Norwich bulletin., 1912-11-16

At @ special hearing given by the police commissioners on Friday even ing on the question of licenses for peddlers, the discussion simmered down in the end to what ought to be the license fee charged. The two in terests represented, which were the Norwich Business Mems association, which brought the petition for the hearing. and the delegation from a meeting of Hebrew peddlers and mer- chants which appeared as opponents to the license, agreed in the end to submit in writing what they consider cd fair charge for peddlers' licenses. This they will give to the police com eissioners as an aid to them in draft ing a proposed city ordinance on the question.
 Mayor Murphy called the meeting to order just after o'clock in the coun- ell chamber, The commissioners, All dermen Mclaughlin and Hourigan and Councilmen Baker and Williams, were present and Police Chief George Lin ton sat with the commissioners. Cor poration Counsel Joseph T. Tanning was also present and the space for spectators outside the railing was fill ed so that some were given seats in side.
 Began the Discussion.
 Charles w. Pearson, secretary of the Norwich Business Mems association, opened the discussion for the petition CTS, He said the business men were after some kind of protection. There should be a license for hawkers and peddlers with a reasonable fee as in other places He instanced that a Norwich man would have to have It. cense to peddle in Sprague, but a man from Sprague could peddle here un- hindered. MT. Pearson stated that we seemed to have ordinances but they didn't seem to be effective.
 Combine at Work.
 Bernard J. Murray said he consid- cred 1t was evident that there was a combine in operation in the proposal for a license made by the Norwich business mems association. He claim ed that R. J. Jodoin had refused ever to collect cent of license money in Sprague, although there was an ordi- nance. The peddler, argued the speak CT, goes to class of people too poor to go to the stores, and he has to trust his customers and run the risk of loss. He combatted any suggestion that the peddler was vampire on the com munity, and said that the New York
 
 title. Many present day successful Norwich business men had at one time carried the basket" and the peddler was 8 benefit to- the people because he made prices cheap for the consumer. He claimed that license was a case of greed to get something out of the small mans pocket.
 Who Will Be Pretected7
 Attorney Herman Alofsin, 2d. made an argument on behalf of a large body of men who do business as ped dleFs. He asked if there was a neces- sfty for a license. He argued that there was no call now for high li- cense and thus make a direct or indi- rect tax which every man was paying already. The oity does not want rev enue from these peddlers, but it is said the license is to protect some business men. It's a question whicE to protect. The small man or thk Main street business man. If you wan to protect the city against outsiders put the license fee high enough fol it. The present license fee is BIO fol footgoers and $15 for teams, and $2i l for non-residents. The attorney sug, gested a fee of about $6 which should be collected from all and should bt enough to deter outsiders from com. ing in. ell argued that there is nC justice in the present ordinance anC it's enforcement.
 No Hardship Meant.
 President Charles s. Fairclough dis claimed any intention to put a hard ship on anyone. as the business mem