Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-04-20
ORDINANCE
An Ordinance Regulating Taxation
In the City OF Memphis.
MERCHANTS.

after all merchants, commission merchants,
manufacturers, and all other dealers. shal
pay an ad vaiorem tax upon the capital IN,
vested in their business equal 20 that levied
on all taxable property and the term ''mer-
| chant shall include all persons and copart,
nerships engaged in trading IN any KIND o.
goods, wares or merchandise. either on land.
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 mercnandise oe
| or otherwise, or be purchased and delivered
| for profit as ordered. ProDided. that this sec
ton shall not affect in anywise the levy and
| collection Of privilege taxes upon the ayoca-
| tions declared by law to be taxable as privi-
| leges. except merchants and persons doing
the business of selling merchandise upon
Sec z. And no merchant or commission
merchant shall commence or continue bust
ness in the city Of Memphis. without obtaiu-
| ing from the City Register Of the city of
| Memphis, n 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 uiisdem eanor for each days violation of
the same, ana shall be arr8ted as in other
cases of misdemeanor, and on conviction be-
fore the Recorder shall be fined. for each sep
arate offsnse not less than five nor more than
fifty dollars. which shall be collected as other
Des are collected. a
Sec. 3. Every merchant or commission
a license. and ut the end OF each twelve
months thereafter. shals 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
dollars, conditioned that such merchant or
commission merchant will render TO the City
Tax Collector at the end OF twelve months
from the date of the bond n true statement,
under oath, of the amount of capital invested
in the business carried on during the twelve
months preceding, and VIII pay TO the Tax
Collector the tax thereon, as provided by law.
And to fix the amount of capital 50 invested,
bonds, notes. or ether evidences. or securi-
ties of value in place or lieu thereof, or prop
erty, real or personal. of every kind. which
may be or is used ms the representative OF
capital or as basis for the transaction OF bu-
siness in each case respectively, shall be
considered and held as said capital
Sec. 4. Upon applying for a 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
(s25); ard when the merchant or commission
merchant pays the taxes that may be due
upon his capital as herein provided, the SAID
som shall be allowed him as credit upon,
and shall be deducted from, the amount of
the taxes due from him. s.se
See. 5. The dd ralofem tax provided for
herein shall be payable as other taxes upon
property are, and shall be collected in the
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-
chant or eopartnersbip 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
fered for sale by him on commission or cen
signment.
preceding twelve (i2) 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
privilege.
The statement herein provided for shall be
sworn to by the person or persons asing 1t,
or some one of them; but il shall not be con-
elusive upon the City Of Memphis as to the
actual amount of the taxable capital. but II
may be shown to be false. apdrfip such case,
the Tax Collector snall ascsrt by the best
evidence in his power, the acyh amount OF
the taxable capital of the merchant, commits
sion merchant or copartnershlp making me
false statement; and, when he ascerteins
such actual amount Of capt. al, he shall levy
and collect the taxes herein provided for
upon such actual amount. Ii shall be the
duty Of the Tax Collector to provide the
necessary blanks for the statements required
By this section, and he shall furnish the same
TO 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 bsceme, forfeited in all cases by the
violation of any of the provisions OF this Or
dinauce. And at the end of the term Of each
license, q new one shall be taken out as pro-
yided for in this ordinance.
sec.7 That every merchant and cOpart-
nership who is engaged in business in the city
OF Memphis under existing ordinances. shall.
within thirty days from the passage. OF this
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. s. That the bond required by section
three Of this ordinance shall be forfeited BY
a failure to render the statement, under the
oath as therein required, or BY rendering
false statement, or b. falling TO pay the taxes
herein provided; and it shall be the duty Of
the City I ak Collector to hand all such bonds
as become forfeited to the City Attorney. who
shall bring suit upon the same tor the benefit
Of the city, and, in case of q breach Of the
bond and snch suit. the city Of Memphis
phall be entitled 20 recover the full amount of
the penalty specified in the bond. and an
agreement 10 that effect shall be inserted
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 copartnerahip making IT, or
any other right or remedy the city may have
against him by tho provisions ofthis ordinances
or otherwise.
Sec. 9. That it shall be misdemeanor to
violate any Of the conditions Of the bond re-
quired by section three Of this ordinance. or
any of the requirements Of section 1--WE, and
the party offending shall be liable to arrest
apd punt, hment therefor. as in other cases of
misdemeanOr.
PROPERTY TAX.
Sec. 10. That all real estate. and all per-
sOnal 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 from
solvent debtors. whether by bond. bill sim
gle. prouissOry 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;
alsO, all shares of stock In any bank. insttu-