The Alaska daily empire., 1925-04-10
CHAMBER GOES
ON RECORD FOR
REDUCED TAXES
Juneau Business Men by I'm
animous Vote Declare in
Favor Lowering Taxes.

A largely attended meeting of the
Juneau Chamber of Commerce today
at the regular weekly luncheon at
the Arcade Cafe unanimously went
if possible and against any raise in
taxes under any circumstances. The
meeting was addressed by II. l..
Faulkner, l.. II. Metzgar. r. E. Rob-
ertson, Simon Hellenthal and c. T.
Gardner, who presented an array of
statistics showing that taxes were
being constantly raised in the Ter
ritory while the industries have been
languishing. The President of the
Chamber was directed to appoint a
committee of nine members to pre-
sent the case for lower taxes to the
Legislature.
Mr. Faulkner led the discussion
for lower taxes, prefacing his re-
marks by the declaration that he was
attorney for several large salmon can
ming companies and other industries
that are developing Alaska.
Faulkner's Statement
mo severer blow could be dealt
the Territory as whole, no greater
obstacle could be placed in the way
of bringing new capital to any part
of the Territory, than by increasing
taxes declared II. L. Faulkner, who
addressed the Chamber at length on
the subject
Mr.. Faulkner showed that taxes on
the canneries had been increased at
each of the six sessions of the Leg
islature and that the taxes on mines
had been raised several hundred per
cent above the 1913 levy. The bur-
den of taxation together with drastic
regulation is threatening the progress
of the Territory.
THE percentage of increase at
each of the sessions of the Legisla-
ture has ranged all the way from
12h per cent. to more than 300 per
cent. over the tax levied at the pre-
vious session." declared Mr.. Faulk-
ner, who presented tables exhibiting
the figures.
The tax levies on the salmon packs
by the various Legislative sessions
were as follows:
1913-Reds, cents case; medium
reds, " cent; all others " cent.
1915-Reds, A cents; medium reds,
cents; all others l cent.
1917 = Reds, Az cents; medium
reds, 2h cents; all others, 2 cents.
1919 - Reds, 512 cents; medium
reds. 3la cents; all others, cents.
1921-Reds, Genus. medium reds,
31a cents; all others 3 cents
1922-Reds. 10 cents; medium reds,
Az cents; all others, cents.
In 1923, in addition to the forego-
ing flat tax rate, there was levied a
graduated tax applying to the larger
packs. On red salmon the flat rate
of 10 cents a case applied on the
first 10000 cases put up at any sin
gle cannery. In addition there was
a tax of Is cents case levied on
all packs between 10000 and 25,00O
cases. 20 cents case on the next
$4,000 cases; 25 cents case on the
next 10000 cases, and 30 cents on
all in excess of $4,000 cases.
On medium reds the graduated tax
levied was Az cents a case for the
first $4,000 cases; 6h cents for the
next $4,000 cases; Sh cents for the
next 10000 cases, and 1Oh cents
on the remainder of the pack.
In addition to this tax there is a
levy of one per cent. on all net in
comes without any allowance for de-
probation, for interest on indebted.
ness or capital invested.
There is also a trap tax which
started at 500 a trap in 1915 and
continued at that rate by the Legis'
latures of 1917 and 1919. 1t was
increased to 5000 a trap in 1921.
Figures were presented to show
that to meet these constantly in
creasing taxes against the salmon
packs, the packers have had to rely
on falling market. The price OF
salmon was much higher in 1915
when the tax was much lower thar
that which prevails now.
Mr.. Faulkner showed that it il
proposed this year to increase the
tax on red salmon and salmon traps
80 per cent making a Is cents pei
case flat rate on the red salmon anf
$500 per trap.
This increase is following one or
red salmon, based on $4,000 case