The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1907-08-15
ON INCOME OF UTILITIES
In State of Georgia Will ee Subject to
Taxation if Legislative Action is
Finally Approved.

All public utilities in Georgia, ex-
sceyI telephone and telegraph compa'
nies. less than 100 miles in length,
and water powers, were taX,d l per
cent on their grcss receipts, by the
house of representatives, Friday,
which completed its labors on the
general tax act, after five days con-
tinuous work.
All steam railroads, street car lines,
Pullman car, dining car, parlor car,
express companies, long distance tel
phone and telegrah COMPANIES, equip
ment companies, manufacturers CT pat
ent medicines, carbcnated drilks, sir
,lns for soda fountain use bearing
trade or copyright mark, and sewing
machine corporations come under this
general tax levy CT / per GEN. on their
gross receipts, as applied by the house
during Fridays double session
The house refused on Thursday to
lew a general tax OF l per cent on
ali public utilities. Friday morning
an amendment was offered by Mr.. Al
exandcr of DeKaib, which placed this
tax only upon the gross receipts OF
steam and elec.ric street railroad COM
NAMES. All the morning the debate
waged and finally the previous ques-
ton was called and the vote taken.
Upon the final count the supporters
OF the income tax were found to be
victorious by the vote of SO to 6S.
This placed the house on record as
hejnc in favor of an income tax. 1t
opened I'D the way for an avalanche
Of amendments for the afternoon ses-
sion.
Tho first of these was by Mr.. Way
# Pulaski, which proposed an income
tax Of l Per cent upon the gross IN
come Of manufacturers Of patent med
icines. carbonated drinks, sirups for
soda fountain use which bear a trade
or copyright mark.
The house On Thursday voted down
2 similar amendment by Mr.. persons
Of Monroe. 1t now faced the PROPOSE
ton egain, after going on record 10
faycr an income tax.
The aye and nay vote was called
and those who had voted for the rail-
road tax, almost to man, voted tor
the Way amendment.
This fixes g lax On the manulac'
tu,ars CT coca-coia, kola ade, red rock
and rainbow ginger ale, koca nola and
similar sof. drinks and any number OF
pa:ent medicines.
After this amendment was adopted
another was sent to the clerks desk
bv Mr. Hill OF Monroe, whereby it
was proposed TO tax the manufacturers
Of sewing machines l per cent OF
their gross income.
The vote on this amendment was the
largest of them al, as many VINO op-
posed the single-shotting of railroads
took the position that if one was tax
ed al should be.
Mc. Perry of Hall sent up to the
clerks desk another and still longer
amendment, which took Reading Clerk
McClatchey fully five minutes to read.
This took in nearly all OF the neglect
ed corporations. Only the short dis
tance telephone and telegraph compa'
MES and water power companies were
left out. 1t was passed.
The states revenue was seen to be
| increasing by leaps and bounds. Ac'
! cording to the mathematicians OF the
house the first amendment taxing rail-
roads will, if accepted by the senate,
| and collected, bring into the state
treasury from this source alone half
million dollars. The patent medicines,
! carbonated drinks and soda fountain
sirups are expected to net fully s25,-
600 the sewing machine companies
are expected to contribute another
| $4,000 and those other corporations
are expected to yield $4,000.
This brings the total of expected
| revenue up to nearly three-quarters
of a million dollars, if enacted into
law.