Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-04-18
ORDINANCE.
An Ordinance Regulating Taxation
In the City of Memphis.
MERCHANTS.

.connciI Of ths city Of Memphis. That here
after all merchants. commission merchants
manufacturers, and all other dealers. snal
pay an dd vdiorem tax upon the capltal IN,
vested In their business equal 20 that levied
on all taxable property; and the term mer-
chant" shall include all, persons ana copart,
nerships engaged in trading IN any kind o.
goods, wares or merchandise. either on lana,
or at or on any steamboat. wharf-boat, OF
| other craft, stationed at or plying within the
corporate limits of the city OF Memphis
whether such goods, wares or merchandise DC
kept on hand for sale, either on commission
| or otherwise. or be purchased and delivered
for profit as ordered. Provided, that this sec
ton shall not affect in anywise the levy and
collection of privilege taxes upon the ayoea-
tons declared by law to be taxable as priyi-
| leees. except merchants and persons doing
the business of selling merchandise upon
Sec. 2. And no merchant or commission
merchant shall commence or continue busi-
/ ness in the city of Memphis, without obtain
| ing from the City Register of the city OF
Memphis, license in accordance with the
provisions of this ordinance. And every per-
son and every copartnership who shall violate
| the provisions of this section, shall be guilty
| Of a misdem eanor for each days violation OF
the same, and shall be arrested as in other
cases of misdemeanor, and on CONVICTION De-
| fore the Recorder shall be hned. Tor each sep
arate offsnse not less than five nor more than
fifty dollars, which shall be collected as other
fines are collected.
Sec. 8. Every merchant or commission
merchant and copartnership, before receiving
a license, and at the end OF each twelve
months thereafter, shall execute bond to
the city of Memphis, with good security, TO
be approved of by the City Tax Collector and
the City Register, in the sum Of one thousand "a
commission merchant will render TO the City
Tax Collector at the. end of twelve months
| from the date of the bond true statement.
under oath. of the amount of capital invested
! = IL. kns lad nj dUrinR
months preceding, and will pay to the Tax
Collector the tax thereon, as provided by law.
And to fix the amount of capital SO invested,
the amount of cash, or its equivalent. as
bonds, notes, or other evidences. or securi-
ties of value in place or lieu thereof. or prep
erty, real or personal. of every kind, which
may be or is used as the representative OF
capital or as a basis for the transaction OF bp-
siness in each case respectively, shall be
considered and held as said capital.
Sec, 4. Upon applying for license and ex-
ecuting bond as hereinbefore required,
each merchant or commission merchant be-
fore receiving license shall pay TO the City
Tax Collector the sum of twenty-five dollars
ls25); ard when the merchant or commission
merchant pays the taxes that may De due
upon his capital as herein provided, ne SAID
sum shall be allowed him as a credit upon,
and shall be deducted from, the amount of
the taxes due from him.
Sec. s. The dd ralorem tax provided for
herein shall be payable as other taxes upon
pTOneTty
same manner; and for the purpose of ascer-
tanning the capital invested by each merchant
or commission merchant. or copartnershlp,
which is declared to be taxable. II shall be
the duty of such merchant commission mer i
chant or copartnersbip at the time required
by the condition of his bond to report his tax
able capital, to file with the City Tax Collec-
tor a statement, under cath, showing
First-All capital invested by such mer-
chant, commission merchant or eopartner-
ship in a stock Of goods, wares or merchan-
disc. whether owned by him, or held or Of
fred for sale by him on commission or con-
signment.
preceding twelve Q2) months in any manner
Of trading. whereby no stock of goods. wares
or merchandise is or has been kept on hand,
unless such business is otherwise taxed as
priv eye
sworn to by the person or persons ma. ing II,
or some enc of them; bnt i shall not be con-
elusive upon the City of Memphis as 70 the
actual amount Of the taxable capital, but II
mas be sh wn to be false. and, in such case.
the Tax collector snall ascertain, by the best
evidence in his power, the actual amount OF
thu Ia xable capital of the merchant, commis-
sion merchant or copartnershlp making tne
false statement; and, when he ascertains
such actual amount of capital, be shall levy
and collect the taxes herein provided Tor
upon such actual amount. IL shall pc the
duty of the Tax Collector to provide the
by this section, and he shall furnish the same
70 any person desiring to make such state
Sec. 6. That the license provided for in the
second section of this ordinance shall be is
sued for the term of twelve months, but shall
be, and become, forfeited in all cases by the
violation of any of the provisions of this or
dinance. And at the end of the term OF each
license, new one shall De taken out as pro
yided for in this ordinance.
Sec T. That every merchant and cOpart-
uership who is engaged in business in the city
Of Memphis under existing ordinances, shall,
within thirty days from the passage OF tins
ordinance. make his report TO the City Tax
Collector and pay the taxes that have become
due from him since his last report as now re-
quired by ordinance. and shall then surrender
his existing license and receive from the City
Register license in accordance with the pro-
visions Of this ordinance.
Sec. 8. That the bond required by section
three Of this ordinances shall be forfeited BY
failure to render the statement, under the
oath, as therein required, or BY rendering
false statement. or By falling 10 pay the taxes
assessed, or due. at the time or in the manner
herein provided; and il shall be the duty Of
the City Tax Collector to hand all such bonds
as become forfeited TO the City Attorney, who
shall bring suit upon the same tor the dement,
of the city, and. in case, Of breach Of the
bond and such suit, the city Of Memphis
shall be entitled 20 recover the full amount OF
the penalty specified in the bond. and an
agreement TO that effect shall be inserted
therein And no recovery on the bond shall
ia any way affect the right. Of the city Of
Memphis 10 collect the taxes that may remain
unpaid and due from the merchant. commits
sion merchant or eopartnership maNng u, or
any other right or remedy the cry may nave
against him by the nr0fhlohs OF THIS oIuihAnce
or otherwise.
Sec. g. That it shall be a misdemesRor to
violate any of the conditions Of the bond re-
quired by section three Of this ordinance, or
I r. Al arta If
the party offending shall be liable TO arrest
ard punishment therefor, as in other cases Of
misdemeanor.
PROPERTY TAX.
Sec. 10. That all real estate. and all per-
Eonai property, to-wit: stations, mares,
| geldings. mules, jacks, jennets, cattle, sheep,
/ goats and hogs; also, all money secured BY
mortgage or deed Of trust, money IN actual
or constructive possession, money due nom
/ solvent debtors. whether By bond, bill SIM
! gle, promissOry note, bill Of exchange or
| Judgment, also. all articles Of agreement for
! the payment Of money, and accounts on sol
vent parties bearing interest. owned or pos
sessed by any person or persons Whatsoever
/ except notes or bills for work or labor done
ALEC, all shares Of stock in any bank. institu-
tion or company now or hereafter lneee, .R;
rated by. or in pursuance Of. any law 81 TINS
| State, or any other State. or OF the United
States Of America. which bank, or institution.
| or company, is located IN the corporate u mits
OF the city Of Memphis. aad not elsewhere
whether the stockholders. OF any Of them, re,
side in the city Of Memphis or not; and all
public bonds or stocks whatsoever. all in
comes from bonds OF stocks which BY the laws
Of the United States or by the laws OF the
state Of Tennessee are exempted from taxa
ton; all money loaned or invested at int
rest in The city Of Memphis. or elsewhere;
including money of orphans. legatees and
| digtributeos, under tWenty-one years Of
age; Alss, an household aHd kitchen fur;
niture, including gold and silver plate; az
gold and silver watches and lewelryi al
pleasure carriages and buggies Of two or iopI
| wheels; all salaries and om0lumenls oI ZEE
enue and ali other property. real ana per
sonal. now taxable by tho laws Of the state o
/ Tennessee, shau be assessed, listed and val
I .f.a - Co. al eft