Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-07-30
SENATE EXPECTED
To KILL OPERA TAX

Senator Frank Manson, of the
Thirty-fifth district, which embl oes
Atlanta, announced Thursday mora
ing that he believed the senate would
! kill the tax Of $4,000 on grand opera
in Atlanta as passed by the house
last Tuesday.
The amendment ey Representative
Landlord of rootnns, inserting into
the occupation lax bill tax Of
$4,000 a year on grand opera, Great
ed a feeling Of sui prise and in 4Is
nation in the senate, and bro ISht
forth the announcement from Colona!
William l.. Peel, president of The
Atlanta Music Festival Associat on.
that no more opera would be given
here if the association had to pay
tax of $4,000 a year for the privi-
lege of fostering an enterprise COR
the musical entertainment and edu-
cation of the people.
Senator Manson at once nauSurdt
ed campaign among members of
the senate to strike the tax from
the occupation tax bill when it
comes before the senate. He stated
Thursday that he was receiving ELI
engagement on every hand among
his colleagues of the Sena'e.
Statements Shown
A meeting of the directors of the
Atlanta Musical Festival Association
was called on Wednesday by Colone4
Peel for the purpose of framing IL
statement of the financial aspects of
opera. This statement was placed
n n M of
house and senate. 1t shows that
opera as given in New York by the
Metropolitan Opera Company is not
money making enterprise, but
pubic enterprise, supported BY guar
antors who pay a deficit nearly ev-
is given in Atlanta for week every
spring is not a money-mak;ng en-
terrrlse, but a public enterprise SIM
ilarly supported.
We are hearing from m lslc low
ers all over Georgia, who feel out
ragged to think that a proposal to
tax opera should even be advanced
in tie Legislature, much less adopt
ed by the house," said Colonel Peel
Thurs cay.
ate and approved by the governor,
which do not anticipate, :he:s will
De In more opera in Atlanta, and
thousands of music lovers all ever
Georgia and the south will know
exactly where to place the blame. 1
think when the legislature hears
from college students, music lovers,
by hundreds and thousands, who con-
tribute more to the Atlanta opera
season than Atlanta people contrib
ute, in the way of admission tickets,
the members of the legislature will
realize that they made a sad mis-
take.
PERSONALLY, l would regret to be
in the position of the author of this
tax if it goes through and puts IN
end to opera. He will be known all
over Georgia as the man who killed
the greatest musical enterprise in
the history of the south-an ente:-
prise that has carried the fame of
Georgia to the far corners of the
world"
Letter to Members
The following letter has been sent
to each member of the legislature by
directors of the Music Festival as
Socia alton:
ITO the Members of the General AS
sembly of Georgia:
1.-THE House of Representatives
has seen fit to impose upon grand
opera performances in Atlanta a pro-
hlbitive tax of $4,000. If this tax is
imposed, it means the end of grand
opera in Georgia. We think it should
not be imposed
Grand opera in Georgia is in no
sense making matter. The
directors of the Atlanta Music Fes-
tival association receive no sort Of
remuneration for their services. The
association was not organized for
profit; it has never made a cent OF
profit. During several of the seasons
Of grand opera, small amounts have
been realized over and above actual
expenses, which amounts have been
given Immediately to the public, for
public benefit. During two years Of
grand opera the receipts were insult
ficient to pay expenses. In both
cases, the deficit was made up with
out calling on guarantorS. Last year ,
the Atlanta directors personally as
sumed a deficit of $4,000.
THE Metropolitan Grand Opera |
company, of New York, is not a
noney-making concern. 1t operates
every year at a deficit. At the end |
of the seasonc, public-spirited citi- |
zenS of New York have contributed !
amounts, sometimes running almost |
to half million dollars. in order |
that the Metropolitan should not |
pass out of existence.
ION it's annual visit to Atlanta, |
the company has never made any |
profit. The guarantee fund subscriber !
by the citizens of the south covers i
the bare expense of bringing this or !
ganization to Georgia and staging |
the performances. Did not the artists |
voluntarily reduce the amount of |
their respective charges, the expenses I
would be even greater. |
The grand opera season in Atlanta !
is developing into an institution that |
is educational and gives the keenest
enjoyment to thousands of persons i
who would otherwise be deprived of !
the pleasure and benefit of great !
music. rendered by artists uneqIalad |
anywhere in the world.
Surely, the distinction which
Georgia alone, of all the states in !
the Union outside of New York has,
viz: A season of opera by the worlds !
greatest company, should not be leg
islated out of existence.
"Other cities have sought to take