The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1917-01-19
POOL ROOMS Are
TAXED$l5OO TOO
much BY CITY
Cape Is Asked To Refund
Amount Not Provided For
In State Law.
JUDGE HAYS EMPLOYED
TO RECOVER MONEY
Mayor Rage and Counselor Ag-
rec Oyerchsrge Should
Be Refunded.

The pOolroom owners in the city
have been overtaxed three times the
amount allowed under the State law.
it was learned yesterday, when the
matter was presented to Judge Ed
ward ID. Hays, who will ask the city
to refund all the money paid in ex-
cess Of the legal amount. The matter
was laid before City Counselor Kne-
hans, who was requested to bring The
matter before the City Council.
The State law provides that all
third-class cities shall not tax the pool
room owner more than $40 per annum
for each table. A city ordinance in,-
posing 4 yearly tax Of $50 Cor each
table has been in force, however, since
1911, and this amount has been col
lected by the city ever since. Last
July new ordinance went into effect
levying a license OF $50 per year for
each table upon the poolrOom owners.
This revenue has been collected by the
city without any protest on the part
OF the pOOlrOom owners.
A few days ago, VIII Oberheide, who
owns poolroom on Broadway, dis
covered that this license was far in
excess of the amount allowed by the
State law and asked Judge Hays to act
as his agent in forcing the city to re-
fund the sum in excess of the State
license.
His request was joined in by Nick
Harness, who also conducts poolrcOm
on Broadway, and Joe Haas, Haarig
pOolroom owner. The latter two had
already RENTED their taxes for the
current year. There are four other
poolrOoms in addition to those conduct
ed by the above mentioned men. but
they viii not be so largely benefited by
the reimbursement, as none of them
has been in the business for any length
Of time.
The amount paid IN excess of the
sum allowed by the State law is es-
timated at nearly $500 for the past
six years, or since the city ordinance
has been eeffect charging 4 license Of
$50. One-fourth of this amount has
been paid into the road fund, but this
sum is not asked to be returned by the
pOolrOom owners.
Mayor Rage said last night that he
thought it would be no more than just
to have the city refund this money, but
he did not think that the amount paid
into the road fund would be included
in the reimbursement. City Counselor
Knehans expressed the opinion th-,.
the city could rot be compelled to re-
pay this ov, charge to the pooI"p"n
owners. He sad, however, it wCUli
be no more than just for the city to
refund the money.
The City Counselor will submit the
matter to the City Council. 1t would
be referred to the Judiciary Commit
tee of that body for further investiga-
ton, and if the committee arrives at
the conclusion that this overcharge be
refunded, warrant will be drawn OH
the city treasury for the excessive
AMOUNT.
The Judiciary Committee will have
to go over the tax returns and remit
tances in order to find out how many
poolroom owners have paid this over
charge and what the sum will total.
There are seven poolroorns in the
city. Two on Main street, two on
Broadway and two in Haarig and
one on the levee. The first two have
changed ownership quite frequently,
it is said, and according to the City
Counselor's opinion, the former own
ers, who had paid the overcharge,
would not be entitled to reimburse
ment.