The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-01-01
HITS MANY DEALERS
THOSE SUBJECT TO SPECIAL TAX
UNDER NEW LAW.
MUST REGISTER AT ONCE.
BOOKS WILL BE KEPT OPEN A
FEW DAYS LONGER.

Tax Collector Thomson Received
Revised List Yesterday Morning.
Those Who Do Business without
Paying Tax are Liable to Indict-
ment-ThOse Recently Made SUBJ
iect are Dealers in Automobiles,
Clubs Selling Liquors, Mnnufac-
turers of Coca Cola, Dealers in
TypewrIters, Cash Registers and
Calculating Scales, Real Estate
DeaIeSs and Rent Collectors, Vet
Urinary Surgeons and street Fairs
Pawn Brokers License Doubled.
Tax Collector Thomas F. Thomson
| has received instructions from the
| Controller General relative to the col
lection of specific taxes, which are Of
| first importance The advice, which
was received yesterday morning con-
| tains a classified list Of all who are
! subject to the payment of the special
! tax. together with the additions re-
| Gently made by the act of the Legisla-
| ture.
! The list includes so many people
! who have heretofore not been liable to
| a special tax that the tax collector will
have a busy time for several days re-
| ceiving the returns. The information
relative to the taxes will be news to
those who are subject, the tax collector
himself not being informed, until the
receipt of the instructions. who all of
the new parties were.
Liable TO Indictment.
Under penalty of indictment for mis-
demeanor, all persons liable to special
taxes must register in person with
the Ordinary Cfee, 81 and pay the tax
for the full year to the tax collector
before commencing to do business. Ow-
ing to the lateness of the reception
of the Instructions the registration
books will be kept open for several days
longer in order to allow those who
have not heretofore been apprised of
their responsibility to register their
names.
The number of persons subject to the
tax has grown each year, until now
the list is d very large one. Among
the persons recently added, with the
amount of tax required in each case
are dealers in automobiles. or like We
hicles, who must pay tax of $50 for
each place of business; social or fra
ternal clubs and steamboat or dining
car owners which deal in liquors. $780,
manufacturers of Cocoa Cola, Celery
Cola; Afri-Cola Wine Coca, or other
patent protected soda syrupts or bever-
ages, $500. There are seventeen clubs
in the county which are liable to the
5000 tax.
Hard on Pawn Brokers.
The amount of the pawn brokers
license has been raised from $50 to 800.
and the payment does not entitle them,
as heretofore, to sell pledged pistols,
brass knuclSs etc. for which they have
to pay the special tax for the sale
or bowie knives, pistols, etc. Agents
or dealers in typewriters, cash-regist-
erS and calculating scales have also
been made subject to the tax, the
amount required of them being $40 for
each place of business. Owners or
operators of Slot machines, for show
ing pictures, making music, weighing
or making stencils, are assessed S..
Another large class made subject to
the special tax are real estate agents,
buying or selling on commission, or
renting, payment not emitting them
to sell at auction. This makes all
collecting agents. who handle rent COL
lections. subject to the tax. The amount
required is $40.
Cigarette Law Changed.
The law relative to the sale of cigar
cites is so amended as to include not
only those who sell or give away cigar
cites or cigarette papers, but also
those who keep them accessible
to customers. This regulation was
made because of the inclination of
some dealers to keep their cigarettes
under the counter, or in some place
where they could not be seen, and eff
feet sales at opportune times.
Others who are made subject to the
payment of the special tax who have
not heretofore been required to pay ii
are veterinary surgeons and street
fairs, the former being assessed $40
and the latter $40 per week and per
tent.
AS will be seen the list includes a
large class of citizens and business
people. While the tax collector has
ways of reaching a large majority OF
them, and ascertaining whether they
have made the proper returns, or reg
isrered, it is impossible to reach them
all, the result being that many en-
deavor to elude the tax. The move
ment to get a county license inspector
has been agitated very much lately
and since the addition of so many more
parties subject, it is not at all unlikely
that a stronger effort will be made tC
secure the appointment of such a per-
son.
Tax Collector FavOrs it.
The tax collector himself thinks
that the plan would be a good one
and many others who are familiar with
the administration of affairs generally
have expressed themselves in favor Of
an inspector. They argue that the
amount which would be saved annually
by the appointment of such an officer
would be sufficient to pay his salary
ten times over
Yesterday was the last day allowed
by law for registration, and had il
not been for the advice received yes
terday by the tax collector. the books
would have then been closed. This fac
caused rush of dealers to the office OF
the Ordinary and during the day Mr.
! Joseph Molina, who was in charge o.
the books. was kept continuously busy
| OF the $50 which have registered since
the books were opened three weeks ago
| 100 registered yesterday. There are yet
| at least $50 who. under the old law
| are liable for the tax, who have moi
| registered.