The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-11-27
TAXES m BIRMINGHAM.

d
me Wheeling News publishes list
ii some of the things that are taxed
ingBtrniingham, Ala and gives Wheel.
lngs esnsoldtion in the fact that the
burdens Of ner citizens are not heavy.
the article makes very interesting
reading and this Is what the News
says:
Some Of our good citizens, particn-
larly business men, who think there
e too much tax inquisition in Wheel
ing would be cured Of TIER delusion
K they would spend spell in Blrm-
Dgham. Ala. There every form nf
Business an ingenious mind probably
can devise, must pay a license, 0ver
ana sbove the regulation property tax
81 Assessed valuations. The license
ordinance Of Birmingham is highly
complimentary to the skill Of its franz
en- In not overlooking any person
who works Ior a living. Not a guilty
man escapes. Each and every ane
must Fave license to work. II you
don't pay your license you can't earn
yppF living in Birmingham. Only the
ramps and tae rich mems sons can
ply their trades there without paying
lfihute to the city.
The license ordinance ranges from
abstract and title company al
phabetically down TO yeast agent o"
deaisrt They license the doctor VINO
etieiates at your entry into the world,
the nn1ertakers who puts you to You"
ilnaI rest and the tombstone dealer
WHO pnts the marker on your grave.
which ~ dug in licensed cemetery
AbanK Ike the National Exchange
aas to nay $3.50 license Daily news
pers must pay $3.50 geor for tho
priSllege Of trying s. 80 Business 1t
costs & barber shop proprietor IS q
eliair for the tn TO earn MS living.
A bakery license is SIS year. a
regularly established billposter IS
mpleted $2O3a year; an itiaeraat biz.
ppsteT $40 a year. A department
tore IKE ons o. the larger ones IN
Wheeling would have to pay license
oF being q dry goods dealer. an ther
for being a carpet dealer. another for
being a dueensware dealer. another
fer being furniture dealer another
for being an art dealer, another for
being d BOOKSELLER another for being
hardware dealfr, another for being
mininer, ansther for being a sto
tloneri smother for being top dealer
and 50 on, each separate license cost.
ing from s25 to $3.50 according to the
yallie OF the stock carried in any
particular line. Thu Wholesale butch
eE pays $3.50 and the retail butcher
sos Grocers pay from $3.50 to SIS
according to the value of their stock.
he lawyer, doctor or. dentist who
VIII swear that he doesn't do more
taan $4,000 worth Of business yea.
pays SIS: the one who admits to do.
ing mora tnan $4,000 pays $40. The
Proprietor Of soda fountain worth
$500 pays s2b; II the investment Is
e. EnA ~. nor, no ,,e,,s Rtso, ir b.,
serves oyster stews also, he pays s15
extra, foreman on building job
PAYS ss5 year,
We could I'LL this page with license
subjects IN Birmingham. but It wouii
not bs Interesting because It would
read IKE q classified list of direct.
NY directory license So year,.
snGice it to ssy In TIE .rl!2 a"C
there are 416 separate and distinct oc.
equations and buslneSi :,r witch 4
license is charged togs;h w''h .
subsidiary clause whfeG Seer, ~.
forms the reader tt;c:. e oT" N"'n.:'
some lSind OF. a business 10 b.rm.G >
ham the ordinance-mabeE' have over.
looked the authorities isseAc the
right to fix alicenes for that. Who
said taxes were high in Wheelng?"
One trouble VITA that law in Fair
mont would be that there are a few
business people who are SO quiet about
tssthat the assessor would never be
able to And their places of business.
we understand that Pennsylvania has
law by which every business concern
Is required to publish the charaetc'
Of ttsbuslness and the location once
again, This Is a good law for the bus.
ness men VINO never publishes such
facts without being forced by law tc
DO soSeyen II he is taxed five dollars
for that purpose.
fE3t FL Vi $4,000