The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-25
TO TAX AT DIFFERENT RATES.
a Bill in the Interest of Manufacture
ing Industries.

Ing AnuuStFleS.
The citizens Industrial committee has
taken steps to aid the passage of the pill
introduced in the Senate by Senator Os-
borne providing for an amendment to the
constitution allowing incorporated cities
and towns to discriminate in taxing the
various classes of property within their
limits.
The measure originated with the indus
trial committee and the object is to ena-
bic cities and towns to encourage the es-
tablishment of industries within their
midst by the inducement of a low tax rate
for a number of years. a circular mas
been prepared by the committee and
copy mailed to the mayor of every city
and incorporated town in the state.
The bill being of immense Importance
to the cities and towns in the state 1t is
expected that the matter VIII command
the immediate attention of all local mu-
nicipal authorities The circular takes
pains to show that instead of being a dis
elimination against the country outside
the cities and towns the amendment Of
fcrs valuable Inducements to the agricul-
tural interests, The object of the amend
ment is set forth clearly and concisely
in the circular, which reads as follows:
Savannah, Ga, Nov. %, 1S95.-Dear Sir:
AS mayor Of this city, and eX-ofticio chair
man OF the Citizens Industrial Commit
tee of Savannah, / deem 1t very import
ant to bring to your notice an amend
ment to paragraph /, section 2, article Z
of the constitution of Georgia, which has
been introduced in the legislature by Sen
atOr Osborne, from this district, at the
request of the Citizens Industrial COM
mittee.
The present paragraph in the constitu-
tion is as follows:
IAN taxation shall be uniform upon the
same class of subjects, and ad valorem
on all property subject to be taxed with
in the territorial limits of the authority
levying the tax, and shall be levied and
collected under general laws.
The amendment adds the following pro-
viso to the above, namely:
provided, that Incorporated cities and
towns in this state may tax different
classes of property in their taxable limits
at different rates.
This amendment seeks to give incorpo-
rated cities and towns in this state the
right to tax different classes of property,
within their taxable limits, at different
rates but it is not compulsory; it merely
gives to the cities and towns the option
to do this if they see INT.
The result of this amendment in Sa-
vannah would be the reduction of the rate
of interest in banks, a. least l per cent,
and probably more. Up to within a few
years ago, when the supreme court put
its construction on the constitution of
Georgia as it is now, in the case of Weed
VS. City of Savannah, reported in S4th
Georgia, Page 6SS, lower rate of tax
alton was put upon money in banks than
upon other property, because this was the
circulating medium Of the people, and
/ the result was satisfactory to the real
/ uiZed that real estate was bene-
| fitted by lower rate of in
I q. decision.
| money in banks here has been taxed at
/ the same rate as real estate. and the re-
/ suit has been a high rate of interest, to
/ the injury of real estate, and other prop
crty.
/ If this reduction of interest could be
/ general all over the state, the beneficial
I results to the people of Georgia would
! be very great If this amendment is pass
/ ed each city and town in the state can do
/ as it pleases. that Is to say, can tax all
/ property uniformly at one rate. or can
/ nut different rates on different classes
J according TO their requirements, and. in
asmuch as the members of the municipal
/ boards are elected by the people nothing
/ could be done in this regard. which did
l not meet with the approval of the major
+ ity of citizens of each city or town
4 OF course, this amendment will not al
| all affect state and county taxation,
/ which will remain uniform on all classes
4 OF property IN cities and toWas. dis atIl
( as IN the country--it merely gives an adj
I ditional right 10 the municipal govern
ments Of the state. as 10 municipal .uNa-
I tion. only.
Z respectfully request. on behalf Of the
I Citizens Industrial Committee. II this
I amendment meets with your dp1rarll
. that YOU take active steps m once Win
I your senator. and immediate representa-
I lives, in urging them 20 vote for tho
[ same. Respectfully. Herman Myers
/ Mayor and Chairman EN Onlci0 Citizens
Industrial Committee u Savannah, Ca.