New-York tribune., 1886-05-02
THE DRUMMERS" LICENSE 1AX.
DECLARED TO BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

CRITICIsING THE BROKERAGE SYSTEM ~ WASH
INGrON-" BLOOD" MONEY DEMANDED.
The "drumm ers " of this city and pre-
sumaby OF the whole country unusually cheerful an
festive The prospects OF the passage OF the bill to re-
leve the drummer" from State taxes which are i'm
posed principally by Southern states are most en-
couragi1g. The bill introduced by Congressman
Darwin Il. james. of Brooklyn, and Is known as the
James bill" For than year tho various organi-
zations o. commercial travellers Of the country National
state and local. have been bending every energy 10 Sc
cure rereal OF this tax Prominent among these or
ganzatons the Traders and Travellers Union ana
the Travellers Association, both of this city In ex
panaton bill the opposition to 1t, ex-Judge
Abel Crook. counsel the Traders and Travellers
Union, said recently to a rRIBuN& reporter;
Ths bill to abolish the tax on the drummer repro
scnts the signatures Of nearly 700 of the leading
facture-s and merchants of New York. FiaiclphEi
Baltimore New Orleans Chicago and Boston. These d.
business amountin, in the aggregate by estimation up
wards Of $2jOOO 100000 year and they employ about
2JOOO travell ng salesmen. The tax exists chiefly III
states. and in ca-es Is so excessive aS TO
be virtua IL prOhbt1ry The tax Is unconsttut'on1'
because prevents aud hnders commerce between the
States Everybody recognizes the right OF state 20 TAX
its own citizens. but state Ou-dt to be permitted 10
discriminate uujustly in favor OF its own citizens Ihe
opponen.s OF tn, i'll claim that bill is sttu
onal IN tn aJols state taxes would be interfering
with state rights. But trading by drumicrs Il pureY
m,ttrr OF inter. state ,ommerc and fact that Con
eress the right to legatc In ali matters OF com
mcrcc ought to dspos, OF that objection and deaihe
by 'drummer,' Is most important feature OF
ntcr-s state commerce. The ilcsaty OF the tax can be
clearly seen in its operation when business is done by
Wholesale for then one state whch has the tax can TAX
another state: For instance: n New YORK MN SENDS
a drummer Yireini, whore the tax is 500 virginia
claims the ght to collect this NV the niaiIness
All Illegally Of this tax clearly seen here for The
bill only led out in Virginia. AM ~ tlc New lorn
firm the right To acept ca reject tue orers ana
the money pad in New lOrk. the transaction Is prcY
New-Yota affair and Virginia has no rs1t to tax New
York et Virginia as well "a OTTER safes .la'S % tniS
and recently raised her LAX liOu 30 u FlVo
IN assertion OF tnat right. 800
rne opposition to tie hill however come,
from WASHINGTON where the tax Is 500 IL exceptional
TINS tax collected, bnt the onA {" lhe Is
doae through brokers milds cn, who reap fortunes
which would go to tho District of ooiuhol' Il l'r aM
enfOrcei The mere ntS OF No"- loih 'p
other cities unitei with tie ird"rs am lrt' eier9
Uilon AMI est Dlshel an agency ID tlr m bIaot y, ,
was visited during the Dy ahJut 700 of tucI s'S
men who transacted their busl e'- through th' aEucy
without the payment ot any lullIdld tax 20" 80, 'v ~
saesmen visited Washington i-t year ana II tie TAX o
200 had collected from eacil OF t!ci tne revenue
to the stiict would have been oi'iVv,oyo ne ," ,
missoucrs # the District State tat the revenue i'on
~ 500 DOy' qIe broke, take ont licenses for whcn
they pay 5000 each - the city; ten they lease St
or transfer to he visiting salosmen II consdera
ton OF coI III ,soh or peIceh a5e upor p v, S 80 80 ie
fixed price for each days us' % sucn licenses py W c
is fosfered system corrupt amt scanda ons By tDs
several hunired salesinen can aDs'ic nu'ihe''
sometimes the sacs,nen do business passing men,
bers M me firm they represent and 80 AVOID tax.
Daring the year on rorty-tree certihcatc- were su @
while ,. .IcO were leased to men acting II, owners me
fax il 500. and certificate costs % ceuls Ihls
brokerage system IL good sIber for CONGRESSIONAL
Investigation. Washington mer, hants oppose t"e "i,
bccaus they think tnat soms wa; the Oil Il II 'hon
become "A law wDul interfere with the rcttn irdIe o.
Washington But how tat lie 50, FOR the Dill -
confined to Wholesale transactions between manu-
iactur,r or jObbrr hand nu merchant or ieaer
on ihs other II does not come between the tet'lei
and the consumer and ~ the manufactures commission
LcrehaDt .ni Iohbrr ana their aSehs 10 hot coptu p
with the local retail merchant ihe va h., uenn
Il, cidcd illegal hy decisions D the supreme 'outt en-
| bracng tho opinions Of LnlefJ sti ;es Marshall and
| " ,ife and Justice Bra ley"
No orc,niztton has i.hored more earnestly for the
: ccrss Oi the bill tlan the Tray Ncllrrs A>slcaiOn
Fortnghtly meetings have Deen Aell al nier al the
Morton House. and at pne or tue latest mee'nKS i's
teut John f. Henry ii: Few people 10 uIhe the n
| convenenres aud iniustires tnat TIE drummer Is
subjected to by which l. relic or hIpisn
ia states the local authorities III ne IL a r'
bleed the urummer He IS told tIa he Is selling Wlohl
"A liccuse, that the Is, say 800, ana the NM
! 500 . , .. ,,i,
shark 'and It Will be all Tisnt We cannot ut onr
firm, to the trvIbe o lawsuit - we pay the biood
money and 'Hp.' The state of course EVER sees hly
| of the money collected In our pettoh 10 'I"-
,ress we claim that the tax l. unrOnstuOuh be'ail'e
ii prevents AMI hinders conmccr II az sll,' i" "'l'
poliry because n tents to restrain competition tld
makes boh dealers and cons lMers pay nl|.rr ~ - @ m
| their goods; UNJUST 1t permits travellers OF -one
states enjoy privileges not granteI Dy thal SIe u
| travellers OF o her states. A.,
There are 2jUOOO travelling salesmen In the
country and can fairly claim t he tJc great istrp
utor, of goods ont Of iuO,OoO.OOD tons "f goods
shinped yearly by the railroads We ship 3Oo,ooo poV
,eatnre or inter tate commerce and tOn:rcss mas Il
right to leglslae the matter. Tue objection 10 te
bin il the Old ri yhS hut the country a' "h
CROWN that aud thu tax viii have 10 20 We nave
received assurances from enough members oil congress
q, their support look FOR the PASSAGE nI the oii D!
| large majority when it comes before the House