Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-01-20
BUTCHERS TAX LOWERED,
FARMERS ARE EXEMPTED
Council Enacts New License Ordinance Attempt
!'!g to Reconcile Differences, But Fully Satisfies
Neither Side and Fails to Repeal Old Section

The city council last night passed
a new ordinance fixing butchers
tax and providing restrictions under
which farmers m@y sell their fresh
meat in the city, but through an over
sight failed to repeal the old ordi-
nance provisions which were the cause
of the recent controversy between
the butchers and farmers. The new
ordinance, drawn hastily during the
council meeting by City Attorney
Lane, reduced the butchers license
from $40 to $25 and provided that
it should not apply "to farmers who
make occasional sales of fresh meat
raised by them as mere incident to
their business of farming"
] Not containing a clause repeating
the old ordinance provision concern
ing butchers and farmers, and no 9TH
er action being taken on the sub
ject, the previous ordinance still
stands, and it will require action by
another council meeting to straighten
out the unintended tangle.
I The ordinance as passed apparently
fully satisfied neither the butchers
nor the farmers, the official hear
ing, then failing to carry out, the
requests. The butchers insisted
upon provision in the ordinance
providing that a farmer be obliged
to take out permit at the city hall
before being allowed to sell meat in
the city, first making affidavit that
he intended to and would sell only
meat raised on his own farm No
greater request was made than that
only one license be taken in year,
this to assist the butchers in checking
up on professional meat peddlers in
the city. The farmers, on the other
hand, objected to any permits being
required and wanted no restrictions
whatsoever.
Let Buyer Beware.
The butchers also cited numerous
experiences with farmers bringing
meat into the city tending to show
the need for sanitary inspection and
restrictions. J. l.. Glawson stated
that negro brought carcass to
him a few days ago, the hams,
shoulders and some other portions
of which he bought. He said part of
the hog had been made into sausage
which had been stuffed into the en-
trails Of the same hog. He said he
examined the sausage and found the
entrails had not been well cleaned
and the sausage was thus totally un-
fit for use. He asked what was
going to be done about protecting
the public against such practices.
Mayor Sheppard replied that it ap-
peared to be up to the person buy
ing such meat or sausage to look cut
for himself.
Numerous other instances were
SHOWN of carcasses of animals acei-
dentally killed or dying Of sickness
being brought here for sale. Judge
j. A. Hixon, who sp2kc briefly for
the butchers, stated that in the city
ofsAlbany animals offered for sale
must be first inspected alive and ap-
proved by the city before they can
be killed, and sold, this regulation be-
ing maintained for the protection of
the people of Albany. He said it
was a fact that animals which had
failed to pass inspection inside Al
bany had been brought to Americus
and sold for meat, there being no
restriction here other than the state
law which prohibits the sale in Geor-
.gia Of any unfit articles of food.
Rules On Cato.
A bit of a tilt took place between
/ Mayor Sheppard and Gene Cato, the
latter being with the farmers dele
gation. Mr.. Cato, although living in
I the city. operates farm and sells
much dressed pork in the city. After
the new ordinance was read he rose
to inquire whether it would force
him to take out license.
! '"If you make a business Of SELL
ing meat it does" replied the mayor.
"That is my business" said Mr..
Cato, "but l raise my own hogs on
my farm.
"Well, under this ordinance you
are subject to butchers license" re-
piled Mayor Sheppard.
Later Mr.. Cato stated that ne had