The record-union., 1896-04-23
PHOTOGRAPHERS LICENSES.
Does the Proposed Ordinance Affect
the Amateurs
If It Does, the Disciples of the Kodak
Will Make Music for the
Public.

Concerning the row among the pro-
fessional photographers over the pro-
posed ordinance laying on Incense
tax of $50 a quarter for doing business
1t has been stated that the Sacramento
Camera Club is stirred up and has
made expression on the subject.
We are authorized by officials of the
club to say that this is incorrect. The
club has not had the matter before 1T
1t meets tonight, when it may or may
not express itself. The officers say thal
the Camera Club does not engage IN
commercial business; that it Is the COM
mon law of the club that none OF ITS
members shall so engage; that 1t is an
organization purely amateur and fol
the pleasure and instruction Of its mem
bers, and that there is not professional
In it.
1t is added that the club is on the
best of terms with all the regular pho
tographers. has had no quarrels with
them and will have none That its de-
sire is to maintain the most friendly
relations with the professionals, who
have always treated them well and Of
ten accommodated them.
1t seems that some time ago mem
mer of the California Camera Club OF
San Francisco visited Sacramento and
asked the courtesy of using the rooms
of the Sacramento club. 1t was granted
of course Shortly after an officer found
her developing lot of negatives OF
groups of school children she had taken
at the public schools, evidently for the
purpose of selling the pictures to the
children She was informed at once
that it could not be permitted and she
ceased her work.
1t is known now that pictures OF
school groups have been peddled about
much to the Indignation of some par
ents The officers of the Camera Club
agree with them. 1t is probably out OF
this circumstance that the complaint
of the professionals has in part, al
least, grown.
The Sacramento club, however, will
express itself tonight, if at all, but its
leading members say it is no row OF
theirs, and they distinctly disclain
taking sides with either of two factions
among the professionals.
No license law can be or will be
passed to affect the Camera Club, and
any attempt in that direction will be a
dismal failure. However, it is under
at the club, but at certain itinerants
who wander about hawking their wares
and who are within the meaning OF
Judge Hinkson's late decision, ped
dlers and hawkers." from whom a Ii
cense tax may be eXacted.
But If the ordinance is to be construed
as is claimed it will or may be, that nc
amateur photographer shall sell any
of his work, it is an outrage and an alb
surdity. Under such law If one saw
II the collection of an amateur photog-
rapher a picture of which he desired a
copy, he could not receive it from the
amateur except as a present. When an
amateur hawks pictures or peddles
them from door to door, he becomes a
professional and ceases to be an anna
teur.
But any attempt to prevent a citizen
from buying camera, and from takin g
Snapshots when and where he pleases,
within human right and from selling a
copy or the original if he desires to a
friend, or anyone else, so long as he is
not engaged in the business of selling
for profit, will not hold water. The
courts, which stand between the liberty
of the citizen and attempted trespass
upon it, will knock any ordinance that
is capable of such construction higher
than Gilderoy's kite.