The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-04-30
THE DRUMMER TAX.
GENERAL MEETING OF THE cor
TON EXCHANGE.
Memorial Prepared by the Commit
tee for Presentation TO Congress
Copies Forwarded.

A general meeting OF the Cotton
Exchange YESTERDAY was called TO or
der by President w. J. Chase, +. A.
Keeling secretary. The president stat.
ed that the meeting had been called
10 hear the report Of the committee
appointed at a previous meeting 10
prepare a memorial to Congress in re-
gard TO q bill now pending before that
body concerning the tax on drummers.
The committee, composed Of VIM. X.
Moore, chairman; r. G. Latting, W.
II, Berry, J. M. Semmes, VIM. Ka'Een-
berger and NJ. Cooper, reported as
follows:
MEMORIAL.
To the Senate and House Of Representatives
Of the United states Of America, In Con
gress assembled;
Your petitioners, being an incor-
poiated body of merchants, known as
the Memphis Merchants Exchange, oil
the State OF Tennessee, and to large
extent representing the mercantile in
teres's of the city OF Memphis, would
most respectfully represent that we
believe the interests OF all cities and
States of the American Union would
he greatly promoted by the enactment
of a general law defining the rights
and privileges OF merchants, manu-
( cturers aud producers in all branches
Of trade, in regard to their rightsunder
the constitution OF our Government,
which leaves in the hands of OOnp ess
"the power to regulate commerce with
foreign nations and among the several
States" As quoted by the President,
ia his recent me sage to your honor
able body, on the subject OF labor
strikes, now interfering with COM
MERGE between the States" and also
equally applicable to the case we have
in hand, namely, In relation to trade
and exchange OF products between the
citizens OF different States, and thel
liability to State and municipal tax
alton.
The rapid growth and development
OF our nation is phenomenon to the
word at large, and is more fully ap
preciated by the manufacturers anC
merchants OF the United States who
send their agents or salesmen into
: every State and Territory, and thus In
troduce their goods and exchang'
their products at thu very doors OF the
: consumers, through the merchants a
| their distributors in the several Stat IS
7 The local merchants pay all the
taxes imposed upou them by the
D State and municipal governments t
8 which they belong, and the manu-
!. facturers and merchants who sent
J. forth their statesmen also pay taxes q
4 home. The question therefore arises
!. is it Just or equitable that the amba'
2 sador Of the one class from one Stat
r to those of another, both OF WHOM
q have complied with the laws OF thei
4 respective States in regard TO taxation
!. be called upon to pay additional take
@ for the privilege of this exchange q
a commodities between the severs
h States.
j The wisdom OF such taxation mus
n be questionable to the mind OF ever
/ Rejecting man, especially when In
posed by the State whose merchan'
;. receive benefit from the visit oil u
: salesmen; and that there is benei
~ is apparent, as otherwise there won
ID of be no such trade. In view OF the bi
u u now before Congress, ON this HubleC
~ aud the complaints that have alreat
a. reached you looking to a removal
p, os the burdens complained oil, we respect
70 fully ask that your honorable boo
~ ~ will take an early opportunity to co
y slider this important matter OF cons
n tutiona law, aud thus settle the que
VI ton now causing clashing legislati'
between the States on this point.
as W. ]. CHASE, President
tn Il. A. KEELING, Secretary,
ut Ga motion the report was adopt
in and the secretary instructed to II
o. ward copies Of it to our Senators al
~ Representatives in Congress.
ry No further business appearing t
ry meeting adjourned.