The record-union., 1896-04-10
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
Amendment to the Ordinance Relating to
PeddlerS Asked For.
Chairman Morrison Intimates That
There May be No Licenses and
Blames the Grand Jury.

ent.
A petition was presented by residents
of Road District No. for the opening
of a road on the grant from the San
Juan road, running by Joseph Heintz's
place to Antelope, which will accomo-
date the residents of Sunset Colony and
that part of the country.
The board appointed Richard Butler,
William Berry and County Surveyor
Boyd to view the proposed road and
report on it,
Curtis said that the Meister road,
near the Tivoli, had been partly built
by subscription and partly by the coun-
ty. Those subscribing had done all
they agreed to, and more. He moved
that the work on the road be accepted
and the motion was carried.
In the afternoon Hon. e. G. Hart ad-
dressed the board in relation to the
license Of $40 a month required by the
ordinance of peddlers who used wag-
ons. He said that, SO far as it applies
to vegetable peddlers, it is absolutely
prohibitory, as they cannot make a liv-
ing and pay the license. If it is contin-
ued and enforced, they cannot continue
in business, and will have to quit. 1t
has not hitherto been enforced, but
Collector Royster, who is vigilant Off
Ger, is now enforcing it.
He did not think that, when the Or
dinance was passed, the board passing
it had in view this class Of peddlers,
but intended it to apply to those who
peddle merchandise and who make a
good profit on what they sell. To en-
force 1t now will be to subject the resi-
dents Of the city, especially those in the
suburbs, to great inconvenience, as
they would have to go to some distance
for supplies Of vegetables. It is also
against the policy of the law to levy a
tax that will be prohibitory on any kind
of business
He therefore asked the board to mod
ify or amend the ordinance so as to
remedy the evil and impose only a fair
tax.
Todd thought that the matter had
best be taken under advisement as it
is not known just at present whether or
not the county has License Collector.
The Sheriff had stated that he would
not appoint a License Collector, and if
the collecting Of licenses were imposed on
him he should notify people to come to
his office and pay their licenses.
Morrison said that, if the board was
not to be allowed to appoint and pay
a License Collector, the county would
suffer great loss, as only a few Of those
upon whom license is required will go
to the Sheriff's Office to settle. He
should, in that case, favor the abolish
ing of all licenses and let the blame rest
where it belongs, on the Grand Juries,
who prefer to see the county suffer
from loss of revenue rather than see
r T0na
by the board. He had been informed by
good lawyers that the Sheriff was un-
der no obligation to collect the licenses,
well known that a license is not tax.
Todd spoke to the same effect, and
said that if the Sheriff waited for peo-
pie to come to him and pay their IL
censes, he would find that a very small
percentage would pay them. It is hard
enough work now for the Collector to
make many of them pay.
The other Supervisors concurred in
the ideas expressed, and consideration
of Mr.. Hart'S request was postponed
till to-day
The representative of a firm that
manufactures steam road-rollers set
forth the merits of his roller. He spoke
State in the good roads question, and
suggested that Sacramento County
place itself in the front rank of road
improvement by purchasing roller for
use in the county. He believed that, If
the county would make one-half mile
of such macadam read as can and
should be made, it would start an era
Of road building all over the State. The
t,a 1ae~x (<>,.
road purposes of any that he knew of
in the State.
BAILEY'S TAX.
E. K Alsip asked that the board re-
NIT the tax on the Bailey building (the
old Postoffice building). on which the
Regents of the State University hold
a mortgage equal to the assessment,
which mortgage Is not taxable under
the law.
District Attorney Ryan, who was
present, said that the Supreme Court
has decided that the property of the
State University cannot be taxed. He
did not believe that the States money
should be loaned to private persons.
Morrison said that the mortgage had
not been assessed, but the assessment
was on the property. 1t was bringing
q good income and should pay its pro-
portion of taxes.
Mr.. Alsip said that the Assessor had
not deducted the face of the mortgage
from the assessment, as required by
law.
Jenkins thought that, although the
property should pay it's share of tax If
the Supreme Court had SO decided the
county would be beaten and have to
pay the costs.
He asked that the tax be cancelled
Curtis moved that the tax to the
amount of the $4,000 mortgage be
Cancelled by the advice of the District
Attorney.
Morrison said he had been informed
that the case decided in the Supreme
Court was not exactly like this one,
and for that reason he favored letting
this case be decided in court.
The matter was laid over tin to-day.
WANT IT AMENDED.
A communication was received from
W. T. Phipps saying that the Boards
of Supervisors of Sutter and Yuba
Counties had passed a resolution, a
copy of which he inclosed, and asked
that the Sacramento board pass it, at
the request OF r. T. Devlin.
The board unanimously passed the
resolution, which was as follows:
Owing to the precarious situation of
Sacramento City we cannot afford to
chance doubtful wording of appropria-
ton. We urge amending it to read:
For the construction of restraining