The Savannah morning news., 1904-07-13
STATE MAY ACT
AGAINST BROKER
IN HANDS OF JUDGE HART
is QUESTION AS TO LEGALITY OF
MIR. LIPPMAN's BUSINESS.

Tax Collector Thomson Was In
Doubt and Consulted Authorities.
Ticket Brokers' Business Not En-
empt from Taxation Under His
Instructions Letter from Com
troIIer General Questions wheth-
er MIR. Lippman Is Exempt Even
from City Tax.
Can a ticket broker do business I'M
der the license of a Confederate vet
eran?
This question is now up to Attorney
General Hart. and it seems probable
that the state will act in the Lippman
case.
Tax Collector T. F. Thomson wrote
Controller General Wright and the an
swer received yesterday morning casts
considerable doubt on Mr.. Lippman's
right to do business under the vet
Grams license.
Under the state law a ticket broker
must pay a license of $50 in order to
operate. Under the instructions sent
to Mr.. Thomson the only kinds of bust
ness which a veteran can operate and
avoid state taxes under veterans
license, are one pool or billiard table,
one ten-pin alley, or peddling from a
boat.
Asked for Instructions.
When the Lippman case began to
attrack attention, Mr.. Thomson, in or
der to be on the safe side went to
higher authorities for information as
to whether ne should collect the $50
tax. Judge McAlpin was the first one
asked for an opinion, as he issues the
licenses in Chatham county.
Judge McAlpin stated when an ap-
plication was made for a veterans
license, he first assured himself that
the applicant was a veteran When this
was certain, he usually granted the
license, as the applicant had to sub
scribe to an oath that he would en-
gage only in such business as was al
lowed by the law. He then relied
on the honor of the veteran.
Taken to Controller General.
Mr.. Thomson then wrote to the
controller general stating the circum-
stances of the case fully and enclosing
clippings from the Morning News. He
asked for instructions in regard to the
matter of collecting the tax.
Yesterday morning he received a re-
ply from Mr.. Wright, who stated he
doubted Mr.. Lippmans right to con-
duct the business without paying the
state tax. He instructed Mr.. Thomson,
however, not to act in the matter I'M
til the opinion OF Attorney General
Hart had been given, to whom the
controller had referred the matter.
The important part of Controller
Wrght's letter, as far as Savannah
al to- I,nN ;<,,, IL,
which he expresses the opinion that
the city license must be paid, and all
requirements of the ordinance lived
up to, unless Mr.. Lippman himself
conducts the business. If the son has
any interest in the business and if he
acts in any other capacity than that of
mere clerk, Controller Wright believes
the license is invalid.
VIII Probably Reach Courts.
Mr.. Thomson has forwarded to Con-
troller Wright the full text of Col
Garrards opinion as published in the
Morning News on Sunday, with the
request that it be handed to Judge
Hart. A reply from Mr.. Wright is
expected daily, instructing Mr.. Thorn
son how to act.
In case the collector is instructed to
collect the $50 tax there are but two
methods of procedure. Either a levy
must be made on the property of the
delinquent, or action instituted through
the criminal branch of the courts. In
cases where the stock in trade of the
business is practically valueless, the
latter course is pursued.
1t is regarded as probable by the
officials of the county who were con-
suited in the matter that the Lppman
case will be pushed until it reaches
the Supreme Court. The constitution
ality of the law will be questioned and
a final ruling from the highest legal
authority in the state secured.
The question of the privileges al
lowed under the veterans license is
one which has been much mooted, but
as yet there has been no definite rul-
ing by the Supreme Court. The Lipp-
man case, it is believed, will finally
clear away all doubt.