The Cordova daily times., 1917-03-17
CHANCE NEEDED > TAX SCHEDULE
 OF LICENSES

The need of strengthening the li cense tax law of the territory so that it will be possible to make collections under it more readily, is emphasized in the report of the territorial treas urer w. c. Smith, transmitted to the legislature by Governor J. F. A. Strong. The report points out some of the defects in the law.
 Briefly digested, the defects in the license tax schedules are as follows
 Attorneys at law, Doctors, Dentists Recommendation that schedule be clarified, so that it may be establish. ed whether two or more attorneys or doctors doing business in one firm must pay separate taxes.
 Automobiles - Law does not define whether pleasure cars must pay this tax, or whether only automobiles used in mercantile work.
 Bakeries-Because of great amount of unlicensed competition that baker, ies are forced to fight, it is recommen- ded that this schedule either be abol- ilshed or that an exemption from the tax be declared on limited amount of business.
 Fish Salteries and Mild Cure Plants Recommendation is made for a means of enforcing this schedule, be- cause considerable money is lost to the territory through fly-by-night out fits that do not pay taxes.
 Fish Traps - Recommendation is made for means to enforce the pay ment of the tax of $1OO each on fish traps, so that mosquito traps" and other fish catching contrivances now evading payment will be made to con tribute their just share to the terri torial coffers.
 Gill Nets - It is recommended that this schedule be abandoned, unless tax be imposed also upon the various vided for the enforcement of all the fishery schedules.
 Cold Storage Plants - Because of the method of computing the annual business done by these plants, an am endment is asked so as to bring the so-called customs" plants under the provisions of the act.
 Laundries - Recommendation is made that the tax in this schedule be graded one, depending upon the amount of business done, and that the exemption from tax be decreased.
 Mines and Mining Recommends tion is made that the act be clarified
 -~y---s-y=-----s.z mining operations will come undubi- tably under the provisions of the act. It is also recommended that the miner be permitted to select tax year other than that fixed by law if he desires to do so.
 Scavengers - It is recommended that this schedule be dropped, because of the hardship it works on men of limited means.
 Vessels - Tax assessment rolls pre- pared by authorized persons of vessels doing business in Alaska would be of great aid in enforcing the payment of this schedule. Many complaints have been made of unlicensed boats doing business.
 The report recites some general ob- servations of Territorial Treasurer Smith. He says, concerning the gen eral property tax: Tt is extremely doubtful If general property tax is practicable in Alaska under the pres ent form of government. In any case, having in view the tax troubles of many of the states, it is recommend ed that no general property tax law be enacted until the matter can be given thorough study and upon re- commentators by a commission spe- cially designated for that purpose"
 A plea is made for additional office furniture, more office space, better filing cases and safe storage for re- cords and books.
 The balance sheet of the territorial treasurer on December 31, 1916, the end of the biennium, shows total of $217,02650 in the territorial treasury. Of this sum s196,3S4.58 Is in the gen. eral fund. $18,381.61 in the forest re- serve fund and $2,26O.31 in the fish cries fund. The territory's money is on deposit at 2 per cent interest in banks in Juneau, Douglas, Cordova, Valdez, Seward, Ketchikan, Nome, lditarod and Anchorage. During the two year period ending December 31, 1916, the total disbursements of the territory have been s2O3,2O297.
 A report reached Fairbanks that the body of w. c. Gould, former we'll