The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-05
EXECUTIONS WERE ISSUED.
Managers of Packing Houses Must
Pay Special Tax To-day.

Executions were issued yesterday
morning by Tax Collector Wells against
four of the packing houses doing bus
mess in Savannah and were turned over
to the sherin's office for service. Each
execution is for the special tax of $500,
and in addition interest from Jan. 2,
with $3.50 for the Fl. IA. The executions
are against Nelson, Morris & Co, at 81
West Broad street, c. A. Hartman, man
ager; Swift & Co, at 400 West Broad
street, W. b. Beal, manager; Armour
Packing Company, at 3l7 West Broad
street, John G. Steinheimer, manager;
Schwarzschild & Lutzberger Beef Com
pany, at BOB West Broad street, j. r.
Nincon, manager.
The companies were notified that the
executions had been issued, and with but
a single exception the managers announc-
ed that they WOULD call on the sheriff
to-day and arrange matters satisfac-
torily.
Manager Beal of Swift & Co., wanted
to give BAIL and when told that he would
have to pay up, he stated over the tele-
phone that he would not do so, and that
the sheriff would have to send him 90
Jail Deputy Sweeney was talking, and
told Mr.. Beal that unless the money IS
paid to-day the company's property VIII
be attached. 1t is not believed that this
will be necessary, and it is expected that
The manager for Swift & Co. will pay
the execution as has been understood all
along.
Acting under instructions from head
quarters, the managers of the branch
houses in this city, refused to pay the
specific tax of 500, required under re-
cent act of the Legislature. The tax
was raised from 500 to 500, and under
the law, must be paid in every county
where the firms do business. The pack
ing houses claim that the 500 they pay
in Atlanta should suffice for their branch
houses in the other cities in the state.
They refused 10 pay the money when it
was due on Jan. J. because they say the
tax is unconstitutional. They will prob
ably pay the amounts named in the exc
cutions to-day and will take a receipt
showing that the money was paid under
protest.
The packing houses are represented by
smith, Hammond d Smith an Atlanta
law firm, and it was decided to pay the
amount required under the act and then
make an effort to recover from the state
IN legal process. At first the packing
houses thought of obtaining injunctions
against the tax collectors to prevent the
ties in which branch houses are located.
Later it was decided to pay the money
under protest and have the courts decide
the legality of the law. The tax collec-
tors must win legal battle before they
Will be permitted to remain in possession
of the money
The Atlanta packing houses paid their
tax to A. P. Stewart tax collector of
Fulton county. and have entered suit for
It's recovery. The case will be carried to
the highest court and upon the decision in
the Atlanta case will depend the action
OF the tax collectors in the other coun-
ties If the state wins the packing houses
Will each be out over $500 in each county
IN winch they have a branch house. If
the Westerns firms win the fight the
county officials will have to refund the
money collected under the execution as
well as pay interest for the time it has
been In their possession. There will be
no legal fight in this county and matters
VIII remain es they now are until the
tulton county case has been determined.
Tax Collector Wells said yesterday that he
dld not anticipate any trouble with the
local houses and that the matter was
thoroughly understood. Manager Real
VIII probably pay up with the other man.
ayers to-day and the county officers have
no idea that they will be forced to make
an attachment In order 20 satisfy the ex-
ecutlon issued against Swift & Company.
The members of the bar in Savannah
are of the opinion that If the pacxins
houses prove their contention in the court
and have the law declared unconstit,1-
tonal, the specific tax law in Georgia will
receive a knockout blow The action NJ
the court on this question is anxiously
awaited.