Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-12-15


lature to put an occupation tax
on ali corporations has very
serious phase 10 Il. as I under
stand the situation
ia person VIII examine the list OF mer-
rharsise brokers that do business In the
city Of Atlanta mot 70 mention other eiues
4, Ceor~ial. and also remember that the
proposed tax Is 70 be placed on the capi-
tai stock OF the main business no naeNet
where II may be located in other states u
VIII be apparent az once that these me-
rhnndfse brokers viii cease 10 live or
maintain a regular business In Georgia
They can 20 across the line, say 20 Cnat-
tanoora. OF birmingham. Ala, south Car
oii-a or maybe Jacksonville. Fla, ana
rerd their drummers and travelling agents
an over the state OF Georgia. without
paying this heavy tax on foreign CORPORA
tons. -.
uttle les. while the people who have in
vested IN ONCE buildings in cities IKE
Savannah. Augusta. Columbus Macon
ard Atlanta. may whistle for renters OF
tenants and the word viii pass around.
s.xeen ont OF Georgia" and our Georgia
business men who have worked up BUS
mess with good profits for themselves
must either go elsewhere or do something
else
rhrre Is nothing in this world that is so
sensitive as capital, and the south has
hen inviting business men 10 come here
time out OF mind. Certain great enter
prises have come in after solemn pledge
has been given 10 exempt such enterprises
from taxation
When once Il Is understood tnat no
branch ONCE can be opened in Georsla
without taxing the main plant on its fuii
~ mH~
witness a "scatterment." and while am
not able 20 say whether such measure
would Be- constitutional OF otherwise
can ,ertafuiy foresee that these branch
snlces win disappear
Nobody that Knows me or cares 20 re-
aall the efforts I have made in Georgia TOT
clean government and proper management
Of our public funds viii accuse me Of be-
anx partial to trusts or syndicates. but
wren look abroad and see how the whole
state Is rroaning under heavy difficulties
As 10 coIored labor and how anxious We
should be 10 increase our population In
good white citizens. IL does alarm me 70
md any proposed legislation recorded
which win run OF capital and drive away
people who live in Georgia and pay taxes
on their own property as citizens Iney
vii be virtually debarred from maintain
ing branch Offices with remunerative re-
suits to themselves individually. and 20
the state generally. II one dollar may be
collected IA Georgia out OF every thou
sand dollars TRAIT the main plant is taxed
on in Ohio New Jersey or elsewhere, II
viii become prohibitory-
II that main plant has been taxed TO
the limit in other states. It stands TO rea-
son that Il will not agree 20 be taxed
twice on the same amount In Georgia
Why not come down squarely to an In
. come tax and be done with it, Why not
tax an incomes and let the people who
fan 10 make living expenses so scot free2
Tax the incomes OF these foreign plants
in Georgia. IL you please. but do not drive
all our Georgia boys away from the state
who are now making living here at home
. Gnstead OF in Ohio. Indiana and else
wherel By doing legitimate business
We complain heavily when railroad sys-
tens and great manufacturing plants dis
place our Georgia employees and place out
slders in the good paying positions over
their heads as Is often done.
This tax on merchandise brokers and all
foreign business as now operated BY our
Georgia men win cause Offices TO disap-
pear in Georgia cities and the work viii
be operated from the outside. and largely
By outsiders
am told our interstate commerce laws
viii certainly protect these BUSINESSES in
their trade or commerce with other
states. and as I see the situation the loss
win fan mainly on the buildings that have
been erected BY our own Georgia citizens
70 rent TO these outsiders
I do not own a foot Of ground or a
tenement that is rented 70 a single person
who might be affected. but all the same.
I should dislike to see our enterprising
business men II Georgia ruined BY hav-
ing no renters for their property. and. OF
course. the result in state. county and
municipal taxation would be disastrous.
Don't kin these enterprising property
holders in Georgia In desire 70 tax for
eizn corporations Go slow before the
goose that lays the golden egg shall be
hung Up dry and dead.