The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-18
nm MANY TAX EXEMPTIONS.
On MYERS ADDRESSES ORDI-
- my FERRILL ON SUBJECT.

uoveuue Reduced by Number
Veterans Doing Business Under
,,aiaent Soldiers Exemption
,o,--Nnny said to Have Awaited
,.,,,seIves of These Exemptions
-. Are Not Entitled to Them.
Loo FerriII Requests the Names
T,ose suspected of Having I'M
nosed Upon Him.
1rs. General advantage taken by Confed-
,.o+erans of the law which exempts
-,,,,ied or INDECENT Confederate soldiers
., tba pavment of any tax for doing
.,,sss. either state, county or municipal,
.ausing some trouble TO the city author
, The matter has been complained OF
,efore. but in the present straitened
,or9ition of the city's finances the num-
her doing business under these exemptions
.,,rallv attracts more attention than
heretofore.
There is no objection to bona fide indi-
e.nr confederate veterans taking advant-
,ee Of the law, but the objection is that
,be law is so general in its construction
that il is an easy matter for any one
IN obtain an exemption by simply claim
ing to be an INDECENT Confederate veteran.
The attention of the city authorities has
been called to The matter by the COM
paints from other taxpayers who have TO
nav citv. state and county taxes to DO
business and who claim that they are be-
pg competed with in business by people
whom they do not believe are entitled to
these exemptions. Instances are cited
where businesses are carried on under
cover Of the exemptions by other parties.
The power to issue these certificates
showing that the party named is an indi-
gent Confederate veteran rests with the
ordinary. The following letter on the sub
iect was addressed 90 Judge Ferrill of the
Oldinarys Court by Mayor Myers yester-
day:
savannah, Ca, Feb. II, 1S99.-Hon.
Hampton l.. Ferril, Ordinary: Dear Sir
] beg 10 cali your attention to the fact
that the law permitting disabled and in
dgent Confederate soldiers TO do business
without paying a municipal tax is being
very greatly abused. Many men, who are
in no sense INDECENT, are armed with your
certificates, which are conclusive upon the
municipal officers, but which, in some
cases are issued to people who do not
come within the meaning or spirit of the
law. l am advised by the city attorney
that there is no provision in the law
for an affidavit, but the law contemplatea
that you should be made satisfied that
the party applying for a certificate is dis
abed or INDECENT within its meaning and
mat the making of an affidavit does not
conclude you on this question l fear that
in a number of cases you have been mis-
led as to the pecuniary condition of the
applicant and l write to bespeak care
and caution in this matter. l have no
disposition 10 prevent any Confederate SOL
der securing the exemption provided for.
Il ne Is really disabled or INDECENT; but
am sure YOU will take pleasure in see
ing TO 1t that the law is not abused in
cases where parties are willing to make
etiidavts and are really neither disabled
nor INDECENT
MY excuse for calling you attention to
Ue matter as this time is that the city
needs every dollar of income to which II
Is entitled, and we are now retrenchine
III every possible way in order to meet
absolutely necessary expenses. In addi-
uQn to this, it is not fair to taxpayers
WAC pay the license to suffer competition
tio'n o'ners who are equally able to pay.
Out VINO are willing to stretch their CON
dIIl0dVG,
""eu' III ruth and in fact in some cases
uigy nave property and are neither dis
"0'ep NOT lndigent Very respectfully,
Ae..- Herman Myers, Mayor.
A'er giving the matter consideration.
'uuge Ferrill replied as follows:
savannah FEB. II, 1S99-Hon Herman
MYERS Mayor of Savannah. Ga; Dear
SIN response to your letter of Feb.
boon peg to say that it has always
'9 II VIII continue to be, my de-
oIIs ~ see mat the law in regard to dis
oar.,l5 anu ihdlSent Confederate soldiers is
eoiI leu out IN its intent and spirit. ms
wen as its letter. Please he so lrind &c
Iurhlsh me at once with the names
y. nose whom you suspect of having i'm
~ upon me and the law q know OF
none)' and | will at once summon them
eIore me to answer for the consequences
tours respectfully,
Hampton L. Ferrill,
Nro,,o. Ordinary c. c., Ga.
VI myers is decidedly against the is
60 vi Tree licenses to Confederate vet
IONS u,,lesS 'hey come under the provis-
Tbo 9iae ne raw as he understands it to be-
Li''vu 10 be entitled TO the benefits of
,,i.s aaW' but those who are fully able IN
fro,l hVlng' and who are not suffering
COW. cow any disabilities, are not believed to
'oile under its provisions
tbin" eSl e 1t does not seem the best
s r,,' :, Tor able-boded Confederate veter-
b .9, sald Mayor Myers, many Of whom
t l~'e u ieIt their little homes, in the coun-
q co,o "tIeIe they had no trouble in making
10 G 'a,,n living, and came to the city
not '' S1ic a small business. which would
oonld , them half the amount they
ersns - na ne on the farm. Some of the vet
and cann1 ,iilo business without experience,
therefore be expected to man.