Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-01-16
THE DRUMAIER's TAX.
Its Repeal Requested by Many Citizens
The following petition will be presented
"a tho Citv Council tonight:

sAvANxAH. GA, Jan, 4, 1854.
To The Honorable Mayor and aldermen OF "S
t7ity Of SGraRRdh:
GKSTT FMRN-Your petitioners, whose names
are hereto signed. respectfully invite lne
earnest attention of your honorable Dou3 80 "a
the recent increase OF the lcehses ISq ilSt
from drulnmers Orcommerclal travellers visit
mo fine CITY OF Savannah. 1our petitioners
REPRESENTING az they do varied lnteIes's, eoili-
mercial in their character, 1esI tnat - t -
pavers they have the right respeSttulLy, yI w
1DSst aernesfly to petition your honorable
bodv for the redress OF WnaL 70 lnem Is
-rIeyous tax They recognize Iully the neees-
sitfes ~ fhe CITY, and will cheerfully bear
1h..fr dne share OF the public burden; and
while this license is not imposed directly upon
them. vet, it indirectly affects TO a large de-
gree their business interests.
II the object to be obtained by the impOsl-
ton OF so large a license - Tor the pur-
rose Of raising revenue. We respect
fully suggest that II VIII Iau 10 ac-
comDlsh its purpose, because the COIL
merclal travellers viii avoid city Where so
heavy a license is imposed upon them. iour
petitioners are constrained to say that, IN
their opinion the real motive IN imposing SO
high a license was not to raise revenue Dut
was intended to prevent drummers or com
mercial travellers from coming 70 savannah;
Is not this policy n shOrt-slghted onef Should
The Iegitimst e business IN which these men
are engaged be thus destrOyedf 10 not the
wholesale houses Of savannah senu thelr
drummers to the interior towns OF thls ana
other states? Ought Savannah TO place upon
the travelling men from other commerclal CEN
ters \ burden which. il placed upon her
drummers. would be considered unjusts IL
the business of savannah IS TO De malhtaineu
and her trade secured, can II be done without
sffording to her people the same privileges
which are enjoyed by the people OF othef
cities? Ought the policy OF savannah TO 6e
narrow and restricted, or broad and liberalf
Can her merchants sell to advantage unless
they are permitted to buy to advantageS
II il we're possible to impose license OF a
certain kind upon drummers representing one
81 aea or 10 a nd 4
uu0n drummers representing another and
dincrent class of trade, then some degree Of
equality might be obtained. But 10
reguire the same license from the
drummer representing the manufacturer
OF machinery who does not compete with
manufacturers here rs lsrequired from drum-
mers representing the wholesale dry goods or
representing wholesale groceries, liquors, etc:
Is not wise policy. Competition is the life OF
trade and trade the life of every cOmmerclal
city. DESTROY this competition and trade
Ianrutshes These drummers enable smaller
dealers 10 buy to the best advantage, ana
these dealers are permitted from sample
shown to know with certainty what they buy
The drummers can keep them lhIorlhSu hot
only as to prices. but as 10 new goods, and
form the cheapest and quickest means OF COM
municatiOn between the manufacturer or
iObber and dealer. The most desirable stocks
can thus be kept on hand with the use OF less
capital, and by reason OF the Faculties Whlch
Savannah enjoys for quick transportaslOn al
low rates, her merchants can sell 10 the pest
advantage. Force these dealers to make IRE
quent visits to the Northern and Eastern
cities time is lost, money uselessly spent, and
the dealers themselves hecome less able TO
successfully compete with those competitive
points.
The commercial traveller expends large
sums Of money in the support of hotels, forms
a large portion of the travelling public,
gives business to lines of steamboat and rail-
wav, and in various methods con-
tributes to the general prosperity OF the
places which they visit Reasons innumerahe
might be given to show that these men
should be invited to come amongst us, instead
of treating them as by the imposition OF this
license it would seem they are sought TO be
treated. as a dangerous class to be excluded
from our community. And your petitioners