The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-01-01
NEAR BEER TAXES
MUST Be PAID IN
Governor Smith Is Going After
the Delinquents
HANDLING OF PEACH CROP
Georgia Growers Are Forming an Or
ganization for the Purpose of Get
ting the Greatest Profit Out
of the Crop.
HANDLING OF PEACH CROP

Atlanta, December 31.-(Special.) Gov
ernor Smith is busily engaged in employ
ing counsel for the state in various and
sundry counties where near beer" is dis
pensed with a view to making the dilatory
dealers come across with the $500 license
tax imposed by the Wise act, passed at
the extra session of the legislature.
1t is expected he will announce the
names of these attorneys the latter part
of this week, and they will be instructed
Immediately to proceed to bring these
backward dealers before the courts.
The result of the near beer tax act has
been rather disappointing to the governor,
who had looked upon it as source of
large income for the support of the state
penitentiary, the estimates going as high
as S25O,000, whereas but paltry $4,000 has
been so far collected.
The near beer dealers are not falling
over themselves to pay the tax despite
the fact that the supreme court has held
it legal and constitutional. If all the
Atlanta dealers alone paid up it would
put between $4,000 and $4,000 in the state
treasury.
But they do not like the idea of paying
500 for four months business, September
to January; nor do they want TO pay at
all if they can get out of 1t.
Governor Smith is determined he is go
ing to get the money if there is any way
to do it, and the dealers seem equally de-
termined-many of them at least-not to
pay it.
The most interesting feature of the
whole situation concerns itself with those
communities where the real article is sold.
OF course there can be no tax on the sale
of real beer which is prohibited by law.
But if it is prohibited by law and permit
ted by the authorities, will the state still
attempt to enforce the near beer tax
on the sale of genuine beer? 1t is a prob
lem no solution of which appears yet to
have been reached.
Having received pledges of more than 60
per cent of the Georgia peach crop upon
a basis of last seasons shipments, approx
mating 5000 cars, the Georgia Fruit ex-
change is now ready for formal organiza-
ton, which will take place on January
at meeting to be held In Atlanta
The association has already procured
charter from the state and employed a
secretary and manager, Mr.. 1. NJ. Flem-
ing, formerly southeastern representative
of the Armour car lines, which handle
practically all of the Georgia fruit. Many
of those who went into the organization
did so with the express condition that Mr..
Fleming should be secured for this posi-
ton Mayor-elect Robert F. Maddox Of
Atlanta will be the exchanges treasurer
While no announcement has yet been
made with reference to the other officers,
1t is pretty generally conceded that H. c.
Bagley of Atlanta, a well-known insur-
ance man, who has large peach interests
in the southwestern section of the state,
will be elected president of the organiza-
ton. Mr.. Bagley has been one of the
most instrumental and active factors in
the organization of the exchange, and his
is the only name which has been promi-
nently mentioned in connection with the
presidency.
The formal organization of this ex-
change means that the distribution Of
more than 60 per cent of Georgia's next
peach crop will be left absolutely in the
hands of one man-Secretary Fleming. He
and he alone will have power to say
where this or that car of peaches belong
ing to a member of the exchange shall be
shipped, and there is no appeal from his
decision.
But the Georgia peach growers have
come to the CONCLUSION that this is the
only way in which they can get results
They decided therefore, to get a man
who knew the business and who would
keep posted on the markets and then
leave everything to him. The success Of
similar organizations has proven the un-
doubted wisdom of the plan.
The next time an Atlanta automobile
hits child there is liable to be confiag
ration, according to an automobilist who
has had recent experience in the acct
dent line. He had discovered, he said, an
undoubted intention in certain quarters IL
the opportunity offered, to burn the next
machine which strikes down a person In
the streets.
The last accident of this sort brought
a big crowd together, and there were cries
on all sides of Burn his carl" 1t is
also said effort was made by persons in
the crowd to procure kerosene at a nearby
drug store for the purpose of carrying
out this threat. 1t was this threat of vio-
lence which impelled the driver of the car
to get out of the way after the crowd had
refused to let him take the injured VIC
tim of a hospital.
Atlanta has what is considered a lib
eral speed law, eight miles an hour, with
In the fire limits, and Is miles outside Of
them. There is no question, however, that
these are often exceeded. Recent acci-
dents have caused two policemen to be
detailed to the specific duty of prevent
ing violations of the speed ordinance. AL
ready three or four arrests have been
made and one driver was fined $25 with
the warning that his license would be
forfeited if he came before the court a
sepon1 time.