Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-07-26
COUNTY LICENSES.
Many object to the Passage OF
the Ordinance.


the Ordinance.
The proposition Of the Board of Super
visors to collect county license seems
to be awakening good deal of opposi-
ton, and when the matter next comes
up it is probable that the list of the pro-
testants will reach into the thousands.
Not only will individuals protest, but the
Board of Trade and the Chamber of
Commerce will probably forcibly object
to the final passage of the ordinance.
The Supervisors even nov find life almost
burden, for from all sides the obiectors
spring up, and they have had no peace
since the ordinance was first read. Yes
terday the following letter was forwarded
to the HERALD for publication:
EDITORS HERALD-This county GER
tainly has it's thousand and one fsscina-
tious for the tourist, and too much may
not be said of its climate and soil. Never
theless, contrasts, however just, between
life on the Atlantic and Pacific seaboards,
60 for little with eastern men whose eyes
are open to certain shockingly bad
economical conditions here prevailing. II
is WE'LL sometimes, to see ourselves as
others see us. Accept, them loan OF
eastern glasses, and level them at one OF
these conditions-a real curiosity OF
municipal legislation, to.wit:
Your City Council, by ordinance, pro-
mulgates system of business licenses,
exacting fees for the privilege of engaging
in the various mercantile and other pur-
suits.
You will pardon the curiosity which
desires to know:
First. Whether these licenses are de-
vised and operated for revenue or for
business restriction, or for both.
Second. II for revenue, whether it
would not be juster to include the
amounts realized from them in the gen.
eral tax levy, in fair acknowledgment
that your marts of trade are really ap.
pointments for the benefit of the general
public, and in pursuance of its demands.
Third. Whether, in truth, this system
| is not odious because of class discrimina-
ton. Thus: Three men come to Los
Angeles, say from New York, one a
| farmer, another a merchant, and the
third gentleman of no occupation.
They are possessed of like means. They
are properly called upon to pay taxes
upon their holdings, according to the
benefits of society and the protection
of government accorded them. But why
should the merchant pay, besides, for
the privilege of operating his capital, any
more than the farmer for operating his
or any more than the gentleman for op
Grating his, as he usually does in real
estate channels, with, perchance, equal
profit.
Fourth. Whether political and social
conditions are not uninviting, if moi
questionable and dangerous, where dis
eliminating assessments are leviable
upon industrial opportunity. In the
older and more populous cities they
would be followed by political revol'
utions.
Fifth. The city ordinance seems to
have been so successful that your county
legislature proposes to duplicate and ex
tend the system for county purposes. AS
sojourners, We truly pity your tradesmen
and wonder show long bricks cam be
made in Egypt without straw"
Now, sir, we venture the suggestion
that the depression in trade com planned
of here is rather ascribable to your State
and municipal legislation, rather than to
the natural sequences of "burst boom. u
''NEw YoRK.p
los Auualea JuIv 1850