The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-02-24
SLOT MACHINES
WILL BE TAXED
MAYOR ISSUED INSTRUCTIONS.
ONE DOLLAR MUST BE PAID ON
EACH MACHINE IN USE.

Deputy Marshal Hussey Will To-day
Begin Taking a Census of All Ma
chimes in the City-NO Ordinance
Applicable Has Been Found, but
Committee Report Covers the
Matter-Search for Ordinance or
eraI Days.
For every slot machine that is oper-
ated in Savannah 81 must be paid into
the city treasury unless it can be
shown that under the present ordi-
nance such a license cannot be col
lected.
Mayor Myers has instructed Deputy
Marshal Hussey to make a thorough
canvass of the city for slot machines,
that tax may be imposed upon them.
The Mayor will put all those who
have machines on notice, and, if the
license is not paid within a reasonable
time, levies will be made in the usual
way adopted by the city for the col
lection of specific taxes.
Said to Be 200 Machines.
There are large numbers of slot ma
chimes in operation in Savannah, and
the revenue derived from this source
will amount to about $500, possibly
more. Deputy Marshal Hussey rough
ly estimates that there are about 200
machines now in operation in the city.
The matter OF taxing slot machines
has been considered for several days
by the city officials but until yes
terday no authority for imposing such
a tax could be found. So far as is
known, there is no ordinance on the
subject, and a number of officials and
aldermen have made a diligent search
| to see if one exists. There is, how
ever, a report of a committee that was
| adopted by Council, which will be
| taken as a precedent.
Systematic Search Made.
Alderman Dixon, who has constantly
| commended that there was an ordi-
nance, resolution, report or something
| else, authorizing the taxing of the
machines, began a systematic search
| several days ago. He said he remem-
bered that the question had come up
in years past and that tax had been
| imposed. 1t turns out that Mr.. Dixon
was the chairman of the committee
| that made the report, though, strangely
enough, he did not recall that feature
of the affair. Alderman Dixon request
ed Clerk Bernhardt, in the director of
public works office, to look the matter
up, and a. report has been found.
This report, made by the Committee
on Streets and Lanes, Sept. 5, 1900, is
as follows:
The Committee on Streets and
Lanes, to which was referred the petit
ton of tile Parker Railway News
Company, asking permission to place a
few penny weighing machines in the
streets, petitioner willing to pay 81
per year for each machine for the
privilege, beg to recommend that same
be granted, provided petitioners will
pay into the city treasury 81 per year
for each and every machine placed
within the corporate limits, City Coun-
Gil reserving the right to revoke this
permit at any time; the machines to
be located under the direction of the
Streets and Lanes Committee"
To Take a Census.
Alderman Dixon took this as a pre-
cedent and presented the matter to
the Mayor. Mr.. Myers at once in
structed Deputy Marshal Hussey to
town, so that the owners of all may
be forced to pay. Where the owners
are not here, the party in whose place
Of business the machine is found will
be held liable for the tax.
Deputy Hussey stopped one man yes
terday from putting in machines until
the license was paid. c. r. Marcel
was made to pay 81 on each of two
machines. Beginning to-day a syS-
tematic canvass will be made and every
machine listed.