Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-03-28
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.
NEW LICENSE LAW.

The new license Law went into effect on
the 18Th instant. 1t gives all the Boards OF
Supervisors power to impose a license tax
at rate to be fixed annually or the first
Monday Of October, but FOR the year 1888
they are privileged to fix the rates inme-
diately that shall be in force until said first
Monday in October. OF course this law re.
psals the existing license law for counties.
It does away with the quarterly system and
permits the rate to be fixed according TO any
period. Itgives authority to impose a license
tax upon auctioneers, bridges, ferries,
wharves, chutes, piers, bankers, money lend.
era, note-shavers or buyers or sellers, buyers
or sellers Of any evidence of private indebt-
edness; dealers IN stocks, buyers or sellers
Of gold dust, bullion or coin public billiard
tables, theaters, caravans, menageries, cir
cuses, scrobatic performances, shows of fig
ures, juggiers, magicians, ropedsncsrs,
necromancers, slight Of hand performers,
pawnbrokers, intelligence offices, sellers Of
spirituous, malt or fermented liquors or wine
in less quantities than one quart.
Also to license all who at a fixed place Of
business sell goods, wares or merchandise.
wines or distilled liquors, drugs or medicines,
jewelry, wares of precious metals, on COM
mission or otherwise Except agricultural or
viticultural productions, or Of any stock,
dairy or poultry farm when sold by the pro-
Queer, and except such as are sold by auc-
tioneers under license) also all persons who
keep horses or carriages for hire Except those
used for the transportation Of goods also
travelling merchants, hawkers, peddlers of
goods other than manufactures or pr0duc-
tons of this State; also every keeper of
stallion, jack or bull used for propagation,
for hire. Propagation licenses granted by
any county are cc-sxsensiye with the State.
The law exempts exhibitions or entertain
ments of churches, schools, or for other chart
table entertainments by any amateur associa-
ton or literary society of the town or district
in which such exhibition or entertainment is
given. The sale of liquors or wines referred
to in our second paragraph must not be IN
less quantity than one quart. No license can
be required of physicians, surgeons, apothe.
carries, for use Of liquors in preparation Of
medicines.
The new law is creating much discussion IN
business circles. There is q strong feeling in
favor OF the license rates upon trades, mer-
chandise and other vocations, except those
embraced By liquor selling and shows, pawn
brokers and billiard saloons. being placed
at the utmost at only nominal figure.
Merchants and tradesmen have long felt
the license tax to be an irksome
one and unequal in its operations. One Of
the peculiarities of the new law is that for
charitable purposes an amateur dramatic
association of the district or town may give
free performances, but there is no provision
that any other kind Of performance for
charity or church purpose shall be taxed at
? so that provision exemption is surplusage
.Oae of the peculiar features of the new law
is, that while a local theatrical manager is
compelled to pay license, concert troups
from abroad can come in and exhibit in hall
without license thus discriminating against a
theater. A large number of shows are to pay
license, while still larger number of like
character are freed from tax, as negro min
strels, stereopticon shows, paaoramss and a
variety of others.
In this connection it may be said that there
seems to be q very general demand upon the
part of our citizens for a substantial increase
reducing it upon merchandise, or renting it
altogether. Many of the leading retail
liquor dealers concur in this view, their OBJ.
ject being to eliminate from the business the
low dives and doggeries. 1t will be observed
that there is no maximum nor minimum of
rates prescribed by the new law, it all being
left in the discretion of the Board of Super
visors
One of the principal and logical reasons
urSeu Dy bnS puSlnSeS men against Ine meE-
chandise license is that portion of CONNER.
cial vocations are taxed, and another large
portion go free. Also, that while the local
merchant who sells home productions or
manufactures must pay license, q travelling
merchant or peddler selling home products or
manufactures, in competition with the taxed
merchant, has the advantage of requir-
ing no license. The opinion is freely ex-
pressed that the law is bunglingly drawn,
and harsh and unjust in its determinations.
One special example may be cited. The mer
chant who buys farm products to sell must
pay a license, but the producer of like pro-
ducts may sell next door to him free of tax.
A committee of the Board of Supervisors
has the matter OF license under the new law
In hand, and in an interview with Supervisor
Steinmann yesterday, who is member of
the committee he stated that he was in favor
Of requiring an increased license upon saloons,
cigar stores, thesters, variety shows, bridges,
ferries, circuses. pack psddlers, vegetable
peddlers, wagon peddlers and wholesale liquor
dealers, and of adjusting schedule which
will relieve merchants and tradesmen,