Evening star., 1898-07-22
THE SECONDHAND DEALERS
Case in Court Involving Sales of Bicycles
and Other Property.
Decision to BE Rendered Wednesda
Next in Police COurt-POints
at Issue.

Judge Scott of the Police Court will be
called on next Wednesday to determine
question of law which is said to be of great
Importance to a large number of local bust
ness men, a law which, if sustained Ly
him and by the appellate court. will IL
crease the District revenue probably $4,000
annually.
The question arises upon the arrest of
Messrs William D. Hadger John Woerner,
jr, John D. Lasley and Charles NJ. Lewis.
prominent business men, engaged in the
general bicycle business, charged with be-
ing unlicensed junk or secondhand deal
erS.
The prosecution is instituted under the
act of March 3, 1891, entitled, AN act re-
lating TO junk dealers. dealers in second
hand personal property and pawnbrokefs
in the District of Columbia" which act, in
part, provides as follows:
Provisions of the Law.
THAT junk dealers and dealers in second
hand personal property of any kind or de-
scription whatsoever, shall pay to the Dis
trict of Columbia a liceEse tax of $40 an
nually Every person whose business it is
to buy or sell old iron, rags, paper. second
hand Clothing or any secondhand personal
property of any kiEd or description wnat-
soever, shall be subject to the provisions
of this act and to all the laws and regula-
tions Eow in force in the District of Coum-
bia, and to all valid regulations which may
heI eafter be provided relating to junk deal
ers or dealers in second hand personal
property: Provided, nevertheless, That 10
sale shall be made by junk dealers and
dealers in secondhand personal property of
such secondhand property in their pos
session. until after the expiration of ten
days from and after the time at which re-
pert has been made to the major of police
of the purchase thereof as provided by
he of fho StriN of
Columbia"
1t has become a universally observed Gus
tom among dealers in bicycles, it is said,
to take secondhand bicycles as a part pay
n,ent for new wheels, and, after tine o.d
Tachine is touched up, it is sold by the
dc oaler; but If the law above quoted be ap-
pilcable to this class of business all persons
engaged tn ,ren must first take out licenses
as junk dealers, and must, secondly, report
their purchases to the major of police ten
days before they make any sale of the
property so purchased.
The Probable Result.
The result OF the prosecution, it is de
clared, If the Law is sustained, will be Tie
forcing out of business of a great number
of the smaller dealers, those not represent
ing standard manufacturers, but dealing
almost exclusively in secondhand properly,
ard whose business will not justify the
payment of the tax.
AS this law. If applicable to bicycle deal
erS, equally affects agents for typewriterS
and sewing machines and dealers iE car
riages pianos, harness., furniture ana mu-
sioal Instruments, and all other merchants
who take secondhand property a part
payment on new merchandise, it is ex-
pected that a vigorous legal fight will re-
suit
The gentlemen now under arrest, 1t IS
said, are endeavoring to enlist all persons
who would be affected by the sustaining
of the law, 10 the end that their case may
ha n
pe ais as test case.
Mr.. Alexander H. Bell Is attorney for the
defendants and Mr.. James L. PuGl. Jr,
will prosecute on behalf of the District.