The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-05-24
LICENSES ARE
Being TAKEN.
PeddIeTs Beslsgs City Clerks
Office Every Day.
|, BIG MONEY IS COMING IN
Colonel Clarke and Staff Kept Busy All The
Time and Bscamlug Proficient In
Foreign Tongues.

Rarely, IL ever, has the city clerks de-
partment been more busy than II is at
present. and all of this extra work has
been caused by the passage of the ped
dIers' and junk dealers ordinances, par
ticularly by the former ordinance.
All OF the licenses are issued to the
peddlers, together with their badges. from
the city clerks office, and the amount
OF work entailed cannot be conceived by
one who has not had the opportunity of
visiting the office frequently during the
past week or two.
The junk licenses have not caused so
much trouble yet, as they are limited so
far 10 applicants, but the heavy work In
this line will come after June 20.
In speaking of the peddlers' licenses
Col William +. Clarke, the city clerk,
said this morning that he has learned
more about human nature during the
past week or two than ever he knew be-
fore. He has had 10 answer all sorts OF
conundrums, and listen TO all sorts OF ap-
peals, but. of course, he was and is
obliged TO adhere strictly 70 the letter of
the law.
SO far ne has not had much extra
work by reason Of the junk dealers or
dinance. because these licenses must be
issued by the order OF the board of al
dermen. and not by the city clerk, as are
the peddlers' licenses.
MONEY is COMING IN.
There are already about $50 applications
for Junk licenses, and these will be pre-
sented TO the board OF aldermen at the
| next meeting and will be referred 20 the
chief of police. At the meeting following
the chief Mill send them back 10 the
board. either with or without recommen-
| dation, as the case demands
This will make IL very evident that no
| junk licenses can be issued until after
| the board of aldermen meeting on June
| 20, but after that they will undoubtedly
4 come with a rush, for there are quite a
number OF dealers and gatherers that are
1 anxiohk 10 have their licenses granted in
\ order TO do business properly.
l But it Is very different with the ped
\ dIers' licenses for these are being ap-
1 piled for and secured every day. and the
| city clerk and his stan of assistants are
| kept on the move from 9 TO 5, for there
! are other duties 10 perform besides Is
| suing peddlers licenses
| OF course, there has been quite a little
| amount of money that will go into the
| city treasury, and there IL still more to
| come i'm before all the peddlers' licenses
4 have been issued So far Col. Clarke has
\ taken in about 5000 and he estimates that
| this Is only about one-half the amount
4 that the pedders will turn In during the
4 next few weeks.
is NOW A LINGUIST.
| There are many humorous features TO
! thiss granting OF peddlers' licenses bust
\ ness and not the least of these are the
\ efforts OF the city clerks stan To under
stand and make themselves understood
1 I'm a great many cases. as "A large number
OF the applicants are foreigners, who
| speak little or no English
| TO such an extent has this feature pre-
dominated that the employees of the office
| say that Col. Clarke has become a good
4 deal OF a Hnguist and he can now carry
/. on a limited conversation in Italian. Ara
bic, Armenian, Polish, Yiddish. Russian
and French.
/ There is also the pathetic side OF the
Continued on Page Two.)