The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-17
The TAX ON THE POLES.
II Will Probably Be Fixed By the
Council This Week.

Manager Polk Says the Telephone
Company Can't Stand tan Alder
man Explains the Purpose Of the
Law-It is Intended for the Telegraph
Companies--Its Effect on the Street
Railway Companies.
The move on the part of the city to en-
force tax upon poles, as authorized by
the last legislature, is creating considera-
bic agitation in the minds of the street
railway electric light, telephone and
telegraph men.
There are about 5000 poles in the city,
IL is estimated. OF this number, the
Southern Bell Telephone Company has
nearly 1000, the two telegraph companies
between them about the same mum Der
the electric light company about 600
and the two street railway companies
about 800 each. A tax of three to five
dollars on each poll, which is about what
council proposes to put on, would add con
sIderably to the amounts now contributed
to the city by these companies.
CAN'T PAY 1T.
''We simply couldn't afford il. +" said
Mr.. Polk, manager of the telephone COM
pany, when approached on the subject yes
terday. I'VE should probably appeal to
the courts. The Telephone company is
now paying the city license of 5000 an
nually for the privilege of doing
business here, and 500 city taxes, besides
$500 state tax, and 500 county tax
in all $1,000 on plant valued at only
$4,000. We have about 900 poles in the
city, and tax of So each would make
-, 100 to be added. TO our burden, or a
total of 81 900 year for all taxes. These
figures, alone, l think, are sufficient to
prove the injustice of the burden, and |
do not believe the council will impose it
upon US"
II do not think the object of the act
authorizing the city to place a special
tax upon poles is generally understood. -
said an alderman last night. The reason
for securing the passage of the act was to
get at the telegraph companies which
have successfully avoided taxation by the
city for number of years. The city tax
ordinance requires license of
5000 per annum from telegraph compan-
les doing business in the city The com
panies have refused to pay this license,
however, and the city has been unable to
collect it because of decisions of the
United States supreme court to the effect
that corporations doing an interstate
business, such as railroad and telegraph
companies. could not be compelled to pay
municipal license.
THE CITY's WAY OF GETTING Att.
There is nothing, however, to prevent
the city exacting a license or rental for
each pole erected in its limits, provided
it has the authority to do so. Every cor
poration doing business in the city should
contribute its fair proportion toward de-
fraying the city's expenses, and the tele-
graph companies are the only corpora
tions l know Of which have succeeded in
evading their share Of the burden If
they will not pay the license
they can be made to pay tax
on poles, and it makes no difference to
the city whether the money comes from
poles or license, so the companies are
made to contribute their share.
II do not think It is the intention Of the
city to increase the burdens of the street
railway and telephone companies. While
they might be compelled to pay a tax on
poles, they could be relieved Of other
taxes, so that it would amount to merely
readiusting the burden without increas-
ing it.
THE STREET RAILWAYS SIDE or IT.
The street railways already contribute