The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-27
.$12,821


TOtal receipts .-............ $lZoIl Sl3i0ou
The above statement has a double show
ing in that it is apparent that not only
more vehicles of all kinds are being used
in the city this year, but that the license
law is becoming more and more respected
and obeyed.
1t is felt that the license law would be
greatly benefited if certain changes, the
need Of which is apparent to those who
have to do with the issuing of licenses,
were made and several of the councilmen
are interesting themselves in the matter.
Owners of wagons, particularly teams for
hauling and huckster wagons, complain that
the present law does not allow them suffi-
cient time to get their licenses. Unless Ii
censes are procured before Feb. IS for
wagons, under the present law, the owners
lay themselves liable to arrest and fine.
This, they claim is unjust, because some of
those who live out of the city do not get
their teams to working before March and
it is inconvenient for them to go to the
courthouse only to procure licenses. 1t is
probable that when the license law comes
up before the Council for amendment the
time allowed to obtain licenses will be ex-
tended one or even two months.
The feature of the issuance of bicycle H.
the 81 charged for license may be struck
off IL the owner of the wheel bought it
at certain times after the opening of the
year also causes considerable trouble to the
clerks and has been the cause of many
persc * perjuring themselves. 1t is remark
able number of people and the lengths
to which they will go to defraud the city
out of and gain themselves % cents. Last
year when a person presented himself at
the license window of the city controllers
Office and stated that a reduction of the
charges on his bicycle license should be al
lowed because he had owned it but short
time he was made to swear to the truth
Of his statement. The result was that the
clerks became so practiced in administering
the oath that they could reel it off without
| taking an extra breath and could at the
same time continue a conversation with
some one else than the buyer of the license
| and they became wearied by the perform
| ance. This year a new system is followed.
| Those who esk for reductions are required
| to present bills of sale from the dealers of
| whom they bought the bicycles. This latter
method has been found to work many times
| as well as the old one and has been the
| cause of the city getting its due. This is
| another feature of the license law which,
| It is averred should be changed so that all
| licenses, no matter what time of the year
| the bicycles are purchased should be paid
| for at the full rate.
| Many peculiar incidents come under the
| eyes of the clerks and they catch many per-
| sons in attempts to defraud the city. The
| Unborn instinct of many people to save a
| few cents wherever and however they can
| was illustrated few days ago by man
| who, though drunk, was determined that he
| would beat the city. He applied at the Win
| dow in a voice that he tried hard to con-
! troll, but which would get away from him,
| for a bicycle license. He said that re-
! duction was due him and he was asked to
| produce his bill of sale. He showed at the
| clerk a receipt for a payment, but not for
! the first one. When told that he would have
| to get a receipt which would show the
| date when he first came into possession of
! the wheel he said that rather than go to
| the trouble he would pay the dollar, which
| he did, 1t was evident that he had no right
| to a reduction Here is where the clerk got
| back at him. He told him to hold up his
| hand and swear to the receipt. Both
| hands," the man asked.
mo, only the left" said the clerk and
| turned around and grinned at those stand
| ing back of him taking in all the amuse-
| naent which the scene afforded. The man
! held up his hand and the oath was admins
tered. lone thing more" called the clerk
as the man turned to leave ARE you mar
| ried?'
You bet am" said the man, AN I've
| got a family, too; do We want me to swear
| to that?" He laughed as he left the Office
| at his own sally and supposed that it had
also caused the roar of laughter which fol-