The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1943-04-06
THREE CENTS TAX ON EACH
PACKAGE OF CIGARETTES.
ONE OF MAIN REcoMMEN-
DATIoNs OFFERED


"A three cents a package on Gig
arettes for the next two years was
recommended to the legislature
today by Governor Holland to help
cure the states war-born financial
ills.
He estimated it would replace
the $500, 900 of revenue lost when
gasoline rationing caused suspen-
sion of horse racing last winter.
The money would 60 to old age
pensions and to help counties
which shared in the racing taxes.
He virtually staked the replace
ment program on the cigarette
tax, proposing that there should be
no tax on cigars or pouch tobacco,
but he said he would be more
than glad" to hear of any better
source the legislature could recon-
mend. He did not outline any other
suggested tax, and he said exist
ing tax levies should not be in
creased.
THE war; he said, has
broken down or destroyed sources
of public revenue which were re-
garded as most dependable, and
we are now confronted with the
necessity of finding new revenue
or else permitting vital public
functions to suffer and aged citi-
zens and dependent children to go
without help which the state alone
can give them"
Although he specifically op-
posed a cigarette tax in 1910, when
he was elected, Governor Holland
said wars results had changed
conditions so much that 81 feel it
to be my duty to act and / know
that many of you feel likewise
Thanked by 81 senator's and 81
representatives-two seats are va
cant--the silver-haired governor
outlined the condition of the state
and charted a course for the next
two years in 10000 word mes
sage to the biennial legislature.
He pointed out that his propos-
cd cigarette tax is the same rate
now levied in Georgia and Ala
bama, and he said all the south
eastern states, except North Caro-
lima, now have cigarette sales tax.
His plan would put tax of two
cents on package of 10 cigarettes.
He recommends that the emer-
gency five percent tax imposed
two years ago on horse race wag-
cring-it produced $2,000,0O0 in
the l941-42 season when race
tracks operated-should be reen-
acted as permanent source of
old age revenues when war condi-
tons permit resumption of racing.
He said the seventh cent of the
gasoline tax, first levied in 1881,
as an emergency and continued
by each succeeding legislature,
should be reenacted, and he said
no other present revenue levies
should not be reduced.
Other recommendations in his
message included:
Continued cooperation, by
whatever legislation is necessary.
in civilian defense activity and
the national war effort
Exemption from any state gal
lonage taxes of federal govern
ment gasoline purchases in lots of
more than 5000 gallons.
Strict laws to curb venereal dis
ease-"the incidence of veneral
disease among men of the armed
forces stationed in Florida is very
high so as to bring grave and JUS
titled complaints from the army
and navy"
Pre-marital examination for
venereal infection.
Laws allowing various state
funds, including reserves of the
state road department, to be in
vested in gasoline tax supported
bonds handled by the state board
OF administration.
An appropriation of $4,000. 900 a
year out of the general revenue
fund-into which he proposed to
put the cigarette tax revenue es-
timated at $3,600,00O year - for
supplementing specified sources.
such as liquor taxes, for old age
assistance and aid to blind per-
sons. This appropriation would be
used to make good any deficiency
II racing in any year does not pro-
duce $2,000,000 for the social vel
fare program.
Appropriation Of $780, 900 a year
out of general revenue for aid to
dependent children, supplement-
ing about 100000 from other
specified sources such as truck
weight taxes.
Establishment of a capitol cen,
ter IN Tallahassee by state acquisi-
ton OF privately-owned property
adjacent TO the capitol for future
buildings.
a law authorizing and directing
the state comptroller to prescribe
UNIFORM standards of values fol
assessing property in the full.
valuation tax laws.
Tight control of county school
budgets by the state department
OF education to prevent any I'm.
necessary increases in local school
expenses.
a eanctst,.4.~-I