Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-07-30
AUTOMOBILE TAX
UP BEFORE HOUSE
Interesting Debate Follows Plan
Proposed to Tax Motor Cars on
the Public Roads of the State.
Many Speeches Are Made.

OF JdthSOLs dulAOE VI dAiACilOlilNihs
| gued his amendment which imposed a
graded tax-on two-passenger cars 50; on
thre or four-passengsr cars, IS; on five,
six or seven passenger cars, IS; on cars
carrying more than seven passengers, So
Mr.. Hardman, who has been aligned
from the start with the advocates of good
roads in Georgia, took the position that
automobiles are very wearing on the
roads of the state end should therefore
pay something that will compensate in
the care of those roads.
TO KEEP UP ROADS,
II believe the automobile tax should
go into the public roads ana help keep up
those roads," he said. England has i'm
posed such a tax. l believe that a tax
such as this would help aIlay what little
feeling remains against the automobile in
! the country districts. 1t would help the
automobilist"
Mr. Hardman, challenged in his argu-
ment, said that he had obtained his in
formation from Director Page, of the
office of public roads at Washington.
and from Mr. Hoyt, the directors assist
ant.
Mr.. Persons of Monroe attacked the
tax. taking issue with the argument of
Mr. Hardman.
Mr.. Ault of Polk, Trainer of the amend
IneDL with MI. Oh JdChSOHt anu
MIR. Johnson of Barlow, spoke for tax,
on the theory that some revenue would be
needed to support the state roads depart
ment which sentiment is calling for and
TO create which bills are already on the
calendar. Mr.. Ault said that the pres
ident OF the Good Roads Club of Geor,
gia, had just told him that the automo-
bile owners want the tax.
HEARD OPPCSES TAX.
Mr.. Heard of Dooly, opposed the tax.
Mr.. Simmons of Bulloch also spoke
against IT, Mr.. Sheppard of Sumter also
attacked the tax.
Mr.. Persons of Monroe offered an
amendment taxing OK carts $3.50; bug
gies and wagons drawn by one animal,
S.; and vehicles drawn by more than one
animal, $40.
The Persons amendment was lost, two
voting for it.
Mr.. Hardman of Jackson, called for the
ayes and nay on his amendment The
call was sustained
AMENDMENT is LOST.
The previous question was called, and
the vote of the house stood 70 for the
| hardman amendment and 80 against
IT. It was therefore lost by the closest
vote so far recorded in the house.
DOG TAX TAKEN UP. ... s..
The amendment offered by the commit
tee adding another paragraph to section
to be known as 51st On all dogs the
sum of 81 per head, such tax to be en-
forced by levy and sale, as other taxes
are collected, and not to interfere with
the imposition and collection of any
municipal taxes on dogs, was then taken
up for discussion.
There was a general disposition on the
part of the members of the house to treat
the amendment imposing tax on dogs
with levity, and the two or three mem
bers who attempted to make speeches on
the question were literally bombarded
with questions, most of them irrevelant
When the house adjourned at 1 o'clock
Mr.. Brown of Murray was speaking, and
the chair announced that he would be
recognized when the consideration of the
tax bill was resumed.
Still more new bills were read for the
first time In the house of representa-
tives, Wednesday morning, notwithstand-
ing the fact that only a few days OF the
session remain.
An attempt by Mr.. Butt of Fannin to
limit debate on the general tax bill to ten
minutes for each speaker was at first
successful but was Immediately re-
considered and defeated by the house.
Mr.. McMichael of Marion failed in an
CnuGdNOI u get the nOuS6 DnlF 10 dDOl-
ish the fee system for solicitors general,
to modify and prescribe the duties Of
judges Of superior courts and of clerks
of superior courts taken from the special
judiciary committee and referred to the
committee of the whole.
Mr.. Jones of Meriwether announced
that the appropriations committee would
very probably conclude it's consideration
of the general appropriations bill We'd
nesday afternoon, and asked and obtain
ed authority to have 800 copies of the bill
printed for the use of the house by
Thursday morning.
NEAR-BEER RESOLUTION.
The rules committee reported favorably
OH the Reid of Campbell resolution to
have house bill No. S65, transferring the
near-beer tax money now in the treasury
to the general fund, be set for a special
and continuing order. The committee
recommended that bill No. 1865 take place
after disposition has been made of the
general tax bill unless the appropria-
tions bill, is ready, in which latter case
the appropriations bill would take prece-
dence.
The house took up the general tax
law, passing rapidly from subsection to
subsection.
There was a hitch on an amendment Of
fered to subsection 80, imposing a tax
of $40 for each coca-cola arm operated
in soda fountains. in addition to the
straight tax of $40 on the fountains. The
amendment was rejected. leaving the
straight tax of $40.
Another running fight came when the
house consisidered subsection "a, which
originally imposed tax of $500 per an
mum on all pawnbrokers.
DARLINGTON TAKES A HAND.
Mr.. Darlington OF Richmond. considered
prohibitory, and moved to amend its
amount to 800. but on being reminded
that the tax is already $500, changed his
amendment TO $500. Mr.. Alexander of
Fulton, supported the amendment but Mr..
Alexander OF DeKalb attacked it, saying
that the tax might well be $500. Mr. Fair
cloth Of johnson, asked the question II
one pawnshop paying $500 would not be
better regulated and preferable to say
thre pawnshops at 500 each. Mr.. Alexan-
der agreed with him. Mr.. Heard of Dooly,
supported the amendment II was adopt
ed.
NEW BILLS READ.
! The following new bills were read in
the house on Wednesday:
BY Mr.. Wright of Stewart-To estab-
lish the city court of Lumpkin.
BY Mr.. Hullender of Catoosa-To repeal
the act to incorporate the act of Boyn-
ton.
BY Mr. .Calbeck of Gordon-To amend
the charter of Calhoun.