The record-union., 1897-02-07
CONCERNING CITY LICENSES
Merchants Met and Discussed the Sub
jeCt Yesterday.
Diverse Views as to What Would be
the Best Way in Which to
EquaIiZe Them.

A large number of merchants met
yesterday afternoon at the rooms OF
the Chamber of Commerce to consider
an ordinance amending the present or
dinance governing city licenses.
J. O. Coleman called the meeting to
order, and after stating the object of
the meeting called for nominations for
Chairman.
Frank Miller was elected Chairman
and Mr.. Coleman acted as Secretary.
The ordinance was read by Mr.. Mill
Ter, and a comparison of it with the
present ordinance was made and the
subject was taken up for general dis
cussion, in which Collector Robertson
who was present by invitation, took
part and answered questions.
L. L. Lewis thought that no license
was best for all. He wanted the license
equal if at all There are now, he
said, forty three merchants paying IL
cense at the rate of SO per thousand;
233 paying Sc: 116 paying 50; twenty
one paying So 10; "thirty-two paying
So 33; nine paying 81 80; thirty eight
paying 81 IS; eight paying ST 33; six
teen paying 81; six paying so cents,
and eight paying II cents. He thought
lnIS was the WOTSl hlllu VI ulSCl iIlllliei-
ton against the small dealer who is
trying to support his family in an hon
est way If allowed to go on in this
way 1T would close every small store in
the city and a few large houses that
call themselves jobbers or wholesalers
will do the business, and the balance
of the stores might as we'll burn up, so
as to get the insurance. If it was want
ed to close all the small stores in town,
the way TO do it is to keep the present
license plan.
Trustee Davis offered a substitute to
make no difference in license between
wholesalers and retailers and make no
license for more than 50 a month.
The substitute was lost, and Mr..
Peterson moved an amendment that
the license remain as it is.
Collector Robertson was asked for his
opinion. and gave it on various points
as to wholesale and retail business.
Mr.. Peterson said that he would ia
vor a merchants paying license on
whatever kind of goods he sold-on
shoes, on crockery, on clothes, etc.-but
it was not practical and the depart
ment stores could not be driven out
in that way.
Collector Robertson said nearly every
grocery in town was practically a de-
partment store.
Davis said he would present an ordi
nance charging the wholesaler SO a
81. 900 and 81 for retailing on what
| they sold
D. A. Lindley said that. as far as
wholesalers are concerned, they do not
care that the retailers should pay Ii
cense. He did not believe man should
be taxed to do business.
Mr.. Bentley offered a resolution that
all licenses be abolished except liquor
licenses and - dollars to be paid by
anv person on commencing business.
Mr.. Peterson said that in that case
the electric and telephone companies
would not pay any license. He insisted
on his amendment being put and it was
lost
ratio of license was unjust. He did not
like to have a man up town, who was
doing twice the business he was, to pay
one-half as much. 1t was necessary to
raise certain amount from the Ii
censes. and he did not object to a 81
rate.
Mr.. BeeSley IIlONtu lndI II Dt the
sense of the meeting that the rate of
license be 81 for retailers and ST for
wholesalers a quarter.
Bentley's proposition was lost, and
desultory discussion of the matter en-
sued the question of what effect Bees
Iev's motion, if adopted, would have on
the revenue and it being stated that it
would decrease the revenue about
So. 900, it was lest.
Tozer said the matter concerned the
Chamber of Commerce mainly, and he
moved that the Chair appoint a COM
mfttee of five to consider the question.
Mr.. Miller said that the former COM
mittea appointed for the same purpose
had found on investigation that the
license question could never be settled
on lust basis to all, and the commit
tee had been instructed to drop the
matter. This motion would result in
the same way.
Mr.. Coleman moved that the meeting
adjourn till Tuesday night, to be a
merchants meeting, and that the
Trustees be requested to defer action
till after that time.
The motion was carried. and the
meeting adjourned.
T.