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Domestic News
May 18, 1939
The Key West Citizen
Key West, Monroe County, Florida
What is this article about?
Florida's 1939 legislature in Tallahassee debates crucial finance issues, considering bills for amusement taxes, transaction taxes, or legalizing gambling to fund old age pensions, schools, and replace property taxes.
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LEGISLATURE HEARS VARIOUS FINANCE ISSUES
MEMBERS TACKLE MANY PROBLEMS BEING SUBMITTED FOR CONSIDERATION FROM DAY TO DAY
TALLAHASSEE, Fla., May 18. (FNS).-Facing the alternatives of legalizing gambling in all forms, taxing amusements or putting a sales tax on all commodities, Florida's 1939 legislature this week began its most crucial period in which it tackles problems of finance that thus far have baffled the best minds of both the house and senate.
Bills covering all three types of taxation are before standing committees. One would levy a ten percent tax on all amusements, including theatres, night clubs, skating rinks - everything, in fact, except hotels or restaurants where meals are served with music but without floor shows or special entertainment. This measure would produce, according to Rep. Clay Lewis, of Gulf county, an estimated $20,000,000, that would be split fifty-fifty, half to the state old age welfare fund and the other half to the counties' school fund to be used exclusively for teacher salaries.
Still another transaction tax, also a three percent plan, is on the senate's special order calendar. But this bill, sponsored by Sen. Charley Johns, of Starke, would benefit old age pensions exclusively since the bill further provides for a pension of $200 a month for all persons above the age of 65 years. Both the Johns and Stokes bill would produce an estimated $48,000,000 a year each. The Stokes measure, however, would not be used for pensions. All of the revenue would be applied to replace money now raised by state, county and municipal ad valorem property taxes.
MEMBERS TACKLE MANY PROBLEMS BEING SUBMITTED FOR CONSIDERATION FROM DAY TO DAY
TALLAHASSEE, Fla., May 18. (FNS).-Facing the alternatives of legalizing gambling in all forms, taxing amusements or putting a sales tax on all commodities, Florida's 1939 legislature this week began its most crucial period in which it tackles problems of finance that thus far have baffled the best minds of both the house and senate.
Bills covering all three types of taxation are before standing committees. One would levy a ten percent tax on all amusements, including theatres, night clubs, skating rinks - everything, in fact, except hotels or restaurants where meals are served with music but without floor shows or special entertainment. This measure would produce, according to Rep. Clay Lewis, of Gulf county, an estimated $20,000,000, that would be split fifty-fifty, half to the state old age welfare fund and the other half to the counties' school fund to be used exclusively for teacher salaries.
Still another transaction tax, also a three percent plan, is on the senate's special order calendar. But this bill, sponsored by Sen. Charley Johns, of Starke, would benefit old age pensions exclusively since the bill further provides for a pension of $200 a month for all persons above the age of 65 years. Both the Johns and Stokes bill would produce an estimated $48,000,000 a year each. The Stokes measure, however, would not be used for pensions. All of the revenue would be applied to replace money now raised by state, county and municipal ad valorem property taxes.
What sub-type of article is it?
Politics
Economic
What keywords are associated?
Florida Legislature
Finance Issues
Amusement Tax
Transaction Tax
Old Age Pensions
What entities or persons were involved?
Rep. Clay Lewis
Sen. Charley Johns
Where did it happen?
Tallahassee, Fla.
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Tallahassee, Fla.
Event Date
May 18, 1939
Key Persons
Rep. Clay Lewis
Sen. Charley Johns
Event Details
Florida's 1939 legislature faces alternatives of legalizing gambling, taxing amusements, or sales tax on commodities to address finance problems; bills include 10% amusement tax estimated at $20,000,000 for welfare and schools, and 3% transaction tax by Sen. Johns for $200 monthly old age pensions, while Stokes bill's revenue replaces property taxes.