The Savannah morning news., 1902-12-05
WORK ON TAX BILL
SPECIAL LICENSES AS ADOPTED
FOR GEORGIA.
LIQUOR DEALERS TO PAY $500
SECTION ON TURF EXCHANGES WAS
STRICKEN OUT.


the Extra 800 Tackled ON TO the
Liquor Licensc-rnx ON Bucket
shops Goes to Goodnight Have
Gone Higher But Feared They
Would Be Put Out of Business.
Atlanta, Dec. 4.-The House spent
the entire day in consideration of the
general tax BILL The most important
action taken was the raising of the tax
on liquor dealers to $500. This tax has
been 5000 for several years, having been
raised first from $50 and then from 500.
There are about 1,425 liquor dealers In
the state who are required to pay the
special tax.
A strong effort was made to put the
tax at $500, but it was voted down, and
the $500 amendment. by Mr.. Evans of
Washington, was adopted by vote of
so to IL.
1t is said the Senate will probably
put the tax back to 5000. The tax APP
plies to dispensaries as we'll as other
classes of liquor dealers, the House
having voted down amendments offer
ed to make the dispensary tax $1,000.
Next in Importance to the foregoing
action, perhaps, was the striking from
the bin of the entire section relating
to tax on the turf exchanges, there
by leaving these institutions on the
same footing on which they are now.
The Ways and Means Committee re-
ported a tax of 81, 500 on turf exchanges.
Mr.. Moses of Coweta moved to make
it $4,000, but this was voted down, and
the committee amount was adopted.
Mr.. Hall of Bibb and others warmly
opposed the whole section. on the
ground that it legally authorized turf
exchanges, which, he held. are gam
bling institutions. On this ground the
House voted to strike out the entire
section.
An amendment by Mr.. Stovall
of Chatham to exempt state
and county from the operations from
this tax, had previously been voted
| down by the House. Mr.. Stovall and
the other Chatham members then voted
| against the section.
More Blind Tigers Feared.
Both the turf exchange section and
the liquor tax section provoked WARM
discussion. On the liquor tax 1t was
i argued that the increase would mean
more blind eigers as the liquor deal
ers were paying all they could stand
/ now.
Mr.. Cam of Chatham had intended
to take the floor In opposition to the
increased tax on liquor dealers, but he
was in the chair presiding at the time,
having been called there by the Speak
/ er.
The House struck out the special tax
of $40 on licensed druggists and phar-
macists who had previously been
! classed with professional men, on the
| ground that most of them were SAL
aried clerks, who had to pay for their
! licenses and were not able to pay this
| special tax.
Not n Moral Proposition.
The tax on bucket shops or dealers
, in futures was raised from $1,000 to
| $1,000. This was the figure inserted In
| the bill by the committee, and a hard
fight was made to put 1t back to 81, 900,
| on the ground that an increase in the
| tax would cause many of these places
| to close up. and the state would lose
! revenue thereby. Amendments to raise
! the tax to $4,000 and other high
amounts were killed. 1t was argued
that the House was preparing a reve-
nue. bill, and not discussing a moral
proposition.
The special tax upon peddlers of diff
| ferent classes, lightning rod agents, cir
cuses and dealers in pistols itinerant
doctors, packing houses and breweries
was left the same as at present, and
the House was discussing the tax on
cocoa cola and similar beverages when
! the hour of adjournment was reached.
| The tax on the manufacturers of these
| beverages was fixed at $500, but the
section was not finally acted on. The
| House will continue work on the gen
\ eral tax bill tomorrow.