Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-22
THE TAX ON HUCKSTERS.

An Approval of the Governors Veto of the
Peddlers' License Bill-state and City
Laws Covering Such Cases-How the
Matter Stands.
A peddler of vegetables in this city writes
his approval of Governor Pattison's veto,
and reasons therefor, Of a bill imposing
license on such street merchants. He ap-
provingly quotes the Governor thus:
The tendency of the times being toward
greater freedom of traffic there should be
rig Its and privileges of the people to freely
buy and sell and as the enforcement of the
DR. opposed law would result in contrary con-
sequences it would not be sustained by
public sentiment.
There is merit in the Governors argu-
ment, as there is no reason why a man who
works hard driving horse and delivering
goods in all kinds of weather should pay
more for Governmental purposes than he
who hauls dirt. The dealer in question
pays S35 a year more than the man who
operates a horse and cart, and may make
more or may make less money than the lat
city ordinance in pursuance for the
lcvying of the license, though
the complainant thinks there is not.
He also complains that there is no ma
chinery employed to collect the license, and
skulkers or evaders largely escape, while
the honest suffer.
Doubtless there is sufficient ground for
some complaint in this respect, but City
Clerk Booth thinks the picture overdrawn.
The fact is that our taxing system is not
only very crude but unjustly apportioned,
but so long as selfish interests can control
it is not likely to be remedied.
Just what influences produced the law of
1850 are not recollected by any one spoken
to, but the last enactment of 1881 was at the
instance of PittsDurg and Allegheny merch-
ants, who wished to shut off the competition
of men who could get higher prices for their
goods by delivering them at the doors of
customers, and it is also current belief
that some peddlers are not overly scrupulous
as to whether they give full weight and meas
ure or otherwise. The law was certainly
enacted through the exertions of merch-
ants in order to diminish competition. Fol-
lowing is the legislation on the subject:
The act of May 3, 1850, P. L. 657 says: "No
person shall be employed or concerned in
licensed previously, any kind of teas or
spices within the cities of Pittsburg or Ale
gheny or neighboring bOroughs; and If any
person shall go from house to house within
the limits of said cities or boroughs to sell or
expose to sale such, the person SO
offending shall forfeit and pay for
every offense the sum of $20 to be sued for
and recovered by action of debt before any
alderman or justice of the peace, as debts
Oflike amOuntare recoverable by any person
who may sue for the same, one-half to the
informer and the other half to the city or
borough in which the offense may have been
committed.
An act of June 10, 1881, P. L. 1O9 passed at
the instance of merchants who objected to
provides that no person or persons
shall be employed, engaged or con-
cerned in the business or employment of
hawking, peddling or selling produce or
merchandise, or either or any of them,
within the limits of any city of the second
and third classes within this Commonwealth
without having previously taken out Il
shall go from house to house within
the limits of such cities to sell or offer
or expose for sale of such articles, or any of
them, without having paid such sum or
sums rs may be fixed by ordinance or Coun-
ellis of such cities, into the treasury thereof,
and received q license therefor, the person
or persons so offending shall forfeit and pay,
be recovered summarily before the Mayor of
such city wherein the offense shall have
been committed; provided, however, that
nothing herein contained shall be construed
so as to prohibit farmers, gardeners or dairy
men from selling the products of their own
farms, gardens or dairies.
The act provides that it must be accepted
by Councils of the cities of the classes
named before it becomes operative and on
page 3S2 of Thompson's Digest, will be found
the acceptance of the act by Pittsburg
Councils.