Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-12-08
REFUSES TO CONSIDER
LICENSE TAX MEASURE
Ordinance Presented by Representa-
tives az Merchants Association
places assessment Of Fifty Dollars
Day on .enerant Merchants Do
ing Business Here.


teen members present. the common
council last night adopted q resolu-
. zion requesting Mayor Marquis Jones
10 call the attention OF the local man.
ases OF the Southern Bell Telephone
& Telegraph Company to the fact
that come OF the telephone wires OF
the company in this city are rusty
ana brittle and liable 10 fall and 10
Inform MIN that unless the bad wires
are replaced as speedily as IS possible
The city attorney will proceed agains.
the company.
This resolution was offered by
Councilman George W. Whitley, OF
the Third ward. under the roll cali
last before the council adjourned. Mr..
Whitley offered as an exhibit OF the
condition Of some OF the wires a
small coil OF wire which wa cut
from a telephone wire which fell at
Washington avenue and Twenty
eighth street few days ago. He
SAID that both Mayor Jones and the
city electrician were summoned 10
. the scene and .hst the city electrician
cnt the sample displayed from the
| fallen wire
Wire Very Rusty.
The wire displayed by Mr.. Whitley
was very rusty aud so brittle tnat
. il would break at the least bending.
In explaining this condition OF the
wire. Mr.. Whitley said that IL the
wire should fall across an electric
Ugh; or current wire any person talk
Ing over a telephone in the circuit
prs baby would be killed.
After Mr.. Whitley had completed
| his explanation. Mr.. Harris offered an
amendment providing that the COM
pany's attention also be directed 10
the poles, saying that some OF the
poles are so decayed that they are
liable TO fall. tearing down mauy
wires and possibly injuring dozens OF
people. This amendment was adept
ed
Last nights session of the ccun-
ell was one of the busiest the body
has held in many months aud the
heavy calendar was practically clear
ei.
Although a resolution ousting him
from the council and declaring his
seat from the Second ward 10 be va
cant is now pending before the body
Councilman Ernest c. Cox was pres
ent at the meeting aud took a very
active part In the proceedings. Tic
arrived in the council chamber q hall
hour before the meeting was called
&c order and held conferences with
several CT the c0uncilmeD.
Merchants REQUEST Denied.
Following rather brief, au; inter.
esting discussion. the council by q
vote OF eight to I've refused TO Gus.
pend the rules 20 take action on Al
ordnance IMPOSING q license tax O
$50 DAY on all itincrsrt merchants
deing business in this city. This ca
dinance was offered by Councilman
s-headle. Of tie First ward. aud wa
handed TO him by Representatives q
the Merchants Association. il is al
exact copy Of ordinances now in ef
feet In Norfolk. Richmond an,
Isypchburg.
The M assure provides that the Ia,
. snail be imposed upon any vercs,
OF asy goods or merchandise brough
into the city for sale 20 consumers o.
BY retail. including bankrupt. Insoi
vent. assignee, trustee. insurance
fire. job let. mis6t OF remnant stock
The measure includes all persons VII,
rent stores mere temporarily 10 a.
pose Of bankrupt and fire stocks.
Councilman Christie was the frs
20 offer opposition to the measure
iIe said that he did not think tn
council should pass this ordinance 4
a hurry and that he was no; pre-
pared 10 vote on il then. Mr.. Harri
made vigorous speech against tn
measure. He declared that Il va
designed TO prevent people froi
bringing Christmas articles to sc
70 the people e. this city. He form
a. said that be believed that N
people had right TO spend The
mones where hey pleased and 70
What they pleased asd thst n the
wanted to Buy from ouf-cf-town PEE
PIE that was. their right and the.
privilege aad that the couscil shOu
not place prchsb.five license upo
p-cpIe coming here 70 sell stuff.
When Mr.. Harris took his sea
Nr. Wallace Jumped TO his feet az
1c.la-ed that the merchants Of u
rifv ~sre honest in their busine.
arafirxs ana that be resented TIE 8
k.ru7f.o1 % Mr.. Harris that the
we're -gr1fters-~ Mr. Wallace
speech surprised fvcEy one IN n
ccnncii chsnccr - no one apparen
~ had drawn sach al inference ITO
ar. fr1rrlr talk Nr Har-is hinss
sssc Inst he had made no ssea q