1879_private laws_79_53
CHAPTER 78 AN ACT TO CONSOLIDATE THE TOWNS OF WINSTON AND SALEM. The General Assembly of North Carolina-do enact :
That the aldermen of the city of Salem shall impose, levy and collect a corporation tax of not less than five hundred dollars per annum upon every person obtaining a license for any one of the purposes specified in sections fifty and fifty-one of this act: Provided, that nothing in this act shall prohibit the board of aldermen from granting a license to retail malt liquors, such as ale, lager beer and porter, and for such license, if granted, the board of aldermen shall impose, levy and collect a corporation tax of not less than two hundred dollars per annum, and said board of aldermen shall have full power to revoke or recall said license, at pleasure, at any time after granting the same, but the said board of aldermen shall refund the proportionate amount of said tax collected for the unexpired portion of the license year to the party or persons from whom such license may be taken, recalled or revoked, and said aldermen shall grant no license to any person for any one of the purposes herein enumerated until such person shall have paid the whole tax imposed for said license, and proved a good moral character by the oaths of not less than two respectable and responsible citizens of the city, and the said aldermen shall have free and full power to grant or refuse a license to any person for any one of the aforesaid purposes at their discretion.