The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-01-18
THE CITY LICENSE LAW.
IMPORTANT MEETING OF THE CHAM.
BER OF COMMERCE..

| mltteo to ConIer Win tho City
Council.
| large and influential meeting of this body
was held yesterday at two o'clock P. N. The
meeting being called to order, President s. Y.
Tupper stated that this was special meeting
of the Chamber, called at The request of a
number of members, In the manner and form
prescribed by the rules. The meeting, he be-
lleved, was in sympathy with the wishes and
interests of many merchants, who regarded
the recent license laws enacted by the city
authorities as unjust, discriminating and un-
constitutional. The Chamber was looked
upon as the special guardian of the trade and
commerce Of Charleston, and if 1t was con-
sidered that these great interests were
jeopardlzed by unjust legislation or taxation,
1t became this body to speak, not with timid
voice. but In firm though respectful tones
against the Injustice attempted. He Invited
the members present TO discuss in a proper
spirit the subject matter that would be
brought before them, In order that the true
sentiment of the business community might
be eliciled.
At The conclusion OF Captain Tupper's re-
marks, Colonel Zimmerman Davis offered the
| following preamble aud resolutions:
| Whereas, the ordinance ratified by the City
| Council on the 10th day OF January, 1873, en-
titled an ordinance 10 regulate licenses for
| 1873, appears to be open 10 grave objections,
both to the general principle Involved and as to
the details of It's provisions; and whereas, the
goth day of January is the Lost day allowed
Tor compliance with the ordinance; and
whereas, 1t s due 10 these affected oy THIS or
| dinance that more time be allowed tor an e1-
animation of the same and for such altera.
] lions and amendments as may, upon more
| full and public discussion, appear right and
expedlenl; therefore, be 1t
Resolued, lst. That an executive committee
| of - gentlemen be appointed To confer
with the city authorities and ob;aiu from
them at once an extension eI tne Time lor
tlkIng out licenses.
2J. THAT the same committee be authorized
and directed 10 examine the aforesaid ordi-
nance with a view to determine whether or
no it conflicts with the commercial Interests
| OF the community, and II It does, In what re-
poets, and TO what extent such conhlct may De
avoided by modification OF the ordinance.
Sd, That the same conn mmlttee be authorized
aud directed 10 confer with the city author-
| ties from time to time, and as often as neces.
| sary. In order that harmony and good feeling
NAV be preserved, and In case the ordinance
| aforesaid be found To be wholly or In part in
conflict with the public good, that represe2-
taton thereof be made by the committee to
the city authorities ln whatever manner they
may think best, and that the sald eommluee'
| If 30 invited by the city authorities, be au.
thorized to cooperate In revising and amend
| ing the same.
3th. That In order TO give to the represen-
tatons of The said committee proper weight
and authority all persons now present and
asserting be requested to sign this paper,
and all other citizens Interested may be by
the committee invited TO sign and become
parties to the action herein prescribed.
9Th. That the said executive committee be
appointed by the chairman of this meeting,
| and that the committee, when appointed,
may organize by the election OF lts own
chairman, and may appoint such sub.commlt-
q aRa I'd aaan5 c Seem lo
| MIR. George 8. Cameron hoped that before
| the vote was taken the Chamber would con-
slider the Importance of representing each
and every Interest upon the proposed com.
mIuep. he did not object TO the preamble
and resolutions, but he objected to the princl.
pie involved In their adoption. He held that
| the Chamber Of Commerce had no right to
interfere with the functions OF the city gov
ernment. The gentlemen who composed the
| Civ Council were honest and intelligent clti-
zens. They had framed the license bill with a
view to relieving the burden of taxation upon
real estate. If the Chamber protested against
the license law, the next thing that
would follow would be a movement
| taxation. If the city got no taxes
| from any other source than real estate, the
result would be That real estate would depre-
ciate in value. He admitted that there were
some inadeqnacies In the license law with re-
gard to brokers, but he had no doubt that
Council would remedy them In some way;
| probably by allowing returns to be maze
| chamber to the fact, that the real estate
owners were the most aggrleved class. There
was not one piece OF real estate in the city
but was assessed at onethird more than the
price it would bring II offered for sale. The
| factors complained Of The license law more
| than any other class, but he did not see that
they had any cause 10 do 30. The question
was. what class should pay the taxes. the
| license law was on attempt at distributing the
| taxes equally among all classes, and be there
| fore thought 1t should not be opposed. The
City Council might have done wrong IN pass
ing the law, but he did not think 1t wise to
denounce that law as UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
| Colonel Davis said that the preamble did
not denounce the law as unconstitntlonal, ana
he read il over In confirmation of bis position.
| Mr.. Cameron said he was under the impress
| sion. when he spoke, that the word "uncon-
siItntlonaln was contained iI the preamble,
| and was glad to fGd that 1t was not. He did
not object TO the adoption OF the resolutions,
| provided that all the interests OF the city
were represented on the committee they pro-
| posed 10 appoint.
Captain Tupper said IL was necessary to de-
eide how many members the committee
shenld consist OF, and asked that some gentle
man would make O motion on the subject.
Mr.. VIM. Tnayer moved that the committee
be- made to consist of twenty-five members.
MT Cameron thought that four was better
| number.
Colonel Davis thought 1t would be better to
| leave the number 10 the discretion OF the
chair.
Captain Tupper said he preferred that the
number should be designated by the Chamber.
Mr.. Thayer said he had proposed twenty
Ave as he thought all interests could not be
well enonph re1resented In a smaller number.
Captain B. u. Plnckney thought that If the
commitlee consisted OF twenty-five members
II would never have meeting. He therefore
| proposed seven as better numoer, and mo-
Hon TO Lhat effect was adopted.
Csntain q. H. Walter approved OF the word
Ino or the preamble and resolutions, but he
wishpd 10 know what the Chamber proposed
to do in case Council refused 10 extend the
time for paving the licenses. If Council should
reInse lhe action OF the Chamber would be
good for nothing.
| iii wonld NOT decline 10 consider the sugges-
| tIons of The Chamber If 1t did it would pro-
woke the yery thing which the Chamber was
trying TO ayoid-stest of the legality of the
Noii tn