Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-04-11
a cIrIzEN.s CoMPLAINT.
A Matter for the Consideration of the
Authorities.

A Matter for the Consider af1On OF the
Authorities.
Editor Morning NelgS: 1t is seldom
that man of prudence will take upon
himself the province of criticising the
acts of municipal authority; but there are
times and occasions when even this power
is lax in the discharge of its functions,
and the thinking public is justifable
in calling to notice circumstances in
which all parties are not regarded accord
ing to justice and equity.
The matter of license, l presume, was
instituted for two purposes, equally bene-
fetal to both principals. as a resource for
the support of that power which leYies 1t,
aud on the other hand protection to those
to whom it is granted, and when its in
fiuence fails to be exercised in either of
these functions. then the license becomes
an imposition and a fraud.
Presummg, for instance. that ] am 4
plumber: / pay a license for the priYi-
lege of conducting my business in con-
sideTatiOn for which the city pledges me
her protection in conducting that bust
ness. Now of what does that protection
consist: namely, in giving me power to
sue IN the courts and receive my rights in
all complications of said business, to
make my SUIT valid.
Then 1t protects my trade from incur
siOns Of outside parties who are engaged
. IN other businesses, and who would leave
me to bear the brunt of dull times in my
business and would oppose me by lower
figures when a Job happened along that
was worthy of consideration.
L say 1Otrer figures. They can give
lower figures-and for what reason? They
have no established place Of business,
and, consequently, no shop rent to pay.
They need employ no hands whom they
are obliged to keep through dull times,
whether their services pay or not. They
have no license to pay or, rather, they
pay none i; they invest no money in ma
terial which is always kept in stock at eY-
err plumbers shop. In short, they bear no
expenses incidental to the business of
plumbing.
Then, the license in protecting my
! trade from these parties compel those
wanting work done to contract with a
! plumber, and not with any who may pos
/ sess the means of doing it, whether it be
advantageous to the party OF the first
! part or not.
This is what | understand to be the ma
I terial definition of a license. But Of course
! there are and will be incidents in which
| such parties viii slip in, bid and contract
AGAINST us. Then it remains with us to
| deliver them to the authorities, who are
/ supposed to investigate such cases.
can allow, however, for a private indi-
vidual giving his job to another private
individual, where the transaction Will
save him some money; but | am aston
ished that such power as the city ITSELF
the very authority whose duty 1t is to pro-
tect US against such encrOachments-will
give out their big jobs let me be palmer
and say, laying their water-pipes, to such
persons, who conduct no like business,
and though they may have license, only
obtained it for the purpose Of illegally"
| contracting for such job. and not for car
! rying on the business of plumbing.
Nor is this negligence on the part of the
city limited to the above trade alone. but
| l hear complaints from most all other
| branches of mechanicism. l am told by
| several prominent builders that they have
an active opposition of over 200 contrac-
tors who conduct their business without
| the power of license.
Does this not need some consideration
| by the proper authorities? CITIZEN.