The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-08
WOULD INJURE THE CITY.
Another Tax Exemption Bill for
Confederate Veterans.

Mayor Myers is keeping a vigIant
watch upon the legislation before the as
sembly. It is not so much the local legls-
lation as ii is that Of a general character.
likely to affect the municipal and business
interests of the city, which gives Mayor
Meyers concern. His attention was at
tracted yesterday by mention IN TIE
Morning News Of a bill reported favorably
by the Pension Committee Of the House
allowing Confederate veterans to become
insurance and real estate agents, COM
mission merchants and auctioueers with
out being liable to the special taxes i'm
posed upon these occupations.
IT the meaning of the bill" said Mayor
Meyers, sis that Confederate veterans may
engage in the occupations named without
the payment Of city taxes the bill IS a
dangerous one. Already the city IS a loser
TO the extent Of about 5000 a year by TIE
general manner in which the veterans
have taken advantage of the law allow Ing
them to engage in a number OF occupa-
tons without the payment Of any taxes
state, city or county. the only requiem nj
being that they shall so before the ordi-
nary and make affidavit to the effect that
they are INDECENT. The bill mentioned
would seriously affect the financial cal
culations of the city for the reason that
the occupations mentioned are among
those which pay the highest taxes for the
privilege of doing business Each in sur
ance company doing business in the city
is required TO pay a tax Of 500 a year
This tax is paid not by the agent but by
the company. Should the bill become a
law the companies could evade the tax by
simply placing their agencies in the names
Of veterans and giving them desk room In
their offices. Each company would b.
ahead just $500 and the city would be out
that amount
"An aucti0ueer's license costs $500 or
$500. Very few auctioneers would pay this
license when it could be so easily evaded
by taking q veteran into the business. 1t
must be borne in mind that the losses in
CURED In this manner would have to be
distributed among the taxpayers. A GER
tain income is required for the running of
the city's business. If this income is cut
off at one point 1t must be made up at
others and hence every taxpayer is inter
ested in anything which affects the city S
income"
Il have always been heartily In favor
Of lending every announcement to the
needy veterans said Mayor Myers. THE
trouble Is that the laws which have been
passed with this end in view are so gen
eral in their terms and so loosely con-
strued that they are taken advantage OF
by parties who are not entitled 10 these
benefits to disadvantage and inconvenience
of parties legitlmately engaged in business
and to the loss Of income by the cities In
the country counties where there is little
diversihcation Of business and few large
towns the effect of these laws is but little
felt. In fact the tendency of these laws
Is to cause the veterans to seek the larger
cities where they can engage In various
lines of business without the payment of
license taxes What the Legislature
should do Is to pass bill giving every mu-
nicipal corporation the right to exempt
from the payment of taxes any INDECENT
and worthy veteran upon application
properly certified TO. This would cause
each case TO come up on its merits so that
impOsters and unworthy persons would be
unable to take advantage OF the law"
Mayor Myers has written for copy of
the bill, and If its provisions are found to
be such as they appear to be 1t Is likely
that Council will take action upon the
matter.