Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-02-22
LICENSE ORDINANCE.
TEE COUNCIL COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS A
NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS
Pool Room Tax Increased - Circus License Tax
Rsducsd-O.hsr Changss-Wa,sr Board
Estimate for this Year.


Rsducsd-O.hsr Changss-Wa,sr Board
Estimate for this Year.
The Council Committee on Ordinances
met last night with the City Solicitor.
Col. White presented lengthy re port,
containing recommendations relative to
proposed changes in the license ordi-
nance. The first matter taken up was
the tax upon "hawkers and peddlers."
There was a division of opinion with re-
gard to the Interpretation of the law
pertaining to butchers, Col. White
stating that the payment Of market
rent does not permit butchers to peddle
meat. The ordinance will be changed
to conform TO the prevailing custom,
butchers who rent stalls being permitted
to peddle, and those who do not, paying
an annual tax of $50.
Col. White also recommended an
amendment to the clause to provide Tor
tax upon persons peddling beer, ale,
cider, or spirituous liquors. He stated,
in explanation. that the local brewers
desired the amendment, because OF the
competition in the local market with
Ohio brewers. BE, COL White, was OF
the opinion that a discrimination against
the brewers of Ohio, would be uncon-
stitutional But some person had
suggested that the brewers peddled
their product here, and it was upon
this suggestion that be inserted the
clause in the ordinance. Mr.. Kenny
stated that local brewers are compelled
to pay tax in every town in Ohio
in which they do business, while the
Ohio brewers compete with the local
manufacturers without paying tax.
Col. White replied that the Supreme
Court has decided that a discrmina-
ton cannot be made in the matter of
taxation, by the citizens OF one State
against the citizens OF another. A mo-
ton to strike out the amendment was
carried.
1000 FOR POOL ROOMS.
When the license for conducting
pool room was reached, Mr.. DObbns in
terrupted the clerk and said he was In
favor of increasing the tax from $3.50
for turf and 500 for base ball, to $1,000
for general pool room. Mr.. Richards
thought that the two should be
kept separate, as the pool rooms
ara often conducted separately. One
member OF the Committee stated that
the gentlemen who conduct the present
pool room would not object to tax Of
81, 900. Another member thought the
streak of liberaity had string to 1t,
and the gentlemen wanted the tax high
in order to shut out competition. Mr.
Robertson moved to make it 81, ZOO for
both. The vote resulted in a tie, to 3,
and Chairman Dobbins decided the mo-
ton carried.
Secretary George Hook, Of the State
Fair Association, addressed the Com
mittee with reference TO the desires OF
the Association. he said he hoped to
have the ordinance so amended
as to enabled the Association
to derive some benefit from
the sale of books and pools. Without
such sale, it would be impossible to con.
duet the Fair successfully. The Asso-
citation pays a liquor license OF 1902, and
does not feel able to pay $50 for each
book. Mr.. Cruise suggested that a pro-
vision be made to permit the Fair Asso-
citation to pay tax pro-rata, on a
basis of 1000 a year which would
amount to SO a day. Mr.. Maxwell
thought such a provision would work
an injustice, in that it would permit
strangers to come into the city and
reap the harvest during a busy season.
The ordinance was amended TO provide
for tax OF S. a day for each book
maker or pool seller on the fair grounds,
during the week Of the State Fair.
When the section relating to liveries
was read, Mr.. Cruise thought a pro-
vision should be inserted TO make the
tax for narrow tires twice as heavy as
for the broad tires.
THE BROAD TIRE QUESTION.
This suggestion met with general
favor, the members of the committee
being OF the opinion that something
should be done to save the streets.
Tho discussion opened up endless diff
culties, and was closed by the adoption
OIL u IlOalOu W GltON VIC A9A VI NNhANiNo
TO remain as heretofore. Another mo-
ton was adopted, instructing the Soic-
itor 10 prepare an ordinance to be re-
ported at the next meeting Of the COM
mittee, to regulate the width of tires
used on the public streets, and to pro-
vide for tax upon the owners OF all
wagons with tires narrower than those
specified in the proposed ordinance.
Col. White stated that there has
heretofore been 10 provision in the or
dlnances for tax upon retailers OF
wines and liquors. who sell such wines
and liquors not TO be drank at the place
where sold He made an amendment
to the ordinance to cover this point,
and it was adopted.
When the provision relating to shows
was read, Mr.. Richards stated that ne
had been requested TO say that the tax
upon shows is prohibitive, and that as
many people are attracted 10 the city
by such shows, the high tax does
injury to the business interests
OF the city. Mr.. Cruise
favored the retention Of the present
rate, dwelling upon the character Of
some OF the shows and their attaches,
and making the point that the better
class OF shows will not object TO the
tax Of $3.50. The clerk read a letter
from a prominent Snowman, written to
Mr.. NJ. H. McNabb, who has been
active In the effort to have the tax re-
duced, in which II was stated that the
rate was uniformly fair throughout
the country, with the exception OF
few cities including Wheeling. Mr..
McNabb was granted the privilege Of
making statement and told Of
several shows which passed by
Wheeling on account Of the alleged
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