Los Angeles herald., 1910-04-29
DOWN AND OUT IS
TEAM|NG TAX LAW
Police Judge Chambers Hands the
Sleep Tablet to License
Ordinance
THREE DOLLARS FEE SAVED
ImpoSt on Vehicles Tramped on
Toes of Los Angeles
City Charter

Expressmen, truckmen, teamsters
and all persons or firms engaged In the
business of delivering freight or goods
for hire are exempt from paying
quarterly license OF SO on each imple-
ment or vehicle used in carrying on
that business, according to a decision
rendered yesterday by Police Judge
Chambers, in which he held that the
ordinance imposing such tax Is un-
constitutional and therefore Illegal
The decision was rendered in the
case of w. l.. Stephens, a teamster,
who was arrested on charge or CON
dueting a teaming and trucking busi-
ness without paying the city the quar-
terly tax on each wagon under his con-
troll.
The same question arose some timo
ago when Adolph Tennison was arrest
ed on a similar charge. lie was taken
before Police Judge Williams, found
guilty and fined So. His case was ap-
pealed and as yet has not been dis
posed OF by the superior court.
AGAIN ARRESTED
While his case was on appeal Tenni-
son was again arrested, charged with
the same offense, and taken before
Police Judge Rose. He was fined $3'
but Judge Rose, In pronounclng SEN
ney not to arrest him so long as his
case was on appeal.
In both cases the constitutionality of
the ordinance was argued by Inn
Coakley, counsel for the Teamsters'
association, and the same contentious
made as were made before Judge
Chambers.
Notwithstanding the adverse decis-
ions os Judges Rose and Williams.
Judge Chambers declared the ordinance
to be ineffective and imperative.
In rendering his decision he stated
that the ordinance was in strict VIOLA
ton of the Los Angeles city charter
which provides that no discrimination
shall be made between people engaged
in the same line of business except by
proportion;ng the tax to the amount OF
business done.
The ordinance provides that all firms
or persons engaged in running carts,
wagons or vehicles for the delivery OF
freight or goods for hire shall pay $3 a
quarter, excepting those engaged In
hauling dirt, sand and gravel.
NEW ORDINANCE
A new ordinance has been drafted by
the city council striking out this dis
eliminating clause. The ordinance
should have gone into effect today, but
will probably be placed before the peo-
ple at a special election, as there has
bcen a referendum petition with 600O
signatures presented to the city clerk
protesting against the ordinance.
Until an election is held, and there
is no emergency ordinance adopted oy
the council, all persons included In the
old ordinance will not be obliged TO
pay the quarterly tax.
II is under stood that the city prose-
cutor will go before the city council at
its next meeting, Tuesday and, ask
that body to adopt an emergency ordi,
nance to go into effect Immediately and
remain in effect until the new proposed
ordinance is disposed of.
At this meeting the Teamsters' asso-
citation will be represented by Attorney
Coakley, who will ask the council TO
lew a tax on the teamster the same
as is levied on banks and other busi-
ness. That is, according to the amount
of business done, instead of imposing
tax of SO on each team used.
II don't want to be misunderstood
I'm this matter" said Attorney Coakley.
t'The teamsters are not complaining
because they have to pay tax, but
they are willing to pay reasonable
tax as is levied in other lines of busi-
ness. We do seriously object to having
, to nav SO a quarter on every team,
because it is exorbitant."
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re- as easv 70 secure a bargain in a used