The Arizona sentinel., 1894-02-17
OEspENANCE NO. Az.


 It is peculiar, somewhatextraordi- nary, far-fetching, and entirely unique. It mig Int justly be termed a measure for the increase of the financial stringency now existing in Yuma by reason of present hard times. The ordinance was passed to obtain revenue for the village, and proposes to license certain oc- equations. Let us comment upon some of these occupations. So far as travelling theatrical exhibitions, circuses, menageries and travelling dentists, etc, are concerned, there can be but little objection to license, except as to dentists, and as to them the license is too high. In the conduct of their business while here, they are obliged to rent a room or rooms and pay hotel ex- penscs, thus distributing portion of their earnings among our people, and their services are a necessity.
 The ordinance taxes billiard tables, without reservation where no charge is made for playing thereon. It taxes laundries and as they are principally run by Chinese. one might say that the Council is strictly in it in d popu- lar sense, 8 Ia Dennis Kearney. There are some poor women, how ever, who make business Of wash ing clothes to earn money for the support of their children, and the license will bear hard upon them. The sections of the ordinance licensing peddlers, constitute marvelously "cheeky" production. Every pedd!er of goods, wares or merchandise of any description whatsoever using a horse and wagon or horses and wagons to convey the same through, to or throughout the village" is to pay Ca daily license of $2.50 or a monthly license of $40" and all other peddIers pay daily license of $1 or $20 per month; but-and here there appears to be 'nigger in the wood pile"-it is provided that no peddlers "of fruits, vege- tables or other products produced within the said village or its i'm mediate vicinity" shall pay q license. Itis pertinent to ask, why this special exemption of Yuma and its vicinity. Are not the pro ducts of the Gila valley as domestic as those of Yumas vicinity, and entitled to equal privileges? Does the Council propose to build a Chinese wall of special privileges around Yuma and its vicinity, so as to prevent competition injurious to the interests of members of the Council and their friends? Surely not-there has been hasty action which will be rectifed on aecond thought.
 The ordinance demands payment of license by those engaged in the restaurant and chop-house business, and it would seem to be a rather inopportune time, during these days of busiEess depression and scarcity of labor, to do anything which might have tendency to raise the price of meals. Finally the ordinance licenses houses Of ill- fame and their inmates. There is no expression as to whether male or female inn !tes are intended. In this section of the ordinance, Yuma has undoubtedly taken the lead over all the communities on the Pacific Coast, and has advertis ed herself in a most thorough man ner, as community acknowledC- ing beastly immortality as a neces sity and worthy of legal recogni- ton. There could have been no greater mistake.
 There Is one matter in which the Council should be thoroughly, advised, and that is as to the legality of ordinance No. 42. The S.NTTNEL has it from good legal authority that there rests no power in the village government to de mand the payment of license by the greater number of the occupa- tions mentioned in the ordinance; that the only power granted the Council lies in the act under which the village was incorporated; that