Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-01-06
MAYOR CASTS
DECIDING VOTE
TO BREAK TIE
Alderman Burke Calls Levy
aBIocd Money" But Alder
man Allison Forces Decision

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With Mayor Sheppard being CALI
ed upon to cast the deciding vote for
the first time since he became mayor,
the city council, in onsideration Of
the special license ordinance for 1922
last night, voted a tax Of one
half cent per gallon on all
gasoline sold inside the city. Alder
man r. E. Allison, who proposed the
levy, predicted that such tax would
raise $4,000 or $4,000 year. Deal
@ers are to keep account Of amounts
sold and make settlements monthly.
The levy was vigorously opposed by
Alderman C. HI. Burke who charac-
terized it as "blood money" Mr..
Allison said it was no more blood
money than was any other tax, but
insisted that it was more in the ma
.ture of luxury tax, inasmuch as q
great deal Of it would be paid by
pleasure cars and also considerable
portion by tourists who are not other
wise obliged TO contribute to the up
keep Of the streets which they use
and all would come from people who
are able to pay it. $F
Alderman Allison called for vote
and the eyes were Allison, Warren
and Harris; nays Burke, Taylor and
Mashburn.
Two Wanted Time.
Mr.. Taylor and Mr.. Mashburn said
they would like to see the matter de-
layed until they had time to invests
gate the effect Of the levy further,
asserting that they did not know
whether they fayoredsor- apposed it,
merely objecting TO enacting it at
this time. Mayor Sheppard infor-
mally suggested that inasmuch. as
there had been tie, and it was up
to him to cast the deciding vote, he
would appreciate a delay. he said
that if compelled to vote he would
vote aye, but that the city attorney
was not clear ON the legality Of the
levy and therefore he would favor
postponement Of decision. Alder
, man Allison asked if that meant ssthe
thing would have to be done all over
again" at the next meeting, and
new vote was taken. He was inform
ed this was the case, whereupun he
called for the mayor to vote and
the latter was recorded as voting aye
and affecting adoption Of the levy.
Butchers Get Protection.
Numerous changes were made ia
| the special license ordinance. A.
group Of butchers appeared and ask
ed protection from the sale ofmeat
In the city by persons from outside
who are making more or less Of
business Of peddling it. They asked
no change in the amount of license.
The section relating to their business
was amended SO that no farmer may
sell less than half hog or quarter
Of beef in the city without butch
er's license, except that he may dis
pose of spare ribs and backbone.
A group of druggists informed
council that the numerous licenses to j
which they were subject totalled
amounts out of proportion with other
businesses here and asked a reduc~
tion. 1t was shown that their licenses
total from $91 for smaller business
without soda founts to $121. They
were given reduction of $25 year,
SIS being taken off the drug license
and SO off the soda fountain license
G. j. Clarke told the council that
it did not seem right to impose taxes
on manufacturing enterprises bring
ing business here from elsewhere
and employing skilled men, as such
taxes tended to discourage industry.
The marble yard tax was reduceda
from $50 to $40.
Piggy Wiggly Raised.
The Piggly Wiggly license was in
creased from 500 to $125 becausa
of the fact, it was stated, that sucil|
stores carry lines of toilet articles
usually sold by drug stores and there 81
fore in that respect compete with the|
licensed druggists.
The schedule for dry goods, cloth
ing, shoe and furnishings stores waal
IcomPletely revised and re-scheduledg
1t was the opinion of Alderman Tavs
ior, chairman Of the tax committee
that the revision would slightly III
crease the revenue of the city. @