The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-30

Wholesome at far below its value. In
the very nature of things, in the past, as
sessments could not be equalized, but
with permanent board at work, year
after year, equalization is possible
1T may afford some consolation to the
tax payers of this city to compare the
cost of running the city government with
that of our sister city, Atlanta said
Col. Garrard.
He quoted figures taken from the pub
lished financial statement Of Atlanta,
there for the year 1896 to be S54, 464 81, as
against $34, 100000 for Savannah. The At
lanta tax rate is ~ per cent, with very
The Savannah tax rate is IL per cent.
with a discount of 10 per cent.
for prompt payment, making net tax
rate of 1.35. Atlanta collects on her as
sessed property $Sl5,467.9 SO and from other
sources $3.50, 1869, making a grand total
of receipts 81, 79S, 66495. Savannah's budget
this year calls for $743,5S3, or more than
81 100000 less than Atlanta's.
A comparison of the expenditures or
the two cities was given, showing now
much more Atlanta expended on her Varl-
Gus departments than does Savannah. At
lanta spends $50, 800 in collecting her taxes,
while Savannah spends $1,000. Atlanta
raises ZOO by sanitary taxes. ms TAX
is assessed on improved real estate at 81
for each lot. Atlanta raises $500 from
street tax and those who fail to pay TINS
tax are required to do street work. Col
Garrard said he saw little difference be
tween imprisoning a man because he dld
not return his property for taxation ana
compelling him to work in street gang
because he did not pay it.
Alderman Lester inquired of Col. Car
rard if he did not think the city asses Sors
would accomplish just as much underline
old ordinance as he claimed for them IN
der the ordinance recently enacted.
Col Garrard answered that he did not.
Alderman Falligant cited the records in
answer to Col. Garrard's charge of in
consistency against him. He showed
that he had opposed the penal sections
when the ordinance was adopted. When
he was an alderman before he said he did
not remember having ever looked up the
penal sections of the tax ordinance. He
argued that the penalty OF double tax
for failure to make returns was sutti-
cient. Il am not opposed TO Imprlson-
ment for crime" he said, but am OPP
posed to Imprisonment for debt, TO put
ting man in Jail because he has not
complied with a tax ordinance, and thus
place a stain upon him. which VIII last
as long as he lives, ana continue upon
his children after his death. The consti-
tuition itself provides that no man shall
be imprisoned, except for crime IS the
failure of a man who has no property to
come up and make return a crime
If So YOU will have to build JAN mile
long, and those of us who have property
will have to feed them. II the leglsla-
tors had intended to confer any more
power on the tax assessors of savannah
they would have so specified in the act
They did not do so, and of those fea-
lures had been included the bill would
never have become a law.
Alderman Hudson spoke on the same
line as Alderman Falligant.
ssWhen this administration was voted in
nv the people," he said, lit was with the
idea that it would act on a broad and
liberal basis. On the contrary the aim
seems to be to tax the people out of eX-
istence. This ordinance is equal to de-
claring military law. We have created
three martinets by the name of tax as
SCISSORS and given them arbitrary powers"
Mayor Myers said that for the informa-
ton of council he would state that the
nersonal tax ordinance was the same or
dinance that had been in force for years,
the only difference being the addition Of
section g. The penalties were there be-
fore. said the mayor, and Alderman Falli-
CANT voted for them. The mayor said
further, that last year the city was I'M
able to collect specific taxes from num-
Der of parties until the penalties were
enforced.
Alderman Lester said he approved the
/ ordinance with the exception of section
| Q He thought that section unnecessary.
Alderman Watson moved to amend Al
1 derman Falligants amendment by strik-
! ing out sections 6, and s, being to strike
| ont section of the tax ordinance.
| The aldermen, by this time, appeared
! to be tired of discussing the subject, and
| Alderman Watsons amendment to strike
| out section was adopted, Aldermen Gar
| rard and Bacon and perhaps one or two
| others voting in the negative.