Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-28

to be unjust, irregular and a burden to those
upon whom it was imposed, as well as a
| detriment to the business interests of the
city.
Mr.. Holiday, speaking for the sub-com-
mittee, stated that the petitions had been re-
ceived, and discussed with due respect by
the subcommittee, but that owing to the
late hour at which they had been received.
the sub committee having then nearly COM
pleted its work, it was decided to return the
petitions to the Finance Committee without
taking an action upon them, except recon-
mending that the business tax levy of last
year be re-enacted this year.
Mr.. Getty protested against the business
tax levy of last year upon saloon keepers.
He thought the business tax was good
thing, but the assessments should be made
equal. Under last years levy a wholesale
liquor dealer was only taxed l mill, while
the saloon keepers were taxed 10 mills
Since the saloon keeper, under the new
license law, paid 5000 year for his license
into the city treasury, he should not be COM
PEELED to pay so much more than his breth-
ren who were in another class of the same
business, or, for that matter, in any other
business.
Mr.. Magee called Mr.. Getty's attention
to the fact that proprietors of pool, billiard
mills.
Mr.. Getty replied that, no matter what
such people were taxed, they never made
any returns for their business anyhow.
1T WASN'T SECONDED.
He moved that the levy on saloon keepers
be reduced to 1 mill. AS there was no
second to this motion, Mr.. Holiday moved
that the petitions be respectfully returned
A. n, Il r1ats t1nA
it would be impracticable to abolish the
business tax this year.
Mr.. Magee moved to amend by adding
that the business tax be abolished by drop
ping it at the rate of 25 per cent per year,
after this year, until the whole tax was
abolished {.
Mr.. Robertson opposed the amendment.
He thought the rich men who sent in the Pc
titions for the repeal of the business tax
were the very men who should pay it. 1t
was pure selfshness on their part. IF the
business tax was repealed the money would
have to be taken out of the pockets of the
poor man. That was what it was, taking
the tax off the rich few and putting it onto
the poor many. The rich merchant was here
to make money off the people, and he should
be made to pay the insignificant sum i'm
posed by this tax for the privilege.
Mr.. Binder took the same ground, and in
regard to Mr.. Getty's appeal for reduction
of the saloon keepers tax, Mr.. Binder
thought that no class of business was better
able to stand a good tax than saloon keep
ers, because their profits were so large. He
had been a saloon keeper for years himself,
and knew whereof he affirmed.
Mr.. Getty became ''riled' at this state
ment, and said that Mr.. Binders own case
did not bear out his statement, for, of all the
years Mr.. Binder had been in the saloon
business, he had very little to show for it.
could truthfully say that, if he had ex-
pended as much time and energy to any
other business as he had to the liquor bust
uess. he would have to-day 81 where he has
now but 81 and would be much more re-
spected in the community.
IT WAS REFERRED BACK.
When the vote was taken Mr.. Holidays
motion was passed, and Mr.. Magee's amend
ment lost.
Mr.. Renziehausen objected to the appro-
priatioa providing for repaving Cherry
alley between Third avenue and Water
Water to Liberty streets, and s., 900 added
to the appropriation for that purpose, as the
street needed repaving as much at one end
as the other.
Mr.. Holiday stated that the sub-commit-
tee was fully aware that nearly every street
in the lower part of the city neededrepaving
as did some of the other streets, but they
had decided the city could not afford it this
year. Mr. Bigelow had sent in list of,the
Improvements he thought absolutely neces-
sary, and the subcommittee had taken this
list and selected the Improvements that in
their judgment were most imperative and
could be afforded by the city this year.
Mr.. Renziehausen's motion was lost.
An explanation was asked from Mr..
Holiday concerning the $4,000 for a dis
tributing main from the Hiland reservoir.
He replied that it was well-known fact that
that part of the city around Oakland was
short of water, and that there was a crying
necessity for water in that section. It
would cost $500, 900 to connect the Hiland
reservoir with the lower part of the city,
and that would have to be done very soon,
but could be this year. Sixty thousand
dollars would run main from the reservoir
to Oakland and down over the hill to Second
avenue. The balance of the distance could
be covered next year.
Messrs. Robertson and Binder objected to
the item providing $249, 900 to the fire
bureau, but withdrew their objections upon
a motion being passed that this sum should
include s., 600 to be devoted to the purchase
of lot for fire engine house in the Thirty
first ward, and 81, 900 for the purchase of
lot and erection of an engine house on the
boundary between the Thirty-second and
Thirty-ffth wards. This was the only
change made in the subcommittee report,
which was then adopted by the committee
and ordered returned to Councils with an