The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-20

Among the bills passed by the last
legislature is one of especial interest
in this city. 1t provides for the licens-
ing of transient merchants and Is meant
to cover defects in existing laws which
made it possible for transient mer-
chants to come into this and other
cities of the state and do business with
out paying anything for the privilege.
Not long ago Morris Wormser, of New
York, came here and opened a clothing
store. He refused to pay the license
fee imposed by ordinance and was ar
rested. He was fined, and an appeal
taken to quarter session court and a
few days later Judge Gunster in an
opinion sustained the appeal and de-
clared the ordinance and the general
act on which IL was based unconstitu-
tional. The last Legislature passed an
act which was approved by Governor
w. A. Stone on May 3, which reads as
follows:
An act to provide for the licensing of
transient retail merchants in cities,
boroughs and townships and provid-
ing penalty for failure to obtain the
same.
MUST HAVE A LICENSE.
Section /. Be it enacted, etc, that
hereafter every person, whether prin-
cipal or agent, entering into, beginning,
or desiring to begin, transient retail
business in any city borough or town
ship of this commonwealth, for the sale
of any goods, wares or merchandise
whatsoever, whether the same shall be
represented or held forth to be bank
rupt, assignees, or about to quit husi-
ness, or of goods damaged by fire water
or otherwise, shall take out a license
for the same from the proper author
tiles of the said city, borough or town
ship.
The amount of such license in any
city or borough shall be fixed by ordi-
nance. duly passed by the council of
such city or borough and shall not be
less than twenty-five dollars G25), nor
exceed the sum of two hundred dollars
$4,000 per month or fractional part
thereof, to be paid to the treasurer of
said city or borough; and the amount
of such license in any township shall
be the sum of twenty-five dollars (S25)
per month or fractional part thereof,
to be paid to the county treasurer, for
the use of the school fund of said town
ship.
Said license to be renewed monthly
during the continuance of said sale,
and upon failure OF said person or per-
sons so to secure such license, he, she
or they shall he fined in a sum not less
than one hundred dollars (Sf00), nor
more than two hundred dollars $4,000,
to be collected as other fines are by law
| collectible, and in default of payment
of said fines, to he imprisoned in the
| Jail of said city or county for a period
not exceeding thirty days.
THE ACTS REPEALED.
Section .. The following act of as
sembly, viz: IAN act to provide for
| the licensing of transient retail mer-
chants i'll cities, horoughs and town
| ships" approved May 4, one thousand,
! eight hundred and eighty-nine, Pamph-
let Laws eighty-six: can act to amend
| an act entitled AN act to provide for
| the licensing of transient retail mer-
| chants in cities, boroughs and town
| ships;' empowering councils to increase
| the maximum license" approved May
| 10, one thousand eight hundred and
| ninety-three. Pamphlet Laws thirty
six; and all other general acts or parts
of acts inconsistent herewith are here
| by repealed.