The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-01-03
AFTER CLUB TAXES
THOSE SELLING LIQUORS MUST PAY
$500 TO THE STATE.
EXECUTIONS TO BE ISSUED.
ONE CLUB HAS GIVEN NOTICE OF
DIsCoNTINUANCE OF SALE.

Enforce Law Against Sale of
Liquor in Public HOuses-DlmcuIt
Matter to Ascertain Where Sale Is
State Should Employ Inspector for
the PurpOse-The Licensing of
Gaming Tables Registration
Books Remain Open.
Tax Collector Thomas F. Thomson
is busy collecting specific taxes. I'm
der the new legislative enactment
| there are many who are made subject
to the payment Of the tax who were
not heretofore liable. These are being
notified.
The list OF those who have been made
| liable for specific taxes was published
in the Morning News. The tax that
| has probably caused more of a stir
than any other is the one imposed on
all clubs which sell liquors. The
amount OF the tax is $500, the same as
required of liquor dealers. Gentlemen
representing several of the clubs in
| the city have for several days been
calling at the Office of the tax col
lector to ask for information, and take
a look at the law.
VIII Stop Selling Liquor.
Already one of these clubs has noti-
| fed Collector Thomson of it's discon-
tinuation of the sale of liquors. There
are, in all, seventeen clubs in the city,
| about half of which are colored or
! CARNATIONS. The names of the clubs
which are subject to the payment of
the tax are the Acme, the Adelphian,
the Alpine, Emmett Social, East End
| Independent, Georgia Hussars, Har-
monte, Kennesaw, Little Savoy Social,
| Morning Call, Oglethorpe, Brownsville
| Protection and Relief, Schutzen, Sa-
Vannah Yacht, Savannah Golf, Tomo-
| chichi and Montgomery Fishing Clubs.
| 1t is probable that the enforcement
of the instructions received by the tax
| collector will result in the discontinue
| ance of the sale of alcoholic drinks in
| number of the smaller clubs
There are, no doubt. a number of other
| clubs which sell liquor, those named
being the ones which, in their appli-
| cation for a charter asked the right
| The law will be enforced to the letter,
| and those who do. not pay will have
| their clubs closed up.
Goes Further Than the Clubs.
The law goes even further than to
the clubs. Tax Collector Thomson is
in receipt of a letter in which the Con-
! troller General writes: IAN houses run
| by the demi-mondes are liable, if they,
| in any way, sell or dispose of LIQUORS
taxed by law. 1t matters not how
they are sold or dispensed at
these places; they are all liable, and
you will proceed to collect the tax
which the state imposes.
number of proprietors of places of
this character have contended that
they did not keep the liquor, but rather
sent out and got them. In the future,
this excuse will not be entertained,
since the tax collector constructs the
| Controllers letter to mean that they
are liable to the tax, even in that
event.
The trouble is that il is difficult for
the officials to find out who sell liquors
under such conditions. In a number
of instances where the matter has
been called to the attention of the tax
collector, notice has been sent. In
| SUCH cases the parties almost inYa-
riably reply that they do not SELL
Wants an Inspector.
Then what are we to do?" said Mr..
| Thomson, in talking of the matter
yesterday THAT is one reason whv
| argue that the state should have an
inspector. 1t would take one man all
of his time to ascertain who the par
ties are who are subject, and it would
be great saving to the state. OF
course the county will not employ such
an officer, for the very good reason
| that they receive no revenue from the
specific taxes
1t will be seen that the law sane
lions the taxing of gaming tables.
This does not include gambling Ia
bles, the term being intended to in
clude all tables where games are play
cd, except those not prohibited by law
A license for a gaming table on West
| Broad street was applied for several
DAYS ago, and the tax collector under
the law issued the license, which cost
$50. If the table is used for gam
bling purposes, it is not liable to the
tax; but 1t is liable, however, to some
thing great deal more troublesome
May Register Any Time.
There has been an erroneous impress
| sion as to- the time allowed for regis
| tratiOn. All dealers who are liable to
the tax have an opportunity at any
time to register in the office of the Or
binary. The books are opened espec-
tally for the reception of the names
of those dealers already in business,
during the latter part of December of
each year, so that they may register
before beginning business on Jan. I.
At that time their licenses expire, and
1t is necessary. in addition to obtain
! ing a new license, to make known their
intention of continuing in business, so
! that the tax collector may know to
| whom to look for the tax.
The law requires that all parties do
ing business register first, and if the
| business is conducted without this OBJ
| servance, or without first paying the
| amount of the tax to the tax cOllec-
| tor, the parties so violating the law
lay themselves liable to punishment as
for a misdemeanor. Those dealers,
! however, who do not start, or continue
business, with the new year. may reg
! lister at any time during the year, be-
! fore commencing business. The pub
| lished report that a failure to register
| operates as a revocation of the license
| is without foundation, since no license
to sell is issued before registration, and
the old license becomes invalid at the
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