The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-07-24

the harrisburg ordinance wnicn
the Mayor Thinks Is About Right.
Saturday, a meeting was had Of the
special committee of select council,
Messrs. Chittenden, Sanderson and
Melvin, appointed to deal with Mayor
Moir's communication urging the levy
ing and collection of license tax as a
means of increasing the city's limited
revenues.
The meeting was taken up almost en-
tirely with the consideration of the
Harrisburg license tax ordinance which
was secured by the mayor and which
to his mind can be drafted almost bod
lily into an ordinance that will be sat
isfactory to this city.
The committee agreed with the may
or that the Harrisburg measure, with
few notifications, would suit the
purpose admirably, but they were not
so sure that 1t would be wise under OK
isting conditions to raise any more rev.
enue than is at present being raised.
Until such time as there is more
economical and business-like spirit in
city hall, it is "A question. in the minds
of the committee, II any real good is
to come of placing an enlarged treasury
at the disposal of the councils.
WOULD NOT HESITATE.
If there was positive assurance that
more revenue meant the completion Of
the sewers under way, the Improvement
of the parks. the macadamizing of the
| heavily travelled streets in the outlying
wards and the cleaning up of the
| thousands of dollars worth of iudg-
mentS that are drawing six per cent.
interest from the city the committee
would have little or no hcsitancy in re-
porting favorably on the mayors prop
osition, as there is no question of the
| City's right to collect this tax and no
question but that the additional rev.
| enue could ne most benetiCially used.
| As one member Of the committee put
| it:
our business men in all right and
| justice should pay this tax as is done
| in every other city. but as a mighty
| small proportion of it would b. used
! for the general good, do not feel in
clned to impose it. In a word they
/ may as well have it as-well, anybody
! else"
The mayor is set upon increasing the
city's revenues and is Of the firm opin-
ion that n license tax is one Of the
easiest and most equitable means
thereto. The average councilmen is
not averse to having lots of money "a
spend and the chances are that a
license tax ordinance will be in opera
tion before the present fiscal year is
~
should only mean more offices increas-
ed salaries, and more brilliantly illu-
| minated mule fields. This being the
! case, n resume of the ordinance on
which the Scranton measure will be
based is timely. 1t is given herewith
RESUME or MEASURE.
AuctiOneers whose annual gross sales
shall not exceed $4,000 shall pay $40:
from $4,000 to $4,000 shall pay $50;
from $4,000 to $4,000 shall pay S35;
from $4,000 to 100000 shall pay $50
and IS for every $4,000 or fraction
thereof exceeding 100000.
Contractors shall pay annually s. on
business ranging from $4,000 to 5000;
$40 on $1,000 to S1O,000 $l5 on $4,000 ia
$4,000; $50 on $4,000 to $3.50. 900; $50 on
$4,000 to 10000; $50 on $4,000 to S75,-
OOO; 100 on $4,000 and upwards. Non
resident contractors must take out a
license as well as resident contractors
! The word contractor shall be construed
to mean any person or persons, firm
or corporation, engaged in the business
of furnishing the labor and materials
or either, and building and construct
ing for the fixed sum, any house OF
part thereof or any public or private
works such as paving, sewering, grad.
ing and the like.
Hucksters (unless peddling products
of their own rasing), $40 per year.
Sample merchants or persons solicit,
ing orders from others not merchants
or dealers in the city shall pay 800.
Book agents, canvassers for period.
Gals or other publications, or persons
soliciting advertisements or printing
not in the employ of a local busnes.
house shall pay $2j
Private bankers, money or STOCK
brokers, pawnbrokers, telegraph, cleo
trio light, telephone, steam heating
market and gas companies, shall pay
800 each.
Billiard, pool and bagatelle table:
shall be assessed SO each.
Bowling alleys shall pay $40 each.
Owners of drays, hacks, omnibuse
and the like used for hire or pay shall
pay as follows: dray, 81; hack, 80: twt
horse carriage, So; one-horse carriage
81; omnibus or transfer wagon useC
regularly for hire, So; every othe
omnibus kept for hire. 50; cart, 81
four-horse wagon, SO; two-hors
wagon, 81; one-horse wagon, 81; mill
wagon, 81.
TAX ON AGENTS.
Real estate agents shall pay $40.
Fire insurance agents (eXceptin'
special or general agents, who hav,
local agents acting for them ana no