Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1885-01-29
Protect Home Industries and Nom
tana's Merchants.

tand'> Merchants.
When the proposition now before the
Legislature to repeal the county license
upon commercial travellers is fully eonsid-
cred and investigated, there should not be
one vote in the Legislature or one voice
ont of il in favor of the repeal of law
that is doing so much good as a protection
to the business men and business of Mon
tana. II is urgent that every protection
possible be thrown around the enterprising
men who have built our cities and inn
proved our towns, that they may be sup
ported in their legitimate trades OF retail
and wholesale business. These merchants
are our citizens and neighbors. who pay
heavy taxes, and in addition pay the same
licenses as commercial travellers for any
business they may do in adjoining coun-
ties. Ii is known that our merchants
have built up large establishments at
great expense and contribute largely by
taxation to the revenue of our cities and
counties 1t is known that the license
imposed on commercial travellers is good
revenue law. and furnished TO the city of
Helena end county of Lewis and Clarke
for the year 1ss4 some eighteen thousand
dollars. The law in its operation is ap-
proved by the agents of business houses in
st. Paul, Chicago and other large
cities because it protects them in a
legitimate business in their visits to tie
Territory of Montana from three to four
times year, and keeps ont a horde of ir-
responsible drummers who would overrun
the country with old goods and discarded
styles, and who would come and 90 with
out leaving any more in support of our in
stitutions than the birds of flight which
pass over US twice a year. Ii merchants
and commercial agents could come amongst
us without any license whatever, that very
freedom from taxation would encourage
in the eastern cities, where living
is cheape and the climate more congenial,
and leave our home merchants out in the
cold, without wish or ability TO build up
store houses and residences in our cities
and towns. The result of letting in a
horde of irresponsible venders of gimcracks
and trumpery would soon destroy our
stores and our towns and send our counties
a-begging for money on loan, in place of
producing revenues of their own from in
creased valuation of real estate. The tax
upon commercial travellers is not oppres-
,ive, but sufficient to furnish a handsome
revenue 10 the several counties and to
protect those who do come to
the Territory, as such, from par
lies who have Ed wholesale dealers
1t their backs and who know no response
Dility bat the scramble after the almighty
lollar, upon the principle that would war
ant stranger to our institutions and our
avs to keep all he got and to catch what
he could.
The licenses upon commercial travellers
lave worked well for the benefit of our
lome merchants, and have protected our
,eople from On irresponsible class of
harpers, whose very itinneracy in remote
,laces would shield them in their
cts of imposition and sharp practice. If
ur doors were thrown open to an un-
licensed set Of dealers, they would all live
n the East and leave our home merchants
0 languish and die for want of business,
nd who, like the stranger merchant,
Eould be driven from our Territory to
i've in the East, where he could make
ONE and become stranger to us also,
nd visit us with his wares without help
" our revenues in the least The prin-
ple is a correct one for the prosperity of
ny country, and we should hold to the
RUNNERS license lest by the repeal Of the
w We would kill the goose that lays the
olden egg"
The board Of county commissioners has
xed the tar levy Of Gallatin county for
80 at 13 mills on the dollar-the same rs
st year. IL is apportioned "A folio ws: