The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-09-28
The License question.

Editors Journal;
A few days since, the City Council
of Evansville were aszed to impose a
tax or license upon every person job
bling merchandise in this city. 1t is
unfair and unjust to impose a license
upon some, while others 90 scot free.
The Council, in their superior wis
dom, voted down that proposition.
One Of that body essayed to make a
speech upon the question. He said
"sueh a license seemed to him as
anti. Republican, very likely; it look
cd to him as if we were going back to
the dark ages Of the world instead Of
in the road to progress and enlighten-
ment. He was in favor Of free
trade" sc. Let merit, energy and
90. aheadjtiUeness be the key to sue
cess. Let US examine the facts
and see the truth and Justice of
his remarks. First, every citi-
zen here who is merchandising
or manufacturing pays a tax or
license for the privilege of doing so.
Here the jobbers pay a license for
the privilege of jobbiug goods. They
pay tax upon their monthly sales,
which is right and proper under the
circumstances. They are taxed for
the General Government, for the
State and City Government, for the
building of railroads and school
houses; 10 q word, for almost every
thing, either directly or indirectly.
Here they arc located and are con-
tributing largely of their means
towards the building up of great
commercial city-the building Of rail
roads with the view of opening up the
avenues of trade, thereby augment
ing its population and commerce.
The building of school houses and
the preserving and fostering Of our
institutions of learning, with the
view that our children may become
enlightened, intelligent citizens. All
these things and many more are we
taxed 10 build up and sustain.
Here our jobbers have invested
large amounts of money In merchan-
disc, with the view Of attracting bust
ness to our city. They have expend-
ed large amounts In advertising their
business In sundTy newspapers all
over this section Of country: thew
have employed statesmen at large sal
aries, sent them into the country at
heavy expense to solicit and build up
trade for our city, aad when all this
Is done, forsOoth, q lot of itinerapt
drummers from our neighborinp rirYl
cities, come into our market with
samples OF their respective goods
take board, open out their SAMPLES IN
q room, and drum every merchant
that comes here to buy goods. and
will take his order, send it to such
point as he may have his general
stock stored, and there it is illej.
We have some In our midst that
claim this as their home, have their
washing done here and cote here.
They have complete assortment Of
samples representing the stock they
are selling, out of and from which
they can sell their goods Just as we'll
as If in the midst Of their entire stock.
This kind of trade has been carried
on for years, but it is now multiplying
to such an extent that justice demands
that they should pay reasonable IL
cense for their privileges. Is this free
trade of which the gentleman speaks?
Is this the kind Of justice he advo-
Gates so strenuously? is this the road
to progress and enlightment? Ifso. nv
education is greatly at fault. Would it
be right or just for Dir. A. to come
here from Louisville-say with four
hundred samples of boots and shoes
open them out IN 4 room-and he
having a knowledge of all the trade
visiting our city to buy goods-should
drum that trade-take it. to his room
-sell3them their goods? [ say is it
right for him to have the priv
ilege Of selling goods thus when
every jobber here has to pay the
amount Of taxes and license enumer-
ated? In this case, A is reaping
the benefit Of the moneys, earnings
and labors of all the jobbers for which
he pays nothing Nc jobber of one
city should be permitted to go and
job goods in another free of charge.