The Savannah morning news., 1902-12-16
WILL TAX COCO-COLA
CITY COUNCIL TO TAKE A SHOT AT
THE BEVERAGE.
BREWERY TAX RAISED.
ALDERMEN WERE IN CAUCUS FOR
MORE THAN THREE HOURS.

The Tax Ordinance for 1903 Has Al
most Been COmpIeted-City Is Ger
tain to Put Special Tax on Coco
Cola and 1t Is Thought That the
Amount VIII BE $5OO-BOOtbIack
stands Must Have Recommendations
ton on Cotton Congresses.
Believing that coco-cola is a harm
full beverage and that it is doing much
injury to those who are using it, City
Council will probably put a heavy tax
on it's sale in this city during the COM
ing year. The matter was discussed at
length during the caucus of Council
last night.
The aldermen went into session at s
o'clock, and it was 1870 o'clock before
they adjourned. The tax ordinance was
not completed, and there will be one
or two matters to come up at the next
session of the aldermen on Thursday
evening. The coco-cola situation will
be gone over again at that time, and
it is probable that heavy tax, some
thing like $500, will be put on the bev-
erage
The popular drink advertised as
'healthful, refreshing, invigorating,
came in for considerable talk during
the discussion on the tax ordinance.
Some of the aldermen have been up
against this form of dope and they
favored, for the most part, high license.
Others had never tasted the beverage,
but had heard a great deal about it.
OF course they couldn't speak from ex-
perience, but basing an opinion on
what they had heard, they favored a
high tax on coco-cola sold in this city.
1T keeps you awake at night when
you drink it," said one alderman. And
when you get used to it you can't stop
it in a hurry" declared another. Thus
1t is made certain that the tax ordi-
nance for 1903 will have something in
it about the drink that is manufactured
in Atlanta. and that the General As
sembly placed a special tax on.
Brewery Tax Raised.
The tax on breweries, or representa-
tives of breweries, doing business in
this city will be $500. This is believed
to be a certainty. 1t is not known
just how much discussion there was
on this subject during the caucus. A
plan was on foot. it is known, to in
crease this tax from $500 to $1,000, but
1t is evident that a majority of the
board resisted an effort to make the
tax so high. Although three of the
breweries combined during the pres
ent year, by the increase of 5000 on
each brewery the city will derive more
revenue from this source.
1t was decided by Council to reduce
the tax on cotton congresses from $500
to $3.50. At the last regular meeting of
the board a petition from the Union
Compress Company asking that this
tax be reduced was read. 1t was
shown that the tax in other cities is
not so high and it was upon this show
ing that the reduction was made.
For More Revenue,
Barber shops that have cigar and
tobacco stands will, under the ordi-
nance of 1908, be required to pay $40
year additional, and those who pre-
side over bootblack stands on the
streets will be required to pay IS a
year. Before the ordinance has been
completed it is likely that several 9TH
er minor additions will be made. This
work will be finished up in a little
while at the next meeting.
AS soon as the tax ordinance has
been gotten in shape for passage at
| the next meeting of Council which
| will be held on Christmas Eve night,
the estimates of the various city de-
partments will be taken up and gone
over carefully. The members of Coun-
| Gil hope to be able to finish up this
work Thursday evening.