The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-02-13
TOINCREASE TAXATION
Proposed to Make Companies
Pay 500 for Each Agent.
MEASURE MEETS OPPOSAL
New Street Car Railway Co.
Accepts the Franchise.

0tonai Slo0 for each additional agent
An ordinance was introduced amending
section of ordinance 1915. relating to
this subject making it read: Fire In
surance agents-Each company repre-
eented by an agent, $50 for each six
months: rovided, that when any com
pany is represented by more than one
agent, that each agency is to pay $50 for
six months"
The present taxation is $40 per year for
each company, not counting the number
Of agents it has. An attempt was made
to bring the ordinance to passage, but it
was defeated. and the ordinance will
come up in its regular course.
There were large number Of insurance
agents present, some being in favor and
some opposed to the ordinance. Council
man c. L. Davidson was bitterly opposed
70 the ordinance, declaring it nothing
more nor less than an attempt upon the
part Of some Of the larger agencies to
secure practical monopoly of the insur-
ance business. He said:
The intention OF this ordinance is to
drive small insurance agents out Of bust
ness and put the insurance business in
the hands of a few Of the larger well es-
tablished agencies. At present there are
dfty-seven insurance companies repre-
scented in this city. The annual premiums
paid in this city amount to $56,7SO per
annum, taking the year 1898 as a basis.
This would make the average premiums
received by each company somewhat less
than $1,000 a year. This proposed tax of
10 per cent upon the premiums IS unjust
and win result in driving many of the
smaller companies out of business in this
city, as they viii be unable to pay the
tax, especially if they are represented by
more than one agent. In the cases Of
larger companies it viii result in placing
the business in the hands OF one firm,
Thereby working a hardship on the small
er real estate insurance firms and prac-
tically driving them out Of business. I
think a tax of $50 year for each COM
pany doing business in the city, ire
spective Of the number of agents, would
be fair and just
Jack Ludlum, by permission Of the
council spoke in favor Of the ordinance
He stated that the insurance companies
doing business in this city were repre-
sented by nearly ninety agencies, and the
purpose Of the ordinance was to put the
Insurance business on a business basis
and not allow it to be scalped by men
who pursued the insurance business as a
side line to some other vocation, thereby
working a hardship on those engaged
wholly in the business.
Sam IVoolard was opposed to the ordin-
ance and declared the proposed rate Of
taxation e1orbitant He declared that
rate was double that of any other city
in the state and cited Topeka, Atchison.
Leavenworth and Kansas City, Kan.
where the tax is $50 year and where the
annual premiums paid are greater than
in this city.
A communication was received from the
attorneys of E. Catherine Andris asking
DANA ges amounting 10 so 900 for injuries
alleged to have been caused by a fall
upon a defective walk near the corner OF,
Douglas and Washington avenues. The
plaintiff asked for 5000 damages for per-
manent injuries and 5000 for the mental
and physical pain and anguish which it
IS alleged, the patient still suffers from
the result of the accident. The matter
was referred to the proper committee.
An ordinance was passed vacating that
part of Wichita street and the alley be
tween Douglas and First street on the
west side Of Wichita street which viii be
covered by the proposed Missouri Pacific
depot and grounds. The plans of the
building were submitted to the council
and approved. At the request Of General
Attorney J. H Richards, Of the Missouri
Pacific the tine for the final completion
Of the building was extended from Sep
TENDER /. 1900. to November l. A resolu-
ton was also adopted authorizing the
mayor TO complete the purchase OF the
ground for the depot. the deed 10 be
made in the name of z. B. Merriam the
Missouri Pacific to provide the money
for the purchase and the refunding OF
the S1o0 option fee.
Upon a motion by Councilman Luling
the city attorney was instructed To pre-
pare an ordinance making it a misde-
neanor for any pawuhroker, second hand
or junk dealer to purchase any goods
from a minor and providing a fine of SOD
for the violation Of the ordinance. Chief
Of Police Cubhon made Il short talk con-
corning this ordinance and declared that
the present practice Of allowing pawn
brokers and Ike dealers to purchase
goods from minors simply fostered crime
and that these concerns were in fact,
regular kinderrartens for criminals
J. S. Campbell made a proposition to
the council to sell the city ground for
new. park on East Fifteenth street. The
proposed plot Of ground is said to contain