The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-16
WHEELMEN TALK TAXES.
THEY WANT THE TAX. 1T 1T Is
LEVIED, SPENT ON THE STREETS.

The Proposed Ordinance Indifferent
Iy ReEarded-One Dealer Says He Is
willing to Join Others to Fight 1t.
became IA Member of the l.. a. w.
For That PurpOse-Lcague Officers
Not Ready TO Say Whnt They VIII
Do.
The announcement in yesterdays Morn
ing News that the city council would place
a tax on bicycles did not create the stir
among wheelmen that might have been
expected. But few seem to have taken
the matter up or to have even decided
whether they would resist the passage of
the ordinance.
one dealer, whose place nearly always
has crowd of riders Longing about dis
cussing the latest models in high grade
wheels, the last big race, the crack-a-jack
racing men and other matters Of para
mount interest to wheelmen, said, when
asked about the proposed ordinance, that
it was the first time he had heard it men,
toned.
With those who had anything at all to
say about it, the ordinance was regarded
as all right if a clause is embodied provid-
ing that the proceeds of the tax go towards
the Improvement of the streets that would
not otherwise be improved. One enthus-
iastic rider said he would be willing to pay
a tax of 50 on his wheel if the city would
agree to expend all it receives in the i'm
provement of the streets He said he
thought most riders would look at the
thing in the same way.
Another dealer said he would be glad to
Join in a fight against the ordinance.
bicycles he held. are properly no more
subject to special taxation than are vehi-
cles of any other character. DrayS,
hacks, delivery wagons and such vehicles
have to pay taxes in the way of licenses,
but a gentleman does not have to pay any
special tax on his buggy which he uses
for his pleasure. The case with the bcy-
Cles the dealer regards as precisely analo-
Gous, with the exception that the damage
in the way of wear and tear upon the
streets resulting from the use of a wheel
Is scarcely to be compared with that dOEe
by a horse and buggy.
One point the dealer raised was that
with reference to the machines he keeps
in stock to be rented. He says he will
lind it necessary to buy a dozen or more
tags for these wheels if the council de-
cides to pass the ordinance. This would
be too great an imposition on the deal
ers, as they have to pay licenses to run
their business and the rental of wheels is
included in the privileges gEanted in those
licenses. It would be difficult for any ar
rangement to be made by which the police,
who viii doubtless be instructed, in the
event of the passage of the ordnance to
look out for wheels without the tags,
would be able to tell a wheel that had been
rented from a dealer. 1t would be a mat
ter of considerable trouble to change a
tag from one wheel to another.
A business man in SDpakiDor Of fha mai
ter said the bicycles of the city should
be included in the regular returns of
property, and if they are not so returned,
steps should be taken TO see that they
are. Although he does not ride a wheel,
he does not think they should be SUB
ject to a special tax.
The officers of the League of American
Wheelmen, Mr.. w. e. Grady, chief con.
sui of the Georgia division, and Mr. VIII
liam Denhardt, secretary and treasurer,
had conference yesterday morning in
regard TO the proposed tax. What they
decided to do is not known Mr. Grady
was asked if the league would oppose the
measure. He answered that he could not
say whether il would or not until later.
The general presumption, however, is that
the ordinance Will meet with strong oppo-
stion in this quarter. The league is about
125 strong in Savannah, it is said, and is
made up of influential men. Their an
tagonism would injure the chances for the
passage of the ordinance. One riders
faith in the opposition of the league to
the idea of wheels being taxed was so
strong that he applied for admission into
Il just for the sake, as he said, of being
able to make the fight with it.
The league has opposed the imposition
of taxes in other cities. That seems to be
its policy when wheels are taxed ana
there is no reason to think the policy with
be deViated from in Savannah