Representatives |
at Washington, says an exchange the fol- |
lowing proposed tax upon public amuse-
ments:
SECTION 125. And be it further enacted |
That the owner or lessee of any perma-
nently located building used for any exhi-
bition, performance, show or entertain
ment whatsoever, except such as are here
matter specifically exempted, to which ad-
mission is given for pay, shall be subject to
and pay tar of taoo per centun, on the gross
amount of all receipts derived By such oloner
or lessee from such exhibition, performance,
shou or entertainnsent; and shall in addition
thereto, before commencing any such ex-
hlbltion, performance, show or entertain
ment, pay to the collector or deputy COL
lector of the district IN which said building
is situated further specific tax, as fol-
lows: For each exhibition given of any
theatrical or operate representation, musi-
cal entertainment. feats of horsemanship,
acrobatic sports. or sleight-of-hand per-
forrnance, where the ordinary or usual
seating capacity of the room or rooms
used for such exhibition, performance,
show or entertainment will accommodate
not more than five hundred adult persons,
two dollars; exceeding the 'sedttng capacity for
Jiue hundred, and mt more than one thousand
adult persons, i've dollars; exceeding the
seating capacity for one thousand and not
more than ttoo thousand adult persons, fifteen
dollars; exceeding the seating capacity for
two thousand adult persons, twenty dol
lars.
The same section prescribes that the tax
above levied shall be lien upon the build
ing until paid, and any attempt to evade
the payment of said tax subjects the owner
Dr. lessee to fine OF one thousand dollars.
Section 126 of the same bill imposes
equally heavy taxes upon temporary or
shows, and travelling amusements
Of all kinds.
If this portion of the bill should become
4 law it would have the effect of immedi-
ELY closing all places of amusement
throughout the country, for no manager
would attempt to bear the burden of such
IN unjust and unequal tax. Our people
now have too little amusement, and the
should encourage all rational
and respectable public entertainments,
rather than attempt to crush them by
placing upon them such heavy load of
taxation that they must Inevitably sink.
BY this law the tax upon all first-class the
aters and halls will reach from S2,5OO to
s4,000.and in some cases approaching $4,000,
in addition to the two per cent. tax upon
gross receipts. 1t can readily be seen that no
clsce of amusement could stand up under
such a burden. No other country in the
world affords a precedent for this unequal
against legitimate busi-
ness. In most of the countries of the Old
World amusements are fostered, and even
aided with grants of money, by the Govern
nent. Music and the drama are encour-
aged in all possible ways. Our legislators
should have learned by this time, with the
experience of the whisky tax before them,
that excessive taxation of any particular
branch of business or particular produce
lion will not in the end result in anything
out fraud and corruption, or the complete
Uiping out of the business or article so
aXed. 1t seems to US that If this section
If the bill becomes law, the Government
will not only not increase its revenue, but
will certainly lose the large amount now
collected from amusements and paid into
he treasury.
A CoNTRAsT.-City editors, though pos