The Savannah morning news., 1904-07-21
TAXES GO UP ON
FOUNTAIN DRINKS
COCA COLA MUST PAY $1,000
AM LICENSE is ADVANCED ON
KINDRED BEVERAGES.

Tax on the Beverages should BE
81 900 Instead of S4OO-Othcr Tax
Items Fixed-Buchanan and Steed
in a CIash-New Measures Pro-
pOsed-WOrk of the Senate.
Atlanta, July 20.-Shortly after the
House met to-day, consideration of the
beer and coca cola paragraph No. %,
of the general tax act, was taken up
nv the close vote or IS to "a. The
House adopted the amendment by Mr..
Kelly of Glascock, making the tax
on the manufacturers of coca cola,
celery cocoa, afri-cola, wine cocoa and
similar beverages, $1,000.
Mr. Hall of Bibb during the debate
read extracts from testimony given
BY State Chemist John NJ. McCandIess
and other chemists to show that as
4 beverage it was less harmful than
either coffee or tea.
Dr. Kelly in urging the adoption of
his amendment said the Legislature
did not hesitate to tax the manufac-
turers of beer and similar beverages,
and there was no reason why the
manufacturers of a drink which ne
considered even worse than beer should
not be taxed as he proposed.
All dealers lin iDeruna essence or
extract of ginger must pay a tax of
$500, unless the Senate succeeds in
knocking out the amendment proposed
by Mr.. Gross of McDuffie and adopt
ed by the House by a vote of 70 to 81.
MI Gross amendment as adopted by
the House is as follows: Upon every
dealer in peruna dilute tincture ex-
tract or essence of ginger or any other
medicinal preparation which can be
used as a beverage which contains an
amount of alcohol equal to or in ex-
cess of the amount recognized by the
United Pharmacopeia as necessary for
a good wine for medicinal purposes
the sum of $780,
Cam Opposed 1t.
Mr.. Cam of Chatham opposed the
amendment, saying it would operate
against numerous other patent medi-
cines and put a tax upon their sale.
He said he had received a petition
from the druggists of Savannah urg-
ing him to oppose this measure. Many
of these were standard medicines, he
said, and it was unjust to put such
an embargo on their sale.
Il am aiming particularly at Peruna,"
said Mr. Gross in explaining his
amendment. This stuff is the curse
of the people of the dry counties in
this state, and people have died from
the effects of it. 1t is simply a mean
substitute for whisky. No reputable
physician will recommend. it, and no
reputable physician in this House will
vote against this amendment"
The announcement of the resolution
declaring the amendment adopted was
greeted with applause.
Paragraph % was then adopted as
amended, and in that shape it taxes
every brewery or manufacturer of beer
$500 on each plant; every person who
sells beer and does not pay the liquor
Dealers license, 5000; every manufac-
turer of coca cola and similar drinks,
$1,000, every dealer in Peruna essence
or extract of ginger, 5000.
All other sections of the general tax
act down through Section IA were
adopted without material change. They
all practically stand as the same sec
tons of the general tax act of 1902.
For an Occupation Tax.
When section Is was reached, Mr..
Hall of Bibb introduced his amend
ment adding a new section to the bill
to be known as section Is, providing for
an occupation tax upon all foreign
corporations which do business in
Georgia through agents. This is sim
liar TO the section which last year was
passed by the House but defeated by
the Senate, but it proposes different
method of taxing such corporations,
the tax being smaller than that fixed
IN the amendment of two years ago.
Mr.. Slaton arose to oppose the amend
ment, when Mr.. Grice of Pulaski, on
account of its Importance, moved that
1t be printed for the information of
members and taken up for considera-
ton tomorrow. This motion was car
ried.
Mr.. Underwood of White offered an
amendment providing for the submits
sion of tax receivers of lists of notes,
accounts and other evidences of debt,
such lists to be stamped returned for
taxation,' and without such indorse-
ment such notes, accounts and other
evidences of debt would be barred out
of the courts.
The House then voted to print the
Underwood amendment, and considera-
tlon of it was postponed until to-mor-
row. The general tax act was then
Withdrawn from consideration for the
Day and other matters were taken up
Speaker Morris appointed Messrs.
Boykin of Lincoln, Martin of Gilbert,
and Harden of Chatham on the Joint
laws
Buchanan and Steed Have n Spat.
The proceedings of the House were
somewhat enlivened just after the roll
call by little misunderstanding be-
.Ween Mr.. Buchanan of Early and Mr..
sized of Carroll. Mr.. Buchanan Sc
cured reconsideration of the bill to
provide for the establishment of a dis
Pensary In Arlington. Then Mr..
buchanan read an extract from a pub
nshed statement, in which Mr.. Steed
OF carroll was quoted as saying any
Shsrge that he had misrepresented the
Lacts IN the Arlington dispensary was
ialse. Mr.. Buchanan had stated that
NJ Steed had misrepresented the mat
ter. 1 now wish to ask the gentle
nan from Carroll If he will retract that
s.dtement." said Mr.. Buchanan, adj
'ancing toward Mr.. Steed's seat.
nave acted in this matter fairly
huo Justly, as I have In all others, and
antl the gentleman from Early re-
tracts his charge of misrepresentation
Steed. 'U
looked for a moment as II there
.isnt be more serious warfare, but
r5ie speaker secured order and Mr..
Iuchanan resumed. Mr.. Buchanan de-
,a5ea the charge was malignant, false
a 5,l unwarranted. II have not been
ulscourteous to Mr.. Steed of Carroll.
u LOT 10 any other member of this
riouse' said Mr.. Buchanan, "he has
ssursued me and his conduct has been