Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-24
0 RUSH TO REPEAL.
| Anti-Business Tax Paper Held
Over in Chamber of Commerce.
MES B. SCOTT'S OBJECTIONS
Tightening One Burden Only to Make an
Increase on Another.
HER BUSINESS OF THE MEETING
.ES B. SCOTT'S OBJECTIONS
HER BUSINESS OF THE MEETING

he Chamber of Commerce held meet
in the Academy of Science building
terday afternoon. The meeting was
led to order with President George A.
lly in the chair.
President Kelly read a communication
m S. S. Lyons, Secretary of the National
int, Oil and Yarnish Association, which
d: "A special meeting of the Pittsburg
int, Oil and Drug Club was held Thurs
:, February II President NJ. B. Suy-
n in the chair. The following resolu-
MS were unanimously adopted:
WHEREAS, The tax imposed by the city of
tsburg on sales, operates as double tax,
ng paid by wholesale and retail dealers
practically the same business, and is un-
{ to the mercantile community, and be-
being contrary to the spirit of our gen.
/ laws and the institutions of free govern
nt,havins a tendency to defeat the object
vas desirous to accomplish, the increase
revenue since it removes all inducements
parties to engage in business in this
V, and thus become general taxpayers,
!,
Whereas, The immunity from such taxa
n on the business interests of neighbor-
and competing cities enables their mer-
ants to transact business here through
.ir travelling agents without taxation OF
kind, to the great detriment of the
alers and manufacturers of this city;
.refore, be it
An Alleged Result of the Tax.
;esolved, That the continuance OF this
: will simply serve as an incentive for
nv of our firms to remove their business
locations outside of the city limits, re-
ming their trade in Pittsburg through
inch offices and travelling agents; and
sesolved, That we, as an association in
r individual capacity, respectfully urge
repeal of the tax on sales known as the
ercantile Tax, on every ground of jus
e and equity, this action being necessary
the proper protection Of the business in
ests of this CITY.
President Kelly put the question before
Chamber whether immediate action
,uld be taken upon this, or whether it
Duld be referred to a committee.
Mr. Foster moved that it should be taken
and voted upon at once, as it was verv
portant matter. Mr.. James B. Scott
N asked if an objection would carry it to
ommittee. President Kelly replied that
ections from two members would carry
% q committee.
Tr. James B. Scott and Mr. John r.
ndlev then entered objections and the let
was referred to a committee. Mr. Scott
N took the floor and said that he wished
define his position in the matter and his
lson for objecting.
Reasons for Scotts objection.
He said: 'T don't believe that the mer-
title tax should be repealed. If $3.50, 900
taken from taxes by repeating that tax,
IN it must be raised in some other way,
rhaps from real estate. People carrying
business here are protected by the police
] the fire department, and know of
mber of firms, 1 could show a great num-
r, that outside of their mercantile tax
not pay one cent for taxes No, sir; not
iicsyune; and for one cannot see the |
;tice or the equity of it,
President Kelly here said that the objec- |
ms of two members carried the paper to |
nmittee without debate.
Upon call of the committees, Captain /
hn F. bravo, as Chairman of the River
Harbor Committee, submitted three
'olutions, all of which were passed. The
st resolution was in regard to Congress
ablishing regular standard of charges /
pilot and maritime service. The second |
solution was indorsing the action of the |
neral Assembly of Georgia in asking for |
: cooperation of the other States of the |
ZION in the Improvement of the harbor of |
vannah. The third resolution was in |
rising the action of convention of repre- |
natives from II States held in Kansas |
ty, December 10, 1891, for the improve |
mt of the Missouri and the Mississippi /
rers and their navigable tributaries