The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-01
ON LICENSE FEES.
Special Council Committee Gives a
Public Hearing.
Auctoneers and Undertakers Expressed
Their vi ws on Proposed Change.

The special committee appointed by the
City Council for determining the license
fee Of auctioneers and undertakers, that
shall be paid for the coming year, held a
we'll attended meeting last evening in the
Municipal Court room, city hall.
In relation 20 auetioneers fees Alderman
Reynolds said the committee was ap-
pointed 10 determine the price TO be paid
for the licenses in addition to the tax OF
l-10 of per cent. required 10y statute. Of
this tax the city gets l-S and the state i-S
!. Some, he said, paid the state and not the
city, and some paid the city but not tae
state. Thirteen out or 65 licensed auc-
tioneers last year made no report and
many paid but little. In all the city got
very little revenue from them. n. L.
Preston, ID. Ahern. and r. j. Sheldon
objected To paying any fee besides the
regular tax, and thought IL would be an
unnecessary burden.
ihe latter said that some years his tax
amounted to $3.50.
u. L. Robinson took an opposite view.
He said that he understood tho proposed
tax was To furnish revenue to the city and
protection TO the auctiOueer ana III that
was so, ne favored IL. He said 1t was we'll
known that many got their licenses, who
do not have any intention OF selling any
goods All they wanted for the license
was to sell IL for a day or two to some
man from out of town.
III fair sum were charged for license
and the auctic protected he should
favor il and suggested $50 year for
tax.
David Frank, Patrick Green and others
vigorously opposed this.
Mr.. Reynolds stated that in many cities
the tax was more than 500.
Mr.. Frank thought that $50 was so high
that poorer men would have no chance
and the result would be monopoly.
Walter Crowell favored a reasonable
charge but recommended a division be-
tween auotioneers of personal property
and real estate.
Mr.. Robinson objected To this and
Chairman Reynolds said that under the
statutethe did not think such division
could be mate.
A ballot was taken to find the opinion
Of the auctioneers present
twenty -one voted, eight for $40, four for
$50, two for S25. one for 500, one for $50
TO $780, three for no tax.
This closed the auotioneers' hearing
The undertakers then opened the dis
cussion OF the proposed tax on them.
Alderman Mccarthy asked by what au-
thority this hearing was held, Chairman
Reynolds said the committee had the same
authority as all committees appointed by
the City Council to consider special mat
terG.
Mr.. Mccarthy contended that under
takers already pay for their right to
practice. They paw taxes on a large stock
IN trade, pay high rents that auctioneers
do not pay. They must make returns to
the city and do other public service. He
did not think it any more just to tax an
undertaken than grocer OF baker Mr..
Coutanche and Mr.. Welch weIe Of the
same opinion.
. Roswell Roles brought the matter TO
head with an illustration. He said that
the amount received for burying the city
dead was SO small that il usually
amounted to an act of charity. lie said
the price the city pays for burial of the
dead under "a certain age is 81. He had
case not long since OF "A girl l2 years old
She was feet inches tall.
That settled IT, Somebody remarked
"A grave of that size woulo cost 50. 4"
On the roll call, l2 considered that
they ought not to pay any tax and five
were Indifferent,