The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-01-18

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ate and respectful language, 10 obtain time to
consider the grounds of this opposition. 1t
| has been said that such action is beyond the
province of this Chamber, but find In rule L,
section 2, that among the objects of the socie-
| ty are mentioned the following: "To watch
over and protect the interests of the trading
| community of Charleston" and Ito assemble
q general meeting Of the merchants and
trades in the City of Charleston on all emer-
gencies wherein their rights or interests may
be affected"
Now, upon this suppositlon that there are
objections to the license ordinance In its pres
ent form, what body can take action moro ap.
proprialely than the Chamber Of Commerce
And II action is 10 be taken at all, what effec-
tive action can be more conservative and con-
| siderate than that proposed? Assuming
therefore. sir, that we are properly convened
| for the discussion of this important mat
| ter, and having very earnest CONVICTIONS
upon the subject, venture to suggest tBe
grounds upon which I differ from my friend
opposite as TO the effect upon the material In
tereets Of the city of the system OF licenses
as embodied in this ordinance.
It is said that this ordinance was Intended
| to reach large and wealthy classes who have
not hitherto borne their talr share OF the pub
lie burdens. If there are such classes, or iu-
deed any persons, who now escape just and
fair contribution, by all means let them be
SSSSeo
his share of taxation. and none should be sui.
fered to escape 1t. Now, Mr.. President, what
ever clauses of this ordinance really accou-
plish that desirable end should be retained
and enforced, but, sir, there are clauses which
none can pretend 10 sustain on this ground
alone.
But, sir, my opposition to the ordinance is
not because 1t taxes factors; or lawyers, or
any other class, but because 1t discriminateS
against small dealers In favor of large firms.
The factor who sells one thousand bales OF
cotton or less must take out license for nifty
dollars; the factor who sells twenty Thousand
bales pays but twenty-five dollars per one
thousand bales, on all but the first thousand.
Is that just or wise?
All bankers pay alike one hundred dollars
30 do all brokers lis that not discrimination
against houses ef small means, and those be-
ginning or desiring to begin business ls It
q wise policy to obllge every young and enter
prising man, who detires to set up In busi-
ness on his own account, to add the Cost
of license to his other expenses and risks
Sir, the great majority OF the members OF This
chamber can pay their license fees and not feel
1t, perhaps; but, as mercantile body, we are
bound to consider the interests OF t'Ill the com
munity as O whole. We are by our conslilu-
ton required to do 30, aod our Chief care
should be to encourage and foster the growth
of young and enterprlslDg houses. 1t is pop
ulation. sir, that makes city; houses and
riches are good In their way, but look at de-
cayed Venice and see what becomes OF city
whose population is not supported by grow
ing commerce or by manufactures.
Yet this system OF licenses Is directly re-
presslve Of population, and challenge any
advocate Of the ordinance to show that this ls
not Its logical effect.
Again, sir, sanction the principle at the bot
tom of this law, and we commit ourselves to
sustaining the most partial, lnqusitorlal and
oppressive mode OF taxation ever devised by
the worst governments of Europe.
10 conclusion, Mr.. President, / beg to say to
nv friend opposite that I heartily agree with
him as to the necessity of doing something 10
benefit real estate, and for this reason op-
pose everything which, In my opinion, tends
to repress Lhe growth of our population, and
our manufactures and our commerce. Wlln
more business and more population, real es.
tate must improve, and hence, IN oehail OF
the real estate owners, for whom sucn elo-
onent appeals are made, Ihope our committee
will succeed In having this license law iunda'
mentally modified.
The vote was ihan taken on the motion to
Lauie, aud resulted In IN overwhelming re-
lection.
Mr.. George R. Walker objected to the pas.
sage of the resolutions on the ground tnat II
the Chamher admitted the right OF Council to
mostly the license law, 1t would, OF the same
time, admit that Council had the right TO
make that law. The city government had no
right TO make the law, because the State, from
which 1t received such authority, had pracL-
cally Withdrawn That authority by repeating
It's own Jaw. The principal upon which the
license law was made had been already 1T
tingly denounced as vicious.
The resolutions were then almost unani.
mously adopted without alteration.
Messrs. Mcmillan King, ]. Seabrook Wells
and A. B. King were elected members of the
Chamber. after which the meeting adjourned.
The following gentlemen were appointed by
Captain Tupper, In the course OF the after,
noon, to serve on the committee: Colonel
Zimmerman Davis, VIM. Ravenel, George 8
Cameron, B. Gailard Plnckney, George W,
Williams, Cleland K. Huger, VIM. L. Tren'
hnlm