Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-26
PRODUCE DEALERS COMPLAIN.
They Allege That There IL Discrimination
in Enforcing the License Tar.

Il
They Allege That There is Discrimination
| I'm Enforcing the License Tax.
number Of licensed dealers in the markets
met in the Nationalist Hall on F street las
evening and held what they termed an anti
incense tax meeting The meeting was called
TO order ty-Mr. Scammell, and Mr.. r B
ioungs was chosen chairman.
1t was explained that the meeting was called
to protest against the unjust, discriminating
and unequal tax Of S25 per year now imposed
upon butter and cheese dealers and fruit and
vegetable dealers in the markets.
Mr.. Scammell offered resolutions together
with bill, the latter to be introduced in Con-
gress. and they were adopted. The resolutions
read That we protest against the license tax
OF S25 per year imposed against the dealers IN
fruits, vegeta blcs butter, cheese and other
farmers produce in the markets OF this Dis
trict, while dealers in other articles OF mer-
chandise pay no license tax whatever, rs not
only unjust but discrimination against the
products OF the farmers of the country, and we
demand as a right the immediate repeal OF this
discriminating and outrageously unjust license
tax.
That we call upon the farmers OF the
country and their representatives IN congress
to take notice that at the capital OF the Cnlteo
States, over which Congress exercises exclusive
legislative jurisdiction, dealers in honest butter
are required to pay a corporation Incense YAK
OF S25 per year, while dealers i'll oleomargarlne
and butterine are exempt from any corpora
ton license tax whatever.
That to continue this unjust discrimination
Is to place premium upon bogus articles OF
food against genuine articles of honest produc-
ton, and we respectfully ask Congress TO apply
the proper remedy"
The proposed bill provides that mo license
m rnfn
doing business in the markets of the District of
Columbia, except dealers in intoxicating
liquors"
COMPLAINT OF DISCRIMINATION.
Mr.. kldwell then spoke of the actions OF the
courts in regard to the license tax question.
lie dld not object to paying the license if all
dealers were treated alike. but when .here is
any discrimination then he thought ii time TO
complain. He said be could not understand
why grocery store could attach the produce
business TO that OF groceries and not pay an
additional tax. Unless something il done in
tue matter be proposed to put in some articles,
such as tea, coffee and other goods in the
grocery line, and then declare himself grocer
In the market.
MR.. CRANES STATEMENT.
Mr.. John H. Crane said he had given the
matter some consideration; that he had been
acquainted with the market business for many
years and he understood something Of the Ii
cense tax In hopes that he might be of some
assistance he had prepared statement which he
read This statement reviewed the legislation
regarding licenses in the District and said 1.-The
commissioners seem to have let up on one
class OF dealers after another, though the law
remains the same, until now no one but liquor
sellers and dealers in butter and cheese. vege-
tables and green fruit, poultry and eggs are
required to take out q license
unable a wi fha
ers get the authority to discriminate in the
Application of the license law in the way they
do. Certain dealers exempt this year, who
were required to pay s25 license
changed"
Mr.. Crane complained that those who pur-
chased stands in the market twenty years ago
had bought under pledge that nc license tax
would be required OF them. Il have" MIR.
Cranes statement continued, ''corresponded
with several northern cities. and not one that
l have heard from imposes license tax upon
either Wholesale or retail produce Dealers
"A friend connected with the city govern
ment OF Boston writes as follows:
"You ask if there is license tax imposed
upon dealers i'll our markets. In reply would
say that there Is nothing OF the kind. The only
license tax here is upon liquor sellers and ped
dlers who go about the country peddling tin.
1t sounds funny to hear that people in Wash
ington. the capital Of the United States are
required to pay tax for the privilege of work
ing to get living. The dealers in Faneuil
Hall Market not only pay no license, but the
city lets them the stalls ut very low rate. less
than One-half what ths stalls would bring il
put up at auction. So long as a man pays his
rent he is not molested, and if he wants to sell
out he can do SO at big bonus, or in case of
death the good will Of the stand is sold for the
benefit of his family
That is as it should be- 1t was once SO here,
and continued until the nonresident stock
holders Of the Washington Market Company
wrested the good will OF the stands from the
dealers in violation of the second section OF its
charter
Chicago writes that no license tax is i'm
posed upon any but liquor dealers there, ex-
cept a tax OF 900, lately imposed upon nom
residents selling from cars at the dcpots Gin
cinnati has recently enacted the same law to
protect resident dealers. Here it is exactly the
reverse. The resident dealers are required to
pay license, while the nonresident dealer
pays nothing.
''Ihese outrageously unjust determinations
are the natural outgrowth of a government
where the people have voice.
Il believe it is only necessary to bring this
matter to the attention OF Congress to cause
the repeal OF this unjust city ordinance. No
faIr-minded man will vote to continue our I'M
just license practice. / say practice for
cannot call it law where the licenses are i'm
posed according to the caprice of the Commits
sIoners or aBsessor-One year imposing u tax
and the next year none, while the law remains
unchanged"
Other remarks were made upon the question
before the meeting, and it Was decided TO have
a committee OF ten wait upon the Commas
sloners In the matter and then go to Congress.