The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-08
WARMING TO TIE COUNCIL.

There is an ordinance now before the
city council which should net be allow
ed to pass without amendment This is
the ordinance imposing a license upon
bill posters, sign painters and circular
distributors.
In two ways the ordinance is unjust.
First it gives power to the man who
holds license to sub-license as many
bill posters as he desires at whatever
rate he desires to charge. This is I'M
just to the city. Second, it prohibits
churches, schools, lodges and local or
CARNATIONS of all kinds from distribut-
ing their own advertising cards and
handbills for their home talent enter
prises. This is unjust to the organiza-
lions interested
Considered simply as business prop
osition, it would be good policy for
| newspaper to advocate just such an
ordinance as is proposed, except that it
should be more stringent. If the coun-
Gil makes it expensive for people to dis
tribute advertising dodgers, the people
will give their advertisements to news
papers, which after all is the only legiti-
mate means Of advertising. But the
argument against this particular ordi-
nance is that it discriminates unfairly
The ordinance says that no one shall
post any bill or picture, or shall dis
tribute, post, paint or tack any bills,
cards, signs, circulars, pamphlets, or
other advertising matter for the purpose
of advertising any place of entertain
me2t. meeting, or other exhibition for
pay, or any goods. wares or merchan-
disc, without paying a license of 1926
year if a resident Of the city, or $50 if
a nonresident The only exceptions are
these: people who manufacture goods
inside of the city limits can distribute
their own advertising matter of these
goods; merchants can distribute adver-
tisements of their own business; and
circulars advertising things of a charit-
able or religious character can be hand
ed out by anyone
If the Woman's Relief Corps desires
to advertise it's pension day dinners by
handbills, it must pay a licensed bill
poster to distribute them. If a lodge
desires to buy new uniforms for it's
band its own members cannot help ad-
vertise the benefit" by distributing
handbills or window cards. If Wash
burn college has a joint debate with
Grinnell college. or a football game with
Missouri university. the students can't
post the advertisements therefor. They
must hire the licensed bill poster" and
pay him when they are well aware that
the receipts of the show won't pay the
expenses
Apparently the intention of the ordi-
nance. in the mind of the person who
introduced it. was to catch out of town
! people who come here with money max
ing schemes and shows. and who take
cash out of town. If that was the in
tention, the ordinance should be changed
4 to treat all local institutions alike
The ordinance says that any person
can distribute advertising who is in the
employ of a regular bill poster. There
is nothing to prevent the regular bill
4 poster, after paying his license. to sub
let' the business to men in his "em-
ploy" It is an easy graft for the Ii
censed bill poster.
There is a suspicion that this ordi-
nance was drawn up and is being
rushed through ahead of the regular
license ordinance which is in prepara-
tion. for the purpose of giving a mon
opoly in the business to somebody. The
council should give it careful attention.