The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-03-11
PROPOSED SALES TAX 1NADvIsABLE

If a mis- guided city government per-
sists in adding sales-tax on gasoline or
any other commodity in Key West, it will
be adding the proverbial last straw that
will break down the patience of a people
who have been patient much too long.
1t is not the burden of this extra gas
tax alone that causes the people of this
city to protest, but the economic loss it
will entail by lettering visitors from COM
ing here to spend all or part of their win
ter vac ton.
The Citizen yesterday published a
communication by visitor who has spent
four months in Key West, that gives a
fairly comprehensive idea of the results
we may expect from the adoption of any
sort of a sales tax and gives fair warning
of the effect of such a tax upon the bust
ness that Key West is endeavoring to build
up,-the tourist business.
We have enough in the way of handi-
caps with which to contend without Great
ing any new ones.
The writer of the communication tells
an oft-tOld tale as he relates the barriers
of discussion, ranging from petty near
ness, to contemplate SANDER against Key
West, that are employed to divert visitors
from their purpose to visit u.s.
One would think that elementary
craftsmanship would deter Florida resorts
from malicious interference with the pros
poets of sister city that is making gal
liant fight against adverse circumstances
and in the midst of trials such as they have
never known, is maintaining an enviable
reputation for courage and for hospitality
True, we have one supreme adj
vantage that can never be theirs; here
alone can be found the climate which less
favored regions advertise but do not pos
sess and on that ground their envy may be
understandable, whether it is pardonable
or not
One by one, we will surely, even if
slowly, wipe out the odds against us and
with water, sewer system and a super
highway, our good fortune in being the
sole posses:ors of the Nations ideal eli
mate will gain for Key West secure place
in the estimation of Americas discrimi
mating sun-hunters
But we are not in position that war
rants us in taking on any additional handi-
caps.
That is exactly what a sales-tax on
gasoline, or on any other commodity
would be. We can not afford any such
folly.
We realize that some of our people
can not pay the taxes to which the city is
legally bound to look for its support. 1t is
not necessary to work a hardship upon
hardship upon the owners of cars and
trucks and upon visitors by adding four
per cent to their gas bills.
There are sufficient property owners
in Key West, able to find money for every
other purpose except paying for the serv
ice the city renders them, that if their
taxes should be assessed and collected ac-
cording to the law before which all men
are equal, the city could render its APP
pointed services and meet its just obliga-
tons.
This is 70 time to damage Key West
by inventing new taxes to relieve old tax
dodgers
When we have decided that the law
in Key WeGt operates without fear or favor
we will have taken long step toward re-
covery and we will have made unneces-
sary any pan-handling sales tax as means
of eking out the support Of our city.