The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1951-05-24
Florida House Refuses To Kill Proposal To
Write A Three Percent Limit On Sales Tax
Miurni Hotel Man
Denies Passing
Envelope To
Crime Commission

TALLAHASSEE, May Z4.-tHJ
The Florida House today re-
fused by a single vote to kill
proposal to write three percent
limit on sales taxes into the state
constitution.
Its sponsor, Rep. Okell of Dade
county, then got permission OF
the House to postpone final ac'
ton on the measure so he can get
a legal opinion on the effect il
would have on the states tax
structure.
The state sales tax now is set
at three percent. The Okell
proposal would write that into
the Florida constitution as top
limit so it could only be in
creased in the future by vote
of the people.
Rep. Beasley of Walton county
principal floor opponent of the
proposal, said such an amendment
would destroy the states fl
nancial structure"
He declared Florida's seven
cents gallon gasoline tax and
nickel pack cigarette tax as
we'll as the state liquor levies all
were sales taxes and would be
drastically reduced under the pro-
posal.
Okell said they were excise
taxes and actually were paid by
the retailer although he passed
them along to the consumer. He
told the House his proposal would
affect only the three percent sales
tax.
The hottest questions before the
legislature were working back
stage.
Rep. Haley of Sarasota said his
committee hopes to have re-
port of its investigation of re-
ported crime and corruption
ready to file with the House
sometime tomorrow. 1t has ended
its hearings, and committee law
yers are drawing the report
Rep. Okell of Dade said his pro-
posed articles of impeachment by
which he seeks to Gust Governor
Warren from office will not be
ready for submission to the
House before Saturday.
He has not disclosed the charg-
es he will make, but some of them
likely will be based on testimony
produced before the Haley COM
mittee and a Senate committee
that has been investigating the
State Beverage Department.
The chairman of the House FL
nance committee distributed
among House members a pro-
vision measure which will go be-
fore his committee later this
week for action.
Aic-s of comptroller G. M. Gay
said it would produce only about
ST. 100000 a year above what the
sales tax as now drawn yields
That is perhaps six or seven mil
lion dollars less than most Fl
nancial experts say will be need
ed to meet the legislatures extra
spending authorizations.
The bill would cut the proceeds
by starting the tax on the 18th
cent of purchase price instead Of
the ninth.
1t would pick up some money
by taxing candy sold in packages
costing so cents or more, lower
ing the exemption on amusementS
admissions to allow two-cent
tax on most adult movie tickets
collecting the levy on the frs
six months of Nhotel and apart
ment rent, and tripping the 6mit
of tax paid Oh purchase Of heavy
industrial equipment.
A Miami hotel man today de-
MED in a telegram to the Haley
committee he ever passed fat
brown envelope to Miami Crime
Commission President Jack r
Younger. He offered to so testify
under oath.
Victor Prichard, former assist
ant manager of the McAllistel
hotel in Miami. sent his denial t.
Rep. Haley of Sarasota, chair
man of the House group inauir
ing into allegations OF politica
corruption in Florida.
He fatty denied the testimony
of Grady McWhortorS Miami bar
tender and occasional undercovel
agent for both Dade Count,
Sheriff Jimmy Sullivan and the
Miami Crime Commission. Nc.
Whortor told the committee las
Saturday he had witnessed the
envelope passing incident in tbs
dining room of the McAllistel