The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-08-27
The San Francisco Drummer.
From the san Franc isco Bulletin

FROM the san franclsco BBI!etin.
We assume it as fact that the Sar
Francisco drummer is sui 9eneris. He i:
the product Of the city as much as the
big trees of Calaveras and Yosemite are
the products of California. He force,
all obstacles. He has never been known
to be defeated iii his efforts to obtain
business Not long since the City Trus.
tees of Sacramento essayed to Danish
him from the State Capital They
passed an ordinance with such heavy
license fees that it was supposed he
must succumb. They also passed a
resolution Offering q large reward to
any party who should give evidence of
any person not a resident of Sacramen-
TO soliciting business without the pay
nent of this license. But the drummers
resoIted to flank movement A mum
Der combined and rented house on the
Yolo side Of the Sacramento river be
yond the jurisdiction of the rnunicipali-
ty of Sacramento. Thither they in
vited their Sacramento patrons to view
their goods and give their orders. The
drummers were victorious. No one has
obtained the ieward offered by the City
Trustees of Sacramento Tor the arrest Of
unlicensed drummers. San Francisco
merchants have larger business connec-
lions with Sacramento than ever.
The Legislature of Nevada, when in
session last Winter tried its hand at
putting down the Sacramento drum
mers. 1t was alleged that his tribe
swarmed everywhere. He was ubiquit-
Gus. From the Comstock to the most
remote mining camp in Lincoln or Nye
counties, no place was sacred from his
presence. A statute was passed impos
ing heavy prohibitory license. But
the San Francisco drummer pursued his
calling At length he was arrested and
brought before the bar of justice to an
mers pleaded the unconstitutionality of
the act. 1t was an Infringement upon
the rights Of Congress, as attem pting
To regulate Interstate commerce. The
Supreme Court of Nevada decided
against him. An appeal was taken to
10 Umt.d States Supreme Court, which
appeal Is now pending.
But the San Francisco drummer could
not afford to wait the weary months be-
fore a decision could be obtained.
Neither could he afford to pay the Ii
cense. He continues business in q novel
style without infringing the act. He
presents his customers with postal
card on which is printed the name of
the house tor which he is doing business
and asks thop, tn writp fhproou thar
orders This is no personal solicitation
Everything is done by the resident Ne
vadian. City ordinances. State laws,
and anything else may be passed. but
the San Francisco drummer is bound to
do business A suggestion has been
made that the only way to rid tho
State of the obnoxious individual Is TO
enact a law establishing a State police
force, and authorizing that body to go
through every train as it crosses the
Sierras and eject every person carrying
anything that bears the slightest re-
semblance to sample trunk. But we
venture to predict that even this would
prove Intellectual. The drummer would
still find his way into Nevada. He
would go by the rushing. roaring waters
of the Truckce. or would cross the Sier.
ras In II balloon, constructed so rs to be
invisible 10 the naked eye and sweep
away with all the business obtainable
before the authorities knew of his pres
ence. Try to stop San Francisco
drummer You my as well attempt 10
dam up Niagara.