Evening journal., 1920-08-07
HOWL AGAINST
new CITY TAX
Small Dealers Say Proposed
Ordinance is Unfair to
Them
CITY NEEDS MONEY
COUNCILMEN SAY

The proposed tax by the city on
sixty or more businesses and profcs-
sions. while endorsed generally by |
the large rbusiness men is objected 10
by many OF the smaller dealers. par
ticularly grocers. The dairymen are /
also obiecting.
Among those who have objected 10 |
the proposed tax are John Costa, a |
grocer at 702 King street, who said, II |
carry groceries, candies, cigars and |
ice cream. That would mean about
$50 year tax for me. IL Is too much,
He pointed TO his government tax on
the sale Of beverages, amounting 10
/ approximately s. a month, and his
| State mercantile tax, amounting
to Si2.72 for the past year Il cannot
afford so many" he said.
!. Barsky, who conducts a grocery
store at e05 Orange street, said he
would not object TO a single tax but
! that the ordinance as now framed
means that he will have TO discon-
tinue several lines They tax you
SO a year for the slot machine. ] do
not think there Is more than a penny
day dropped In II. / might as well
discard II as pay a tax which would
be more than my profit" Barsky said.
w. l.. Richards, manager OF the
Glover Dairy Company, says the milk
dealers are the heaviest sufferers.
We would readily agree to pay a fair
tax but this measure Is a very unjust
TO our business. Mr.. Richards pointed
out that the feature OF the bill that
; adds tax Of $3.50 for each team In ad-
dition 10 the main tax OF 500 would
mean that the dairys were the highest
taxed business affected.
we deal In a public necessity. Our
4 product Is one that the public must
/, have, yet this tax would be far great
81 er for us than for any business engae-
ed in selling a luxury" Mr.. Richards
said. lie added that such a burden
Of taxation could only result In in
creased prices for milk which would
seriously affect The public.
Mr.. Richards pointed out that while
dalries must pay a tax Of $3.50 fu-
each team. concerns engaged In the
meat business were taxed directly
! without any additional tax for teams
1.-The average meat wagon has mon
olary value about five Times greater
than a wagon OF milk. The measure
Is unfair. I do not object 10 a tax but
certainly this Is grave Injustice,
= Mr. Richards concluded
John J. Kennedy local architect
said that he was opposed To The tax.
ing Of architects ! feel that 1t would
be the right thlne TO require mar
20 hold a license TO engage as ar
architect but do not feel they should
be taxed"
Councilman Forwood. chairman o
\ the finance committee OF Council II
speaking OF the proposed tax, said:
The Council proposed by other or
dinances TO license other businesse
and occupations in addition TO thos
= in the present ordinance. II Is IN
y / Ill 80
"a | great number OF businesses and Occu
~ pations fixing a small fee for each u
d cense; this with the idea that no on
~ business or occupation VIII be ser
e. ously affected by the fee TO
as charged.
nj 'The Council is confronted wit
~ the situation that during the comm
m year a great deal of additional none
ne VIII have TO be raised on account
ne the increase in the police departmei
1t and the possibility OF large addition
he al expense should a paid fire depar
ld ment be established, and by raisln
Y revenue through a great number
a. small licenses the Council feels IN,
( A. will be unnecessary To raise the "a
Io rate upon real estate, which the men
AZ hers feel is already sufficiently taXel
is and which rate would undouhtedl
a7 have to be materially increased NJ
ss less revenue is raised through SON
ts other source.
~ "Ordinances providing license fe'
~ for other businesses and occupation
- are being prepared and Will be pr'
-, sented TO Council Il is the earne
ed desire Of the Council that any one a
, fected by the license set out in n
y, ordinance will appear before the Coui
y ell either at its meeting as Commiul
n Of the Whole on Wednesday nigi
~. next. or No its regular meeting Q
de Thusrday night next To- discuss u
a. merits and demerits Of the ordinanc