The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-06
WARSAW'S NEW TAX LAW.
THE LITTLE TOWN TAKING on WET
ROPoLITAN WAYS.


Department and Public Improve
ments-MayOr Nelson Explains the
Reason for the Enactment of the
New Tax Ordinance-The street
Railroad Company Has no Reason
10 Complain, He Says-It Gets "A
Good Revenue out of ThunderbOIt
and Police Protection for Its Prop
erty and Passengers and should
Rear Its share of the burden.
The Mayor and aldermen of Thunder
bot have started in to do business on
municipal scale. At the last session of
the legislature an act was passed amend
ing the act of Incorporation Of the town
of Warsaw. the official name of Thunder
bolt, and greatly extending the powers of
the Council. Instead OF a board of COM
miseionors elected annually, a Council
composed of a Mayor and aldermen elect
ed biennially was provided for.
The amendment to the charter was Sc
cured by Mr.. NJ. J. Desverges, who was
at that time Mayor of Thunderbolt The
gentlemen now in control were politically
opposed TO Mr. Desverges, but they seem
none the less willing to avail themselves
of the provisions of the charter amend
ment secured by him.
Heretofore the town has depended for
its revenue upon the liquor licenses, there
being half dozen or more saloons In the
place, and the fines levied upon offenders
in the Police Court. A more elaborate
system for obtaining revenue has now
been determined upon. An ordinance
which went into effect or the first of this
month, as stated recently in the Morning
News, providing for licenses for all classes
of business the licenses varying from $40
to $l00 annually. The latter figure is for
saloOnkeepers and is the same that they
have paid heretofore. Places OF public
amusement such as Gideas garden,
must also pay 500
The heaviest single tax Is levied upon
the street railroad company which is re-
quired to pay $500 year and $40 a car
annually for the privilege of operating
within the city limits The tax is not
a small one and the street railway people
are understood TO be not altogether well
pleased with the idea of paying for the
privilege of keeping up Thunderbolt. as
they look at IT, They figure that Thun-
derbolt without the street railway would
whereas the barkeepers at that popular
summer resort do considerable shaving
of the CONCEALED article on Sabbath after
moons, due to the large crowds of thirsty
Savannahians who are taken there by the
railway.
The authorities of the town look at the
matter in a different light however. Mayor
Nelson was seen yesterday and asked the
reason for the sweeping tax ordinance and
especially for the heavy tax upon the
street railroad company
The tax ordnance was passed." said
Mayor Nelson, FOR the very simple rea-
son that we need money to keen up the
town properly, to make Improvements and
support police and fire department. We
do not think that the town should depend
simply upon the revenue from the saloons
and the Police Court. To depend solely
upon these sources of revenue has an I'M
avoidab.e effect which does not tend to the
best interests of the community. Hereto
fore our small revenue has been barely
sufficient TO keep up police force, and
we have not always been able to do that
satisfactorily. We desire to make some
additions to our fire protection. Then there
are improvements under contemplation
There are streets to he opened and she,led
and various other things which make de-
mands upon a public treasury. We can
not make these improvements without
money and we have concluded that it Is
time that everybody should bear their
share of the burden"
viii you levy taxes upon real and per-
sonal property" Mayor Nelson was asked
THE charter gives us the right 10 levy
a tax upon real and personal property
not 20 exceed one-half of one per cent &"
replied Mayor Nelson, land this will prob
ably be awaited Of"
AS to the railroad people" said Mayor
Nelson they have no right to complain.
U fHuuHfa
| Thunderbolt for years and has never paid
a cent to the support of the town The
! town is at the expense of providing a DO
/ lice force TO protect the property of the
| railroad company and for the protection
/ of the passengers whom il brings there
/ Without police protection there would be
| little pleasure In visiting Thunderbolt as
/ there is alv avs a certain number Of I'M
ruby characters in all large crowds"
/ Did the action of the railroad in in
| creasine the fare to Thunderbolt have any
effect upon the aldermen in causing them
10 impose a high tax upon the street
railroad company" Mayor Nelson was
asked.
Il do not think so, except in this way, "
he replied. There was a feeling that the
| railroad company was endeavoring tC
| build up Isle Of Hope at the expense OF
| Thuuderbol ty increasing fares to Thun-
| derboit and dec. easing them to Isle OF
hiope WITHOUT itBHiu 10 the greater liS-
! lance to be traVe e1 in reaching the latter
| place. However, a tax would have been
imposed anyway, as II was thought only
right and proper that the company should
aid in supporting the town from which il
| derives SO many advantages"
LAS an Illustration of one Of the ex-
| penses which we shall have 10 incur" said
Mayor Nelson, "the town authorities en-
| tered into an agreement with the County
| Commissioners when Dale avenue was
! constructed by which ii was agreed that
The town should improve Mechanics avenue
! and the approaches leading to il. This has
| not been done, but we are DESTROYS of do
| lug the work. There is considerable other
! street improvement needed, all of which
will require expenditure. The street rail-
| road company agreed when ii was per-
mltted 20 lay It's track along the blum &c
| construct certain work for the protect OF
Of the blum and TO maintain its original
| Condi ion. They may be reminded of tbs
! agreement and called upon TO carry out
| their yart Of he contract"