Amador ledger., 1906-02-16
CITY OFFICIAL PAPER.
FRIDAY: FEBRUARY IS, 1901
Some Opposition.

Inc DrduCnluS OUT Ill uHbIl6u Ho1uo NY
the city government in order to give
greater scope to the license system,
and increase the revenue from this
source, by dragging in new industries,
is meeting with strenuous opposition,
and a fat denial on the part OF
some of the power of the trustees to
levy IN the manner proposed. On
we'll established lines, the license
business will meet with little opposi-
tion. Business men who have been
contributing in this way to the sup
port of the county government, will
make no kick simply because the
revenue is transferred, by incorpora-
tion, from the county to the city
treasurer. 1t costs them no more
than heretofore, and really they pre-
fer to have the money devoted to a
purely local purpose, in the improve
ment of the city, rather than to the
county as whole.
But when new departures are made,
and tradesmen or artisans are sought
to be mulcted for license, who never
paid such tax before, the case is
different, and determined opposition
is at once created. The desire to
avoid a high tax for general purposes
is natural. The idea has been held
out that the launching of the city
government means no additional tax
upon the property holders of Jack
son, and the authorities want to make
good their declarations. Still it is
quite possible to pursue a policy that
will be far more prejudicial to the
welfare of the town than a slight
increase of property taxes incident
to incorporation. The Ledger has
never taken stock in the idea that 6
dual government can be efficiently
maintained without additional ex,
pense.
Some will be found in every com
munity who will not hesitate to urge,
from ulterior motives, a radical and
unwise policy. A blacksmith and
wagonmaker, for instance, as a help
and a side show to his business, keeps
a cart or buggy for sale on commission.
1t is merely an incident to his regular
business as fan artisan. The profit
made on such sales cut little figure
III his trade, and would not justify
him in the payment of a license. To
attempt to bring such person within
the scope of the vendors of merchan-
disc subject to license tax, is un-
wise to say the least. He would not
pay the tax; would rather quit such
holfuI sideshow transactions than
pay license. The outcome would
simply be that jackson would be de-
prived of the amount OF commission.
The outside manufacturer would send
the goods in just the same, gobble up
the whole profits, and contribute
nothing for the privilege of doing
such business. The system would
thus work to the advantage of the
outsider, and the detriment of our
own residents.
Besides which, such ext1 eme policy,
carried to its ultimatum, would place
an embargo on all trading outside the
licensed merchants. A householder
could not sell piece of furniture
without a license. A blacksmith
could not sell a busheI of coal, nor
a printing office sc sheet of card
board, not to be obtained elsewhere,
without license. Few are so small
souled as to recommend such a course
which, if insisted upon, would not
help the city treasury to the extent
of one cent; but would only result
in driving such trade away from
Jackson. The same argument will
apply to the effort to impose a
license upon contractors inside the
city, and lumber dealers doing busi-
ness in jackson and residents of the
county. Lumber men ontslde the
county can ship lumber by the car
load into Amador and have the same
delivered within the city limits by
regular freight teams, without paying
license, either county or municipal for
doing such business. Can any solid
reason, therefore, be advanced, why a
lumber dealer, simply because he
chooses to live IN jackson, shuuld be
handicapped by the demand for a
license tax. These are considerations
that should be carefully weighed.
They are interviewer with the welfare
of the city. A mere desire to make
revenue for the support of the
municipal government is a long way
from being the only or even the most
important thing to be considered
g. Cure Cold IN One Day.
noIy IN