The Savannah morning news., 1904-06-23
RAISED TAX FOR
TICKET BROKERS
NEW ORDINANCE INTRODUCED.
WILL MAKE TICKET SCALPER's
BUSINESS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.

Ordinance Raises License TO $500
and Puts Brokers Under Strict
Police SurveiIIance-WiII BE Adj
vertised for Two Weeks and Then
Passed, but Will he Repealed I'm
less Railroads Grant stop over
Privileges.
Ordinances raising the license for a
ticket broker in Savannah from $50 to
$500 a year, and putting the business
under police supervision were intro
duced in Council yesterday afternoon.
Both ordinances came from the Com
mittee of the Whole The ordinance
regulating the business is modelled
after the ordinance recently passed by
Atlanta. and other cities. which are
now enjoying privileges from the rail-
roads that were not formerly granted.
There was a protest presented Coun-
oil from the Chamber of Commerce
against the granting of any licenses to
ticket brokers, and this protest was
the determining factor in the matter
being brought up in the open meeting.
At the meeting Of the directors of
the Chamber of Commerce held at noon
attention was called by Mr.. B. H. Levy
to the short stop-overs allowed here
now. The matter was referred by Pres
ident j. H. Estill to the Committee on
Transportation. of which Mr.. f. c.
Battey is chairman. Mr.. Battey imme-
diately wrote to all the railroads en-
tering Savannah and to the Mayor and
aldermen.
Regulations Are strict.
Though the license for a ticket broker
is not made very high under the ordi-
nance just introduced. the regulations
are SO strict that only an absolutely
legitimate business could be carried
on. The tickets which are most profit
able can not be handled at all. The
$500 license will cover one place of
business only.
BY 10 o'clock of every day any broker
doing business in the city will be re-
quired, under the terms of the ordi-
nance, to furnish the superintendent Of
police with a certificate stating the
number of tickets bought and the
number sold on the day before.
Each ticket must be minutely de-
issuing the ticket. point of origin, des-
tination, the number and form of the
ticket, to whom sold, the price re-
ceived and the price at which it was
bought.
The Office or place of business of the
broker shall at all times be open for
inspection 10 the superintendent of
police, or any officer whom he may
designate.
Conviction ReVOkes License.
The failure to report any of the data
required makes the broker and each of
his employees liable to fine and impris-
onment by the Recorder. A conviction
also revokes the license to do business
under the provisions of the ordinance
a failure to allow the books and tickets
on hand inspected is also punishable
II is made unlawful to sell the tickets
without license, and every person ac-
cepting employment in the business
without a license is also made subject
to punishment.
It is made unlawful for any person
to buy or sell, or attempt to buy or
sell a pass or other evidence of trans
portation. which shows on its face
that it was issued for free transpor-
tation. The purchase. sale or at
tempt to buy or sell a ticket which
shows on its face that it is a mileage
excursion or Communication ticket. where
IL appears that the ticket was issued
and sold under the regular rate, is
made illegal also.
Would Be PrOhibitory.
Such an ordinance would of course
prohibit the ticket scalpers' business
here, as without the excursion tickets
it would not be possible to make much
out of the business.
The second ordinance introduced
merely amends the tax ordinance.
changing the license from $50 to $500.
The ordinances will be advertised for
two weeks and the Transported ton
Committee of the Chamber of Com
merce will be invited to appear before
Council before they are put on their
passage.
The Chamber of Commerce took the
matter up only yesterday. By the
next meeting of Council it is thought
sufficient data will have been gathered
to convince the aldermen that it will
be good thing for the city to pass
the ordinances. Though some of the
aldermen were against the ordinance
in the Committee of the Whole, it will
be passed. AS the ordinance is mod
eled after those in other cities where
stop-over privileges are being granted,
II VIII be acceptable to the railroads, il
is believed.
Mayor Wants n Trial.
Mayor Myers idea is to pass the or
dinance and see what the railroads
will do in return. The railroad Off
Gals will make no definite promises
in advance, though they state the city
will never regret passing such an ordi-
nance.
I'VE can give it a trial" said the
Mayor, after the meeting of Council
yesterday. 1T need not stand, if we
find the city is not to get any benefits
from it. Say try 1t for six months"
Six months would end the year and
at that time all the tax ordinances
are revised, so a change could be made,
If 1t is thought advisable. The city
officials, of course, hope that the rail-
roads will make the desired concessions
after the passage of the ordinance, in
which case the ordinance will stand.
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