Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-01-14
WARREN SHIFTS,
GIVING MAJORITY
TO OPPONENTS
Alderman Allison Insists On Re-
tanning Tax AS Levy On Luxe
ury-Dealers Heard

In less time than it took to enact
the measure, after the public had
been given an opportunity to be
heard, the special tax of half cent
gallon on gasoline was repealed at
a special meeting of the city council
yesterday afternoon. The re-
peal was made possible by the shift
ing of one vote, Alderman ] {. War
ren who voted for the tax at the pre-
vious meeting changing to the opposi
ton. When the tax was imposed the
vote was to 8, Mayor Sheppard
being called upon to cast the deciding
vote. On the motion to repeal Al
dermen Burke, Warren, Taylor and
Msshburn voted aye; Alderman Al
iison, who first proposed the tax and
insisting that it be retained, voted no.
Alderman Harris was not recorded as
voting.
Several were heard in opposition
to the retention Of the tax, while NOT
a voice was raised for it except that
of Alderman Allison. Walter Ry
lander was the first speaker in oppo-
sition. He presented figures show
ing that because Of the policy of the
large refiners in absorbing these To-
cal taxes elsewhere and allowing
their retail price to stand unchanged,
the dealers buying from Independents
supply men would be forced to cut
their margin Of profit by the amount
of the tax. he stated that everyone
knew the margin Of Profit, which was
2 cents gallon, fixed by the oil re-
finers, and that no retailer was able
to more than break even Oh hand
ling of gasoline, and that to re-
duce this margin by half a cent
would force many dealers to stop
selling gasoline entirely. He pre-
sented telegram from Macon stab
ing that the Standard and other Oil
concerns had absorbed the local tax
there. Outside Of the effect on the
dealers, he said he believed the tax
| to be bad thing for Americas.
Bad for Town.
Il think | have about as much in~
terests in Americus as any Of the
rest of you" he said "and realize
you need the money, but | honestly
believe it will be bad thing for the
town and will. tend to keep people
from coming here from elsewhere. Z
G. o. Loving, local independent
dealer, said he was at the mercy
of the large refiners; chat he had II
contract with them by which, he OBJ
tanned gasoline based in price on the
retail price which meant that ii the
dealers stood the advance it merely
raised his price to the refiners bg
THAT much. He said the dealers, on
the other hand could not cut their
margin of profit from 2 centsto LIZ
cent to absorb the tax, because 2
Icents was the established margin and
they would not be permitted to buy
lmore gasoline if they broke the rule,
nor be able to dtain more if he
lsold to a violation / tfe rule.
| Mr.. Allison askd3 Mr.. Rylander
twhat it would cost 30 erect a filling
Estation on the outsil@ts of Amreicua.
Mr.. Rylander said the cost would be
from $50 to $500. Mr.. Allison re-
piled that it appeared there must bs
some profit in the. business if man
would make such an Investment, as
| had bee nrepotred would result.
| Clash On Luxury Idea.
/ The motion TO repeal the tax was
made by Alderman Burke, who OPP
Iposed it bitterly from the first, char
| acterizing it as blood money! Mr..
}Allison Immediately arose to an-
nounce that he opposed repeal. He
| said he insisted that it was in the ma
ture Of d luxury tax and should bs
tried out. He said he believed If tho
! big refiners refused to co-operate the
Il people would refuse to patronixa
their filling stations and would buy
from those supplied by independents.
Mr.. Burke came back with the state
ment that it was not. luxury tax,
inasmuch as SO. per cent of the ati-
tomobiles seen any day about the
streets of Americus were business
cars and nat being used for pleas
ure
II Mr.. Warren announced that while
he voted for the tax at the preSlosla
a+
Emeeting, after investigation he beIieV-
led il would result in Discrimination
and he was not sure it was not the
wrong thing. The vote followed ias-
Imediately.