Omaha daily bee., 1891-05-31
THE COMNISSIONlNEN TALK,
Discussing Mr. spechts Proposed Yearly
Licenses
THEY ARE ALL PAYING TAXES NOW.
They Enter vigorous'Protest a Against
Being Made thei yOhjcct of
a Especial ThNLeg-
islation.

The publication in THE Bee OF o para
graph outlining a proposed ordinance upon
which Councilman Specht Is at work has
created great deal of comment among com.
mission men and was the main subject Of dis
cussion on Saturday. The paragraph re-
ferred to read as follows: MIR. Specht
also has another idea that will be covered by
ordinance. 1T is to make commission houses
pay a license. The ordinance will provide
that each house of this nature shall pay an
annual license of 500. In support of such an
ordinance Mr.. Specht said These men
manage to escape taxation, and as they are
in business with large sums of money in
vested in the trade it is only just that they
should be taxed rs other business men. If
we can't get them in the regular way, pro-
pose to reach them through the license sys-
tenn"
Inc term commission houses" covers a
wide range and includ IS a much larger num-
Der of business interests than might appear
at first sight. There are the produce COM
mission houses engaged in handling all kinds
of country produce, grain commission men,
and brokers and manufacturers agents rep
senting all kinds of manufactured articles
and products and then too there are some re-
tail merchants who do not own the goods
which they sell eut handle them on commls-
mission
A number of commission men have ex-
pressed their opinion on the subject of the
proposed tax and it may be of interest to
know their views.
Robert Purvis, commission merchant,
said: 81 pay taxes the same as any other
property owner. This business is legitimate
ana ought to be treated by the city the same
as the grocery business or any other kind of
business. | think such a tax would be
wrong.n
+. b. Branch of Branch & Co., dealers in
produce and fruits, said: "Why don't they
license other kinds of business. They could
license bank, dry goo; goods store i'.,i; or any
pay license if the council will license all
other kinds of business"
Mr. Kirschbraun of Kirschbraun &
Sons, produce dealers, said: II don't
why we should be required to. pay 500
license Do ury goods, clothing dealers and
others pay a license, if not why should wef
We pay taxes on our building and on our
goods''
Mr. Ribbed of I2iboel s. Smith, produc
commission merchants, said: 1--WE hav e
pay them every year. II they
would tax some of the corporations with
valuable franchises they would not be lack
ing in funds. 1t will not do us any good in
the way of making any fewer commission
houses.n
James A. Clark, handling country produce
said 81 say let the council 90 ahead
and pass it, l think it will
tend to restrict the snide commission houses
which are started on $50 or just enough cap
ital to pay for getting out a few circulars TO
send into the country quoting high, prices
and never pay for them. They can
run about thirty days in that way
and then close up. l ply taxes already, but
at the same time would be willing to pay an
yt,,h Inn, rnl hatr eh.,Y ha dc
John Ryder of Ryder & Co remarkcd Il
pay heavy taxes the same rs any other
business man and | don't see how
they can put this extra tax onto me;
small firms out OF business. 1t would be an
outrage. Everyone knows that the produce
commission men have had hard word to make
the two ends meet during the past three
years. The majority of the commission men
simply can not afford to pay any additional
taxi
George Schroeder, OF Schroeder & Co.,
produce dealers, said "We pay taxes pro
portionate to our business. If the council
wants to do anything let them license the
out of town parties who come in here with
wagon loads and car loads of produce which
they sell and take the money home without
paying the city any taXes'
Mr.. Williams OF Williams ~ cross SAID II
do not know of any commission men who
evadc their taxes. Why not make other
classes of business pay license as well as
commission men! Men are being taxed out
of business every year and now they talk
about rubbing in more taxes. Commission
men are working twenty hours day ana
have not made dollar in three years. !
would like to have some one look up Mr..
Spccht's business and see what he is paying
taxes on, and how much.n
Mr.. CockreLl of Cockrell Brothers,
grain brokers, was the only grain
commission man that could be found
in his office, others having closed
up an account of the holiday Mr.. Cockrell
said ~ am willing to pay taxes but do not
want to be made a special object of taxation.
If all the business men are to be taxed in the
same way we would not complain. We have
come here to do big grain buying business
as well as a commission business, and do not
see any reason why the city should wish to
place any extra burden on u.s."
Dr.. Birney cures catarrh, Bee bldg