Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-08-14
GENERAL TAX ACT
LEW||VC S7,0O0,0OO
PASSED BY HOUSE
Bill Now Before Senate Car
rieS Provisions to EnCour-
age Rigid Enforceent by
SheriffS

A new general tax act increasing
the revenues of the state of Georgia
in sum variously estimated at from
$1,5O0O00 to S2,50O,0O0 was passed
by the house of representatives Sat
urday, and rushed over to the senate
Just before that body adjourned for
the day. The act will produce from
$7,000,000 to $S,000,000 revenue, COM
pared to $5,500,000 received last year
under the old law, it was said.
In addition to increasing the tax
on various items. notably the stock,
undivided profits and surplus OF
banks. and the gross premiums of
insurance companies. the members
of the house also added teeth to the
law with a provision that sheriffs,
deputies and constables shall be
Charged with the enforcement of its
provisions, and that one-fourth Of
the fines assessed against violators
giving information or prosecuting
the cases.
Representative iBussey, of Crisp
county, introduced the amendment
requiring banks and banking insti-
tutions to. pay the full ad valorem
tax of five mills on their capital
stock, surplus fund, and undivided
profits. Mr.. Bussey stated that the
banks of Georgia have a combined
capitalization of $55, 000,000 and have
been paying no tax at all on this
item, or upon surplus funds and I'M
divided profits that are as great as
the capitalization in many instances.
The vote on this amendment was
close, but it was adopted.
Representative Elders, of Tatnall
county. led the fight to increase the
tax rate Of the insurance companies
from one and one-half per cent on
gross premiums, to three per cent,
after the amendment had been in
troduced by representative Stewart,
OF Atkinson county, and others.
Representative Howard, of Chat
tahoochee county, argued that rate
of 2 per cent would be enough, while
Representative Smith, of Fulton
county, opposed any increase.
Insurance Tax Increased
Representative DuBose, of Clarke
county, stated that he has been in
the insurance business for twenty
years, and knew the insurance COM
panies would be glad to pay per
cent taXese, if that were all they
were required to pay. However, he
declard that insurance companies
paid into the state treasury last year
more than 100000, or $150,000 more
than was paid in by the railroads.
He also stated that fire insurance
companies doing business in Geor-
gia paid out $3.50 for every 500 they
collected last year.
Ignition results from hard times"
Mr.. DuBose remarked.
The vote for the increase upon In
surance companies was so over
whelming that no division was called
for.
Representative Ennis. of Baldwin
county, chairman of the ways and
means committee, declared that this
tax act is the best one ever enacted
by the Georgia legislature, and
should be kept on the statute book
for many years.
representative Woodruff, Of De-
Kalb, tried to increase the tax on
pawnbrokers from 5000 to $500, con-
tending that the pawn shops in At
grounds for stolen goods" and
many of them worked in league
with pawn shops in other southern
cities. He cited an instance of ain
electric drill that had be stolen
from his place of business, he said,
and was later found in pawn shop
in Birmingham. and also referred to
the pawning of the ring stolen by
LNrs1f1 l. n q IN mr.
pawn shop. The amendment was
voted down and the tax left at 5000.
Monument Tax Changed
A tax on monument dealers, for
merly fixed at SO in each county in
which the dealers transacted bust
ness, was changed to SIS for the
entire state.
A tax of 81 per month on moving
picture theaters in cities of from
1000 to 5000 population was re-
duced to 81 per month. Picture
shows in cities of from 5000 to TO-
900 will be taxed 81 per month; in
cities Of from TO- 900 to $4,000 $40
per month; cities of $4,000 to $4,000,
$3.50 per month"; and in cities of
more than $4,000, $25 per month.
The present tax of $1,000 on labor
agents employing men to leave the
state was retained with an amend
ment that such agents must also
give bond for all indebtedness of the
men they entice to leave Georgia.
The tax on cafes ana restaurants
which has ranged from SO in cities
under 5000 population to $500 in
cities of more than $4,000 population
was changed so as to make the tax
81 per table for a table with four
chairs and fifty cents for each addi-
tional chair, together with a fiat
rate of $40 for lunch counter.
Circuses and Corporations
Circuses-$500 per day in cities of
10000 or more inhabitants; $500 per
day in cities of between 10000 and
10000 inhabitants; $3.50 in cities of
between 5000 and 10000; 500 per
day in cities of less than 5000. Side
shows $50 per day in cities Of more
than 5000; $25 per day in cities of
less than 5000.
Clipping bureaus-$10. Dealers In
coal, coke and wood-$1O in cities OF
not more than 10000; $50 in cities
of between 10000 and 10000; 500