The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-09-12
COUNCIL LOWERS TAX DISCOUNT
To ONE-HALF Of ONE PER CENT

.t~ilman-at-large Thonc, took the
floor.
Il have little to add 10 what ] said
last week" he said. other than that
, am little stronger for the two per
cent discount. Mr.. Thompson last week
moved that we postpone action on TINS
! amendment until tonight in order that
I we might have time to consult our con-
stitutcnts. / took advantaE" Of the OPP
portunity as | mad. my rounds over the
city. in s.yrry ward t" uls"uSS the mat
ter generally. l have talked with the
!; men who keep the littlc grocery stores.
the meat shops and taxpayers OF that
; class. | find the sentiment is In favor
of allowing the two per cent as for
,nerly.
One argument is that the govern
meut is going to tax them heavily. An.
other thing, haven't talked to anybody
except the small tax payers. such rs
! the grocery keepers. the meat shop Won
ers and the mill men in East Wheeling
and the South Side. | haven't heard
! from the big corporations. 1t is the
| little fellows whc will have no redress
! If We take the discount from them.
; Take the discoun. away from the cor
! porations and BIZ; fellows and they can
make it back oy making small IN
| crease in the price of their output.
Elliott Replies.
- am more strongly in favor or dis
continuing the discount" Prof. Elliott
said as he took me floor in behalf Of
! City Manager Nugle's plan to quit al.
Inwing a discount. Il presume That II
we would ask my citizen Il no would
; like to have his taxes reduced five. ten
ar even twenty-CDur per cent. he would
say Yes. \ selfish motive prompts them
it-Ac STr hi
| best interest OF the city. II the tax
! rat. va; higher. or the city Of Wheel
! ing had plenty ,1f funls. thcn l could
! see Suni. reason why We should allow Il
discount .quiva lent to "a per cent Il
year. Bur there isn't any good business
reason. or any ether reason for that
| matter. why W. should allow such dis
count. except thu: we want to favor the
man who wants his taxes reduced. but
the city needs money and needs 1t bad
| H. We can only levy tax OF 50 cents.
The revenue derived from that levy Is
inadequate. Now we propose 10 SHe
away two pnr cent of what we can as
sess 1t looks - mo like mighty poor
; business from I; business Standpoint
and that's the only way to look at the
question. don sec why We should
| pay Il man or two men to 70 out and
| collect taXns whru tho property STANDS
good for the tax. | hop" this Two per
cent will b. saved the city.
| AIr. Hare inquired Of Mr.. Maggie If the
! treasurer has not men in his office 10
| collect taxes and WAS advised that sucn
/ was the case.
! Dr. Armbr took the position thnN
! 4 two per cont discount was too great
and stated that nc found that when the
! situation was explained TO tho citizens
49,, i, ~
to disseminating the two per cent dis-
| count. He renewed his motion 10 re-
/ Gucc the discount TO on" per cent. oue
| failed 10 get second.
Mr. Blum opposed the discount. mold
| ing that there WAS no reason 10 con-
| tinue the practic.. when the city Schnol
! board does not allrw = discount u
J schoo! taxes Mr.. Thompson TOOK tue
stand that to .aEe away the discount
! virtually increases the taxes "i men
who will find such an act hardship ~
View Of the war conditions. tn" !!oatin%
| OF Liberty bonds and the answer L" lhf
| appeal OF the Red Cross for funds
Mr.. fIabig held that 1t was just as
! sound business for the city TO "Her a
discount to induce taxpayers to meet
! their bills as for business firms 10 grant
q discount - bills paid the first or the
month in ...-sr to collect their accounts
readily.
Magic Pleads for More Funds
When the question had been pretty