The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-08
TO PUT TAXES ON EVERYBODY.
WOMEN NOT Disseminated
AGAINST IN THE ORDINANCE.


Col. Garrard Explains That They are
Included as Wen as the AIen-An
Male Residents II Years OF Age and
Upwards Required TO Make "A
Showing, However, Whether They
Think They own Any Property or
NOt-The Assessors viii Help Them
10 Find Something on which 10
Pay Taxes-BicycIes and Watches
Are Personal Property and Must
BE Returned for Taxation.
The tax assessors received another large
batch of returns yesterday. The prop
erty owners are allowed only until the
first day Of February to make their re-
turns of personal property. and there
seems to be a disposition to comply with
the ordinance early.
The new tax ordinance is causing more
talk than anything that council has done
recently. Naturally this is the case be-
cause pretty nearly everybody is inter-
ested. The section incorporated in the
ordinance at the special meeting of coun-
ell last Saturday is responsible for most
of the talk. This is the ordinance which
requires all males q years Of
age and upwards to make returns to
the tax assessors whether they have any
personal property or think they have
The question is frequently asked why
a man who has no personal property
should be compelled to make an affida-
Wit to that effect That is what ne is re-
CURED to do under the ordinance and If
he fails to do so he is subject to the
penalty of $50 fine or thirty days impris-
onment, or both, in the discretion of the
court. The aldermen did not reflect when
they adopted that section that it might
damage a young mans standing with his
best girl considerably to be compelled 10
go on record as pauper.
Judging by the experience of some who
have already gone before the tax assess
ors and a talk which a Morning News
reporter had yesterday with Col. Gar
rard, who drew the ordinance, the assess
ors are under the impression that almost
every man has something which can and
ought to be taxed, and it is their in
tention to find it and compel a return
The boys will have to return their bicy-
Giles and watches, their dress suits, and
anything else that might be stolen or hy-
pothecated with Muhlberg to tide over
temporary difficulties.
Col. Garrard's attention was called to
the fact yesterday that he had apparently
disseminated against the girls in his tax
ordinance by requiring only male adults
to come forward and make affidavit as to
whether they are princes or paupers. He
was reminded of the fact that there are
many young ladies in the city who are not
male adults and are p years of age who
are the fortunate possessors of more or
less personal property from which the city
might be entitled to a revenue not in
GLIDING their stocks of good looks and
other personal charms.
Col. Garrard repealed the insinuation
warmly. There has been no discrimination
against the girls, he said. Under the ordi-
nance they are Just as much required to
come before the board of tax assessors
and make affidavit to the value of their
personal property as their male relatives,
and are just as liable to be hauled before
the police court and fined $50 or sent TO
jail by Recorder Wilson for failure TO
make such returns. Under Col. Garrard S
Interpretation of the ordinance the fair
debutantes who received bicycles as
Christmas gifts must so before Mr.. Os-
borne and return them for taxation.
The object of the section which re-
quires male adults to make returns of
their personal property, or if they allege
that they have none, TO make an affidavit
the purpose of securing the return Of the
large amount of personal property in the
city which has heretofore escaped taxa
ton. 1t is well known that the men
own the greater portion of the property,
and by requiring them to come forward
and make affidavit to the amount of
property owned by them the assessors
at the amount of property owned by each
man. Many a man who thinks he owns
no property and who would otherwise
make no return may find when he gets
before the tax assessors that he does own
something which they consider property.
The assessors will help him to
call to mind what he possesses. The word
'lege which occurs in the ordinance Is Of
Importance. The ordinance says that all
male residents, q years of age and up
wards, holding or owning personal prop
erty on the first day of January, shall
make their returns by the first day of
February, and those who allege that they
owned or held no personal property on
the first day of January shall make their
returns of showing by the first day OF
March"
If you will read the entire ordinance
carefully" continued Col. Garrard, you
will find that the preceding sections OF
the ordinance require returns of personal
property to be made by all residents,
whether male or female. young or old. This
includes everybody owning personal prop
erty, women as well as men, and the ba-
biess too, through their parents guard
ians or executors. Penalties are also
attached for the failure of such property
holders to make returns or for their re-
fusal to do so. The ordinance does not let
any property holder escape. Section 8,
specifically requiring returns of all male
residents, is in the nature of q repetition
all property owners of every class be-
ing already included in the previous sec
lions, but it was deemed necessary for
the reasons stated"
Col Garrard said that the impression
that there is a specific tax on bicycles
is erroneous. Bicycles will simply be tax
ed as property.