Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-31
THE QUEER FIGURES.
Business Firms Ready to be Assessed
High on a Business Tax
FOR PURPOSES OF ADVERTISING.
There May be a Shortage in the Total Tax
When it is Collected.
THE LISTS WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED

A call was made upon Chief Assessor
Frank P. Case, yesterday. in regard to the
closing returns of the business tax. He said
the books would be ready for the treasurer
within 10 days. and, upon inquiry as to the
amount of taxes received, as compared with
the previous year, he stated that it was i'm
possible yet to say, for the reason that the
figures had not been made up. He stated,
however, that in view of the small number
of liquor licenses granted by Judge White,
the total of the assessments might possibly
fall below the estimate of tbe Finance Com
mittee.
The Board of Assessors had in every
instance largely increased the assessments
upon those who had failed to make returns
of their business for the past year, upon
which the law fixes basis as the assess
ment of the current year. The purpose of
this was to compel delinquents to make &C.
curate returns, the board generally accept
ing appeals when properly qualified and
made.
"Will the list of assessments be given out
for publications. Mr.. Case was asked.
L
last year." was the reply, ''and refuse to
give them out. Last year they were given
out by the City Treasurer, and it is likely
that he will do so this year"
"Where presumably excessive assessments
have been made, have merchants generally
made appeals, showing their actual business
of the past year?"
MEN WHO WON'T KICK.
"Well, generally, they have, where we
have exceeded the actual business of firms;
but many have failed to make response to
the notices sent them of the assessment
which indicates that in such cases the assess
ments were not excessive. In other words,
a man assessed at $50, 900, and doing a bust
ness of $4,000, is not kicking"
''Is it not fact that some merchants are
willing to pay beyond what they would
bolstering their business and their credit?"
"Well, yes; it is SO said that some mer-
chants are willing to be oyertaxed with
probably such a view in mind. regret
tnat there is necessity of business tax at
all, for the reason that it is nearly as odious
and unfair as an income tax. LIDO most
decidedly object to the publication of bus
iness returns or assessments. Itw hoped
that the largely increased valuation upon
property for the current year, made under
the new city charter, would have enabled
the Finance Committee of Councils to
abolish the business tax"
"Now, Mr.. Case, one reason of the call
Upon you is that it is reported that business
firms will allow, or at least not contest, ex-
cessive assessments you may have made
until after the publication of the list, for
the purpose of showing, or allowing to be
shown, an amount of business that their
books would not warrant. Then, after
such publication, that they will come to
you with their appeals, showing to you that
in many, if not all cases, such assessments
should be reduced ~
rive have heard of such possible action
by some merchants; but, if the returns are
published, tie board will allow the publica-
tion after obtaining the appeal.
IT IS oDIoUs AT BEST.
''The whole business tax mater is trouble
some. Many varied questions arise that are |
not distinctly covered by law. Merchants
Justly complain against the tax Many |
deprecate the publication of the amount of |
their business, particularly those who make |
an open and honest showing of what they |
90. Ihey cite the TACT that many drummerS |
and agents visiting the city are competing |
with them. in their several lines of business |
without the exaction of tax. Some of |
these agents have permanent places of bust
ness here"
"What about the assessment upon liquor
dealers?"
1--WE have before us, under consideration, |
the reports of sales, made to the License |
Court for the past year. In every instance,
the wholesale dealers have been assessed no |
less than upon the basis of the returns they |
made to the Court. As to retailers, as you |
know, there are but SO, against over $50 last |
year. The publication few days ago that |
the SO saloons should now do as much busi-
ness as the 250 last year, was a mistake, as
no such estimate had been made. We have, /
however, largely increased the assessments |
upon saloon keepers holding license. In
few instances, known to me, have the
assessments made by the board been beyond
what the parties are likely to do: but, as
rule, the estimates are below the probable
actual receipts. Much consideration was
given this matter, and 1t was frequently
gone over, for the reason that it seemed |
arbitrary upon the part of the board to guess
at the advanced sales of these dealers None |
of the SO saloonists will deny that their
business will be largely increased over that
of last year. Meanwhile they have the |
right of appeal, and number of them have |
been heard. Perhaps, so far, but one-third |
have appealed, and their cases will be con-