Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1893-06-09
DOWN THAT ORDINANCE.
That IL What Salem Merchants Say
About the Omnibus Tax Scheme.

THE JOURNALS local columns contain.
I'd q synopsis Of the proposed ordinance
to tar all businesses 10 Salem.
The proposed blanket license act Is
the talk OF the city In commercial cir
cles. AS q newspaper II Is the business
of THE JOURNAL TO give the news and
do IL regardless of whom II affects.
There Is general indignation among
majority Of business men interviewed
30 far at the proposal TO tax all kinds Of
mercantile operations.
The real estate men say they are will
ling to be taxed II the council will in
clude the lawyers who are their princi.
pal competitors. The lawers want the
doctors included, and the latter insist
on the ministers and editors taking out
license.
As several members Of the council
and number of business men are
working hard for this ordinance 1t be-
hooves the business men Of this city,
who are opposed to it to organize and
make themselves felt.
II there are any kinds Of business
that by their peculiar character need
regulation or require to be monopo-
lized license is all right. But to tax
Unfortunately every legitimate busi-
ness just because some one thinks 1t
can be done, or because 1t will reduce
competition, or taxes on real estate, is
In the opinion Of many little or moth
ing short of an outrage. 1t would
drive business men out of our city, keep
others from investing here, and drive
trade TO other towns.
An alderman was seen this morning
Who said the city officers had copied
this ordinance from an ordinance in a
Pennsylvania town, and that the COM
mittee had no intention of leaving 1t
stand. But the proposition was made
to pass the bill to the next reading un-
der suspension of the rules, which was
voted down. There is evidently de-
sire to rush the bill through TO final pas
sage.
The Chinese wash houses or any 9TH
er form of Chinese labor In this city
that competes with white labor may be
taxed out of existence without loss to
our city. Peddlars that interfere with
a regularly established business that
pays taxes and employs labor should be
made to pay a just share toward ex-
penses of city government. These are
just features of this ordinance that
should be enacted into law.
One very Objectionable feature of the
ordinance Is that where several classes
Of business are conducted by one firm,
as dry goods and millinery, drugs and
cigars, shoes and clothing, only one
license Is required, that at the highest
figure. 1t would be more just to each
trade to tax each separate line of goods
II u man sells drugs, liquors aud cigars
he should pay three licenses fiat all.
But to exact any such license on legiti-
mate business Is contrary to the spirit
OF commercial freedom.
Salem business men should not wait
till the council acts and then begin to
kick. They should hold a meeting at
once, get copy of the proposed ordi-
nance, sift 1t carefully of every objec-
tionable feature, and go before the coun-
ell by a proper committee and make
their wishes known. This ordinance
Ia loaded with dynamite for Salem busi-
ness interests, and the dangerous feat
ures should be completely struck out.
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