The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1871-12-09
License Tax Monstrosities.
NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 81, III.

NEW ORLEANS, Nov. q, III.
Editor y. O. Commercial Bulletin:
Isit possible that tue merchants
of this city are going to submit
ike whipped spaniels to the most
outrageous tax upon their profes.
sions thag ever was perpetrated in
any city Oh this or any other con-
tinentl Six hundred and fifty
thousand dollars from licenses!
and for what! For the poor priv
ilege of trying to make a living in
this doomed city. Why this enor-
nous increase lover one hundred
per cent? upon the mercantile and
professional pursuits in this cityf
Answer: Because tine schemes of
the administrations were foiled in
their attempt to collect an uncOn-
stitutioual tax upon real estate,
and the amount they lcitt AaUe, if
not upon real estate, then upon
the personal industry Of the citi-
zens. But are they not going too
fari Will they not kill the goose
that lays the golden eggf Is it
just and equitable, first TO tax q
merchant for every dollar Of CAPT
tai be employs III his business;
on every box, barrel, hogshead,
and bag of merchandise he has in
his warehouse or upon his shelvesf
On his notes and accounts, OH his
income from his business, to say
nothing of the tax upon real estate,
his furniture, his houses and cows,
and all assessed at II value beyond
their price upon the market. We
repeat, is it JUST is it equitable!
is it constitutional Has not the
Unitsd States Court at Washing
ton recently given a decision
touching this very point, wherein
they declare that a tax levied as a
license, a privilege to pursue q
Legitimate business, was unconsti-
tutionalP
But these men in power are not
to be banked 10y constitutional
limitations. Money they want,
and money they will have.
Glance at tho injustice of the H.
cense scheme. On wholesale mer.
chants $500 for each member of
the firm, many firms having three
and some four members, which
would make their license 5000 or
$12OO. That is equal to a tax on
got, 900, or more, at two per cent,
the rate now levied. This is mon
strous. Again: The tax of $500
on each member of firm applies
equally to the firm whose bust
ness does not exceed 100000 q
year, as well as to the firm whose
business aggregates three or four
millions, as some do. Where is
the equality herei
Again. Take the hotel license.
The st. Charles proprietors with
their 700 guests pay $3.50 each;
the little "seven by nine" con
Germs, styling themselves hotels,
pay the same. Again. Take the
license on insurance companies,
$500, whether the one has a cap
ital OF 81, 100000 or of 500, 900.
This will have the effect to close
up one company to our own knowl-
edge, as it will exceed the amount
OF premiums received by it, and
this very party in establishing the
department OF insurance had the
effect to reduce the rate just one
half what was before charged,
thereby bsnetting the commercial
interests to that extent. the ten.
dency of this exorbitant, mou-
strous and unconstitutional tax
Is to drive trade from this city;
and, We repeat, are We merchants
anu trades people going to give
these would be commercial mur.
d.rers the means TO destroy usf
We hope not.
WHOLESALE.