The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-11-30
The New Ordinance Impos-
ing a Tax Passed BY
Aldermen.
SOME FLIMsY ARGUMENTS
Assessments Will Range
From Seven to Forty-six
Cents and Will Pay
Inspectors Expenses.

The new inspector of seals, weights and
measures ordinance was passed by the
Aldermen last night sby a strict party
vote. The Republican membe Of the
Board made 4 political issue Of the ordi-
nance. That fact was demonstrated when
the leader Of the minority who, two
weeks ago was for the ordinance, voted
| against 1t last night. The argument
against the ordinance was the s~hallowesf
| ever heard in the assembly chamber. II
was not because the Republicans lack
wind OF ability, but they had absolutely
nothing on which TO nase an attack.
The ordinance merely provides a penny
tax on every scale. weight and measure
used by a merchant. Even that slightStax
win bring into the city treasury about
$500 a year, and viii make that par
t.ctlar Department more than self-sup-
| porting from the fees the inspector will
be paid. He will be given a horse and
| carriage and the care of the rig will be
pad out Of the fund. Every expense Of
the department WIN be paid out Of the
fund. ana the city will be released from
raising about 81, go by direct taxation.
When the ordinance came up for
final passage. Alderman Stell protested.
/ Tx dtAit41ttCu Hit II cSN-
ter than the one originally introduced.
The bad feature Of the o~rdinaace, he
held, was that a fee was imposed upon
the owners of the scales, weights and
| measures. The cost of an inspection of
articles used by merchants should be
borne by the city at large, he said.
inasmuch as lhe people are supposed to
profit by such Inspection.
Alderman William Calnon, the leader Of
the majority. answered Stell. In doing 50
he produced a list Of twenty-five mer-
chants who win be affected by the new
ordinance. Inasmueh as It will affect
grocerymen. who are doing the most kick
ing about the ordinance, Alderman Calaon
read how many weights ana measures
several of the biggest protestants ave in
use. The Republican Aldermen felt like
crawling under their desks, and many in
the audience were moved to mirth when
Calnon read the fearful tax that would
be imposed. On the twenty-five merchants
cited, the cost per year ranged from seven
cents to forty-six cents. The forty-six
| cents a year was high, and this will have
to be paid by Lahey Brothers. who are
| among those who declared that the new
tax would drive them out of business. One
of the Lahey Brothers is Richard, who,
a few years ago. was drawing s2,5eo an
nually for performing the arduous duties
of Tax Commissioned
If said Mr.. Calnon. i.the payment Of
! seven cents, or even forty-six cents a
year, is going to drive a man out Of bust
ness, / think he had better get out ROW.
Certainly he must be wasting time b.
keeping his doors open. The charge that
this. new tax will drive anyone out ef
business is ludicrous. The liquor deal
| ers Of this city have to pay $3.50 a year
now, and under this ordinance they Will
be assessed for al their measures. They
are not kicking. Jewellers, dry goods
men, furniture dealers, coal dealers or IL
censed vendors, all of whom will be as
| sessed. are not complaining. The troa-
Bile seems to be confined TO a few grocery
men, who | feel have not read or Go not
understand the ordinance. This ordinance
is a good one. 1t offers protection
to buyers. ! do rot wish to be UNDER
stood as intimating that 1t is necessary to
watch merchants. Our business men, /
believe. are above cheating their custom
crs. The ordinance protects merchant
and customer alike
Aldermen Stell made the argument that
if the o~rdinsnce is good for the people
they should pay for it. He talked for fif-
teen minutes but said nothing more.
Alderman Fry made anxious inquiry
about the expense of the department, the
extent of the revenue under the new or
dirance.
When told the revenue would be about
$3.50 a year he was astonished. He aid
be had been informed hat the revenue
would be s1.G09 d year. Mr.. Fry subsid-
ed. and declared that the new tax would
force merchants to increase prices. Such
a course, he said, would drive trade 10
New York. Just bow the merchants will
distribute seven or eight cents a year in
increasing prices Alderman Fry was I'M
able 10 explain.
It is a noticeable fact That the nier-
chars VINO will a 10 pay the mast Ia
vor the ordinance ard declare that II
be a protection to legitimate dealers.
The Aldermen who voted against the or
diranee are Becker, Divers. Fry. Howeth
n Steil. Seventeen votes were cast
for the ordinance.