The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-05-05
eill; Carpenter Dean, Boyd. Love and

Mckamv,
Lizards pending amendment to the or-
eupation tax bill relating to shows and
exhibitions WAS adoptcd.
Amendment by Llard imposing on
klneioscope and like machines an annual
occupation tax OF $25 aud county occupa-
! ilon tax Of SS PER day prevailed.
The speaker announced Ia following
members OF tho house OH the free confer
| ence commi,tSo Ter the general appropril-
ton bill Garrison. Wilcox, O'Connor lur-
ncr ard Moore OF Lamar.
Logan submitted an amendment TO that
part OF section l relating 10 fire Insurance
companies. pro, idlng that IL wharf com
pancs shall on or before March file With
the comptroller report under oath SNOW
lag Tie amount of charges and receipts
from all sources within the state paid 10
or collected by such companies within the
state during the year ending December III
next preceding aud pay 10 the State treas
urer rer cent of the gross receipts as
shown by their sworn rcports. no occupa-
tiou tax shall then be imposed on wharf
companies. provided the act shall not DO
construed to prohibit the levy OF state.
tniy and munic.ual taxes upon any real
and personal property CT such coW'anics.
The penalty fixed Is sa5 for zach day such
wharf company fails to comply. Venue
and jurisdiction of suits 10 recover is COM
ierrcd on courts OF Travis county
ment. said that the wharf, eotapany was
one OF the richest corpornuons In Texas.
hat every railroad running into Galveston
was paying tribute to 1t and that the ma
lority OF its stock was held hv Foreigners;
that the railroad companies were power
less to reach it. and that 1t ougat to DO
taxed
Mr. Ward wanted to know If the people
whom the railroads served would not
have to pay the tax
MIR. VOTERS cou,euded that the tax
would fall upon the shipper and the people
Mr.. Harris said that when the Interests
OF his people were assailed he proposed 70
defend them at all hazards. The wharf
company had already materially lowered
Its tarin. Il employed somewhere IN the
neighborhood Of 5Qu men, Who We're paid oil
every Saturday night, and TO Impose lax
OF = per cent on It's gross earnings would
be to deprive the employees OF their wages
to the extent OF : Der cent.
Continuing. Mr.. Harris said that ii the
tax stopped at the proseu, wharf company
he might not say more. out when he saw
tho effect OF sucn An unjust tax on Inc es-
adjustment OF competitive wharVes he
Was constrained to proceed and to appeal
to membots not 10 ADOPT an amendment
that would throttle the commcrciA. inter.
est of Texas and prevent the construction
OF wharf comuan'.s at Neasco. Sabine
lAass aud other ports through which the
commerce OF the great Northwest hoped 10
reach the Atlantic seaboard.
The amendment Was ADOPTED by a vote
OF 81 10 &c.
Mr. Field OF Grayson submitted m
amendment leyyinE an annual occupation
tax OF $500 on every club or association de-
signdU''i by any name Whatsoever, char
terci under the general INCORPORATION Jaws
ot this state engaged in selling alcoholic
drinks 70 members.
Lillard spoke Ia favor OF the amend
mcut
Ward called attention. to the fact that
ihc courts held that where clubs were not
or eanized for purposes Of eyading tho law
/ cstainins to the licons.i-- OF sdlopus they
were not retail liauor dealers and there
foro not amenabe 10 thr law regulating to
such. This amendment was eithor in the
Interest ut the saloon keeper or temper
ancc jodze.
Blair offered to amend the am6rIimcnt
by adding. Provided. this shall not apply
to any club purely social Ia its nature and
where no profits are made on such alco-
hoi!c drinks
Bailey spoke in favor OF Blair's amend
mrni and said that it looked rs II the old
prohibition fight was on again. Crawford
SAID II tho amendment obtained 1t would
break up local option.
Fisher said .e favored tn Fold amend
mont because it would encourage the or
gan!1ation OF ial clubs and thereby IA
cllitaie tho procurement OF liuuor in Will
hanson county.
Rlair withdrew his amendment to their
amendment and moved 10 table the origi-
nal amendment and his motion prevailed
by vote of IS TO As. and the house ad-
iourned until 8 o'clock tomorrow morning