Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-12-07
THURSDAY, Dec. Z. 100
AN ORDINANCE WANTED.

II is probable chat at the next meet
ing Ct the City Council that body
will be asked to introduce an crdi-
nance whereby the business men Of
the town may be offered some protec-
tion in their var!ous marts of trade.
Every man OF woman who does
business in Annapolis must pay IL
cense. which is perfectly right aud
proper, but what protection have our
own people against the invasions of the
Vandals and Hunns who come here
weekly by the scores and solicit the
trade of our merchants, and who at
the same time do not pay a cent of
license II is natural that these peo-
pie eau sell their wares for quar- ter
of cent less, or even half cent.
They pay no license here. and per
hnps pay none anywhere. They are
not burdened with heavy tax rate as
our people are. Why can they net sell
their goods cheaper under these con-
ditions ? The town merchants bite
easily at the bait They recognize
how much one quarter of a cent saved
will amount TO in hundreds of dollars
in an order given. and they give the
order, when they can get. oftentimes,
the same goods at thier own door end
save the freight or express. for a few
cents more The consequence is that
the peddlers who come here go away
with big orders. although they 5ave
not even bought their luncheon in
Annapolis, and have brought with them
the cigars they smoke here. while So
liciting the townspeople's trade
Should not these men pay a license
for doing business in Annapolis, the
same as any peddler or tradesman?
Think how the money would help the
town and may hap lessen the tax rate
on the people striving to do legiti.
mate business and earning an honest
living here. paying taxes and license
besides.
On Monday of this week there were
twenty.one dTummers and visiting
statesmen in single store in ADnapo-
lis Two were from Virginia, one
from New York, one from Philadel-
phia and the other seventeen from
Baltimore. Suppose these men had
been required to pay "A license for
the privilege of peddling their wares
In this town. Why should they not
II would have made Monday profit
able day to the city treasury.
These twenty. one peddlers took
out OF Annapolis hundreds of dollars
Some of the merchants admit they
had to give them orders to get rid of
them. The merchants do not need
peddleIs TO solicit ii cir tIsde. A
two.cent stamp or 10 cent. Telephone
message will order all the goods they
want Many of the merchants would
rather the drummers aud peddlers be
forbidden from coming here. 1t takes
their time as welt as their money.
Let item be licensed aud fewer will
come. and perhaps the hundreds of
dollars that go out of town weekly in
this way may be kept here.
1t is matter which the Business
Mems Association should have taken
up years ago, as the business men are
largely the victims. Since they have
failed to do this, let some broadmind-
ed, business-like citizen prevail en-
the City Council to pass an ordinance
compelling these outsiders who do
business here to pay a license. and
thereby protect our own heavily taxed
aud licensed business men and women
who are conducting legitimate bust
ness here and who ask for proper pro-
lection.