The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-11-23

some time back he had thought that it |
would be foolish for him to pay for the |
time elapsed since his last licenses ran
out If he owed the city anything he
had the money to pay it. Seven hacks
make the trains and his two were the
only ones that have a license He owed
no back taxes, and kept his, debts paid
up. 1t was funny that nobody seemed to
know who was to collect the license fees.
City Recorder Hodapp says that he is
not the one to do it, and if it is not
him it must be the police force. Aid.
Atchison asked Mr.. Hodapp who is to
collect the fees.
Mr.. Hodapp replied that the mayor is
at the head of the city government and
it seemed to him that it was the duty
OF the mayor to do it.
Mayor Taylor asked sarcastically
whether he was expected to collect the
dog tax, also.
Aid. Atchison said that he had been
aware of the fact that licenses had not
been paid 'Of course, when you say
anything like that you get jumped on
to- said the alderman.
Mayor Taylor asked who regulates the
locations of the hacks.
Hack Ordinance Criticised.
Aid. Atchison said that he had posted
himself upon this. The city regulates
the locations if the hacks stand on city
ground, and the railroads if they stand
on railroad property, as is the case in
Mankato. ''We have the rottenest hack
ordinance that you ever saw, and it is a
question whether it can be enforced"
declared the speaker.
City Attorney Daley observed that it
was question whether the city could
enforce any hack ordinance.
Aid. Atchison said that st. Paul and
Minneapolis have hack ordinances that
are enforced.
Mayor Taylor asked whether farmers
can come into the city and carry people
without taking out licenses.
AID Atchison replied that they can.
In the twin cities hacks that simply an
I swer telephone orders are not required
! to be licensed, but those that go upon
, the street and solicit passengers must
hack service in the United States. In
the twin cities the fare is twice what
| it is in MankatO, and three times as
much if trunk is carried. The Man
kato hack owners are given no protec-
ton by the ordinance, ana Mr.. Coy
stated the other day that he would not
pay another hack license fee as long as
I no protection is given. 81 was good
fellow and paid, and got soaked" con-
Guided the fifth ward alderman.
City Recorders Duty.
The question of who ought to collect
i the license fees was reverted to, and
/ AID. Atchison said that in the larger
cities the chief of police gets afte' the
/ licenses. As the Mankato chief has been
| elected to good office, the council
might get him busy.
| City Attorney Daley was asked
whose duty it was, and replied that
there was no doubt but that it was the
city recorders duty. He has charge of
the books and knows who has paid and
who has not. He said that it. was a
question whether the Mankato theatre
ought to be taxed or not. He feared
| that if the theatre was taxed there
would not be as good shows gotten for
the city. The citizens expect the the
atre to get as high a class of shows as
possible, and to charge a license fee
might handicap it, for the poorer class
o: shows come cheapest.
Mayor Taylor said that when the
council charged the Majestic theatre a
License fee of $50 it did not think that
the theatre was to be permanent af.
fair, otherwise it would not have cha"g.
ed it anything.
Aid. Schroeder thought it not fair that
it should be obliged to pay and the 9th
er theatre not.
Aid. Atchison said that for many
years the Mankato theatre did not pay.
1t is well managed, and gets good shows.
and he thought such house entitled to
assistance from city.
Aid. Schroeder said that the opera
house is benefit to the city, for it
brings large numbers of people to the
city from surrounding towns, who leave
money here.
Treat All Alike.
Aid Heinze said that whether Sam
Bear makes money with the theatre or
not Is not a question. 1t Is place of
amusement and he has it for the pur.
pose of money making, and it should be
licensed. Breslauer & Moore do not OBJ
ject to paying a license fee, and they
only charge ten cents admission, while
MIR. Bear charges 81 and $l.5O. All
should pay license fee. If 500 is too
high for the big theatre, cut it down
to $50 If $40 is too much for hack
1,.o, Il