The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-07-20
AID VALOREM TAX
ON DISPENSARIES
IS MADE BY THE HOUSE
IN ADDITION TO THE $500 SPECIFIC
TAX.

Medicines Containing Alcohol.
Tax on Coca Cola stands at $500,
Though There Was an Effort tn
Increase It-Other Features of the
General Tax Bill
Atlanta, July 19.-The House settled
the dispensary tax question in short
order to-day by restoring the former
plan of levying upon dispensaries an
ad valorem tax, in addition to the $500
specific tax which is levied upon all
liquor dealers.
The House first voted down the
Gaulden amendment. providing for u
lump sum tax of $500. Then on an
ave and no vote it adopted the amend
ment of Mr.. Shackleford, of Clark,
which makes the dispensary tax fea-
ture read as follows: Upon all dis
pensaries, operated by county or
municipal authorities. to be paid by
the authority operating the same, in
addition to an ad valorem tax on the
stock in trade and building owned by
said dispensaries. which tax is here
by levied, 5000 for each place of bust
ness in each county where the same
1t will be seen from the foregoing
that the amendment not only calls for
the payment of an ad valorem tax, but
enacts that it shall be levied.
No Patent Medicine Tax.
Under an amendment by Mr.. Black
burn of Fulton. which the House
adopted. there will be no tax put on
druggists and other dealers in patent
medicines which contain alcohol un-
less the sale of such medicines is tax
ed by the United States government
Mr.. Blackburns amendment, to be
added at the end of paragraph 16, is
as follows: Provided that nothing
in this act shall be so construed as
to interfere with pharmacists in the
sale OF medical preparations for medi-
cal use only, such preparations to be
regarded as Of medicinal character as
are recognized as such by the rulings
of the United States revenue depart
Jnent.'
The effect of this amendment is to
make imperative the amendment by
Mr. Gross of McDuffie, putting a tax
of 5000 on all dealers in such patent
medicines as contain alcohol in suffi-
cient quantities to produce intoxica-
ton unless such medicines are so tax
ed by the United States government
under the international revenue laws
Paragraph Is was then adopted, in
Guiding a tax of 5000 on all liquor deal
ers. including social clubs and a tax
of $50 on distilers of fruits only.
$1,000 stands on Bucket shops.
After the adoption of paragraph Il,
which puts a tax of $50 on dealers in
toy pistols which shoot cartridges,
pistols, pistol or rifle cartridges. dirks
bowie knives etc. Mr.. Evans of
Washington sought to increase the
tax upon bucket shops from 81 900 to
$500. After a brief discussion, in
which Mr.. Steed of Taylor and others
urged that the general tax act was no
place for prohibitory legislation. Mr.
Evans amendment was lost and the
section as it stands. leaving the tax
$1,000 as heretofore, was adopted
Keepers of billiard and pool tables
were taxed 800 for each county in
which they do business, under para
graph 49,
The effort to reduce the tax on stove
and clock peddlers from 5000 to $50
failed, and paragraph 20 was adopted
as ii stood.
Beef Trust suffers no Advance.
All efforts to change the packing
house tax failed. 1t was left at 5000
on each packing house agency in each
county in the state.
Paragraph %. after being adopted
as it stood. was reconsidered and sew
eral amendments were offered This
paragraph taxes all breweries $500: all
who sell beer, not taxed as liquor deal
ers, $780, all manufacturers of coca
cola. celery cocoa, afri-cola and sim
liar syrups, $500.
DR.. Kelly of Glascock offered an
amendment making the tax on manu-
facturers of coca cola and similar
syrups $1,000. He made an intense and
earnest appeal for the increase in this
tax on a beverage which. he said con-
tains such ingredients as cause the
drinking of it to become fixed habit
Mr.. Slaton Of Fulton and Mr. Tigner
of Muscogee opposed the increased tax
on coca cola.
When the House adjourned in the
midst of this question there was pend
ing on the clerks desk an amendment
by Mr.. Gross OF McDuffie, providing
that a tax of 5000 shall be put upon
every dealer in peruna, essence or ex-
tract of ginger. containing an excess
of alcohol, which may be used as a
beverage. This amendment was intro
duced because of the Blackburn amend
ment. the adoption of which exempted
patent medicines from tax.
Dupont sworn In.
Hon. Augustus Dupont of Dupont
was sworn in as the representative
from Clinch county, succeeding the
ldle non. IL %. JOnllSOIls WHO QiGO JUS
before the opening of the present SEES.
SION. Mr.. Dupont was elected on Sat.
urday, July Is, without opposition fol
the late representatives. unexpireC
term. Mr.. Dupont was assigned b,
Speaker Morris to the standing com
mittee on appropriations. county anC
county matters education. military
affairs, immigration, railroads and pen
sions.
sat Down on $. O's.
The House promptly and effectualiN
sat down upon all the proposed specia
orders. but one recommended BIZ the
committee on rules. With the excep
ton of what is known as the Dol
weevil bill every one of the ffteer
or twenty proposed special orders los
out. These last included the bill e
increase the salaries of judges of tht
Superior courts, the bill to require
companies to equip lumber cars witt
standards, the bill TO fix a uniform fe
system for notaries public and other
OF equal Importance. The anti-bol
weevil bill comes up next Tuesday.
New Bills i'm House.
The following new bills were in
troduced in the House.
BY Mr.. Alexander of Wilkes, {,
make IL a misdemeanor for any per
son convicted of a felony to escap
from any changing, where he may b
confined