The Savannah morning news., 1902-12-06
HOUSE HIT DRINKS
nay on COCA COLA, AND LIKE BEV.
ERAGEs $1,000.
INCREASE WAS FROM $500.
so,tE OF THE LEGISLATORS GAVE
POOR TESTIMONIALS.


General Tax BilI-sewing Machine
Companies Must Pay 5000 and
AGENTS S5-Taxes on Slot Machines.
SO a Week for Midway shows.
same Tax on Insurance Companies
and AEents-Debate on Tax on
Foreign Corporations.
Atlanta Dec. 5.-The House came
very near completing its work on the
general tax bill to-day. and win prob
ablv wind it up in short order to-mor-
row.
There were two important changes
made in the bill. The amendment by
DR.. Kelly of Glascock, putting tax
of 81 900 on coca cola, Afri-cola, wine
of cola, and similar patent soda foun-
tain beverages, was passed by a vote
of Il to 35. This increase was made
from $780, at which it was fixed yes
terday DR.. Kelly and Mr.. Crimson
of Decatur declared coca cola a most
pernicious drink, and said it was ruin
ing the men, women and children of
the state and of the South. Mr.. Brin-
son declared it was largely. responsible
for the increase of the morphine habit.
The other change made was in the
section taxing sewing machine agents.
The exemptions heretofore given sew
ing machine companies from county
and municipal taxation was repealed,
and unless the Senate makes a change,
counties and cities will hereafter be
permitted to tax sewing machine agen-
cies. The tax on sewing machine COM
panies was fixed at 5000, and on each
agent at IS.
Slot Machines $3.50 and $5.
Slot machines, from which are OBJ
tanned commercial articles, are taxed
at 81. SO each, and musical and picto-
rial slot machines must pay IS each.
but no Slot machine company shall be
required to pay more than $50 in any
one county,
The tax on detective agencies was
increased from $50 to $780,
The tax on pawn brokers remains
800, but where they sell pistols they
must also pay the tax of $25 on that
business
Real estate agents who auction prop
erty must also pay the auctioneer's
tax of $50 in addition to the tax on
their regular business.
The tax on midway shows was
amended so as to make IT SO. a week
on each show, instead of $40 a day, at
the suggestion of country members,
VINO expressed an anxiety for the con-
tinuation of fairs and carnivals The
cigarette tax was left at S10
The House refused to adopt an
amendment by Mr.. Gambler of DeKaIb.
putting a tax oe 5000 on manufacture
ers and SO on retailers Of oleomarga-
rine and butterine
An effort to increase the tax on in
surance companies from one to two
per cent. on the gross receipts of such
companies was voted down. and the
tax was left at l per cent. The usual
tax upon each insurance agent was
adopted.
The several sections relating to the
returns of different classes of prop
erty were also adopted.
Returns of railroad, telephone, tele-
graph and express companies will be
made to the controller general as
heretofore.
Got Lively Over Corporations.
The livliest debate of the session was
stirred up over section IS, which pro-
Vides for a tax of $25 to 81 900 on ali
foreign corporations which have an Of
nee, warehouse or salesroom in the
state This tax is graduated in proper
etNiA ~ IlLc capital the CORPORA
uon IN question, being $25 for COM
panies whose stock is $4,000 or less
and up to $1,000 for companies whose
capital is a million or more.
MI. Stovall of Chatham made one or
the strongest speeches of the day
against this section, referring to tn.
inducements which Savannah offered
TO a large plate glass company to es-
ta0l1sh an agency there. Such a. tax
drfx
out of the state. In many cases, he
SAD, such companies have only repre-
sentative and a stenographer in the
state, and all these would be driven
INTO other states if such a tax were
adopted. Others spoke on the same
line. and the House adjourned before
action was taken.
During the discussion of the tax bill
an effort was made to reconsider the
TAX Of $1,000 on bucket shops. Mr..
Cann of Chatham spoke earnestly for
the reconsideration, but it was voted
down by the House.
Overstreet Didn't Like 1t,
During the debate on this subject.
Nlr. Cam nodded to Mr.. Steed of Tav-
lor Just as he was about to conclude
ana Mr.. Steed obtained the floor Mr..
Overstreet of Screven noticed this. and
called attention to the fact that when
ne arose to obtain the floor, a day or
Two ago, under similar circumstances,
Ine Speaker refused to recognize him.
ne said he wished to protest against
what he called the discourtesy of the
speaker in refusing him recognition
o1hder similar circumstances. Speaker
Morris called attention to the fact that
ne mad recognized Mr.. Overstreet SOLE
~ Tor the purpose of asking a ques-
uon, and he disclaimed any diseour-
'eSy TO the gentleman from Screven.
TT Is said the matter may be heard