| Show GETTING TOGETHER MAYOR MAYOR LOUIS A. A MARCUS f in iii calling citizens citi zens into conference eit city government govern govern- ment to discuss municipal t taxes and finance takes a step which will be he approved ed by bj al aU all taxpayers Too there doubtless will be genera general satisfaction over oyer the decision reached at the meeting Monday fonday to appoint a committee of offie of five fi to study th the city's vexing problem of tiding tiding tid tid- tid ing over with a probable deficiency in revenue amounting to between and nd for the thc year Jear This Thief is serious business Jt It is particularly serious when it is advocated ad that an additional tax burden be placed upon the people This aspect remains whether it is proposed to raise the deficient revenue this year ear and go ahead under full steam with cit city affairs o or to do doso doso doso so by inc incurring a deficit The slogan of the city government government anti and the citizens' citizens committee of five as well well should should be No added burdens upon the taxpayer and no deficit This newspaper has on more than one occasion oc oc- oc casion casion indicated indicated- for the thc benefit of the city government where it may mar go for substantially increased revenue without inflicting upon the tax-ridden tax citizen any new excise Mr 1 Blair Richardson on at the thc mayors mayor's c conference Monday 1 pointedly advocated the same plan that plan that of o exacting a license fee from slot Jot machines punch boards marble games and other trade st stimulators providing such suck taxation is within the thc law Jaw Repeatedly courts have refused to th I convict and penalize owners and anel operators of these theBe devices when charged with violation o of gambling laws Jans Is Js this fact not to be taken as RS prima facie evidence that the they are legal If so clearly they should be subject to the thc same taxes faxes as other legal and anel lc legitimate busi busi- ness nes These operate now without their owners paying a single cent in tribute to thc tile city The fhe Telegram has hns said that a year Jear might be realized from front this license tax tar Mr fr Richardson said he lie Ie believed the figure far too low Our calculation was given gi out as a conservative con con- estimate Mr rr Richardson is undoubtedly undoubtedly edly correct During Mondays Monday's meeting an amazing hint was dropped by Mayor Marcus Marcus Marcus-a a suggestion suggestion sug sug- for a sales tax of one per cent to be bc bel l levied by the city Surely th the thc 1 mayor h 1 or was jesting in a serious moment If the committee of five to cooperate with the thc city commission includes able business men any such uch proposal as this will be the first to tov go into the wastebasket waste waste- basket The mayor should say whether he lie IC was was in earnest or vas yas as indulging in fl abit bit of grim humor The idea cannot be discussed seriously until he lie Ie clears up ip this point The Thc Telegram reiterates A very substantial amount of additional revenue may be De produced for the city through licensing o ot of lawful trade stimulators and amusement devices thus bringing them under municipal control Likewise Likewise Like Likewise wise stiffening up in law enforcement and the collection of uniform and adequate penalties for lor violation of the thc ordinances will ivill add much to the city treasury The The- mayor and his committee com corn should not lose Jose sight of this When these additional sources of or income bear their fair share of municipal al expense tile the city's lack of funds win will be materially materially reduced It It- Itis is not likely l that they will win yield the full amount needed This means only one thing the the city commission will have to find ind the thc way to further economy Taxpayers arc are no now bled white e anc and the city treasury treasury- r. r must not expect them to dig down n mb into inlo their empty pockets to produce something which is not there A deficit is likewise out of the ques ques- tion It will trill have to be he met later by hv the thc tax- tax payer What he cries erics out for is relief f not for further burdens to be he borne now or in the thc I future |
