New-York tribune., 1886-04-03
THE COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERy BILL
MEASURE To PROHIBIT THE ExAcrIoN OF
LICENSES.

LICENSES.
| TO the Edftor Of Ths Tribune.
SIR: Would you allow me the use of your
oumns bring the attention OF the business com
nuny and public in general bill now before Congress-
which IS OF vial importance TO our Interstate com
nerce The bill have reference to ia known as H. X
1621 the james bill. aud introduced by the Hon.
Darwin r. James Of Brooklyn, January s. OF this
session, tn XiiXth Congress. II read twice.
referred to Committee Commerce. and ordered to
be printed. The hill reads IA follows:
A hl TO regulate commercial sales OF goods and mer
chandse by samples. catalogue, card price list descrlp
several states ami Territories. Be 1t enacted by the
Senate and House OF spres,ntatyes ct me unied
.of each and refriory may within the other states
and Territories and within the District OF Noi''
solicit from dealers or Iucrchants Orders oI % t
mer rhandise by sample. cata ogne card pIlcr-
description other representation without payment OF
any license mercantile tax.
The originator OF this bill Is the Travellers Protective
Associaton OF the United States and 1t has the support
OF both the local and state association The Travellers
Protective Association OF the United States was ORGAN
lied Jane a. 1892 to embody tho thousands ana thou
sands OF travelling OF the conntry-roughly est
mated at 100000 The headquarters OF the organiza-
ton ara at Chicago, and the sub associations In the
various States.
The New-York City Association has for its president
Mr. John r. Henry John F. Henry Co., diugs);
Messrs. John De witt and Nathaniel Jay Rice VICE
euts; Messrs Dorsey T. Ellis anu u VI
seerei ariea and Mr. N. b. Abbott. treasurer The
moetincs are held ut the Morton House Tue local
association was tirst in bdorsing the James bill and
through It's legislative committee several Of whom have
visited Washington further the interest OF the bi mas
used all honorable me to have the bill reported
favoraby and passed by tine House win the posst'e
exception .f one believe the NewYork state deeea-
ton OF thty four members in the House VIII support
the bill and from several letters now in my possession
from members Indications point to the belief that they
will do all in their power md their nIencc to make
the bill law The bill sprung from the local association
and the 600 commercial travellers OF this city believe
this bill should be passed
Because such taxes unconstitutional, In preventing
and hnderng among the states; because they
are against public policy in that they tend to restrain
comretition aud both dealers and cohsumers pay
higher prices for their goods; because they "re UNJUST
as instances they permit the travellers OF one
State Territory to enjoy privileges not or nted by ta
state ur Territory the travellers Of other states or
Territories see section % the Constitution 0f the
Timed states The citizens ~ each STATE shall be
entitled all tie privileges aud lmmuIltes ~ the
zrns oi the several ~ because the travelling
men II the country now number over 22ooOo ana ana
country; are the great distributors o. goods, shipping
about 300 90 900 tons ont OF 400UooOOO now carried
yearly hv thc Is rnads; spending Tl15O.OUO per hay.
or about ~S2 1000 per year racu 'ink nne m"p'hs
travel oul of tie tweTel, which is ~ -trhlel aons
carriers Oels shopket p"rs and proiucers; and such
lie laws interfere witn snch distribution ann eers
sally interfere with the commerce {" tue whole country
village tribe sought 10 levy tribute npon every "her
village or tribe % state Of things which. II vas h"r'u
lad received n, final blow in t!Is cOuny when tue tax
% dollar IMPOSED by the state OF Nrw-Jrrsey
upor every person passing through n was zone away
with; h.clSe II i AGAINST the interest of me com
muniries imposing such taxes. - is illustrated ny tn
greater prosperity of other conhull''e7 ""lc" nav" "
40 BpnSe them. .s..
Our intcnton i not 20 stop at TINS Iout eVen II % .p
bill il passcd; we snail then work and now tsn;all
possble efforts bette" hotel aCco mn0datiis
commensurate wfh the prices paid, better railroad
Recommendations cheaper rites Of raVel and als' To
obfain au equitable and fair allow"nre OF bagrage.
Hhonld our cforts prove futile tue BUSINESS community
n general VIII only bo benefited 10y our w"rE. A. we
stand o-duN parls of The country arc hVt vs, ei
hy commercial Gr.ysers the impe1lnehS thr"Wh IN
their wav local. county OF stat" taNation ara
other unpl4s,S nness keen tue merchants bacK from
sending REPRESENTATIVES, TO these districts
This N q ort. Is the object Of chr assoclA'lon; we
snnuld pleased have Dusn - houses lo u.s. nor
represented far among our numbers W . also Win
RI q press help rs, ani 20 this Cnd might ASK you
thr ugh vour columns further the object OF our asso
cation Very respectfully,
NATuANrEL JAY RICE.
Member OF Committees Legislation ana fress
Netc- TOrk March p, lS>O.