Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-10-24
ITINERANT VEN
DOR CASE BRINGS
$3.50 IN TAXES

So little has been heard of the
itinerant vendors law in recent years
that it has almost been forgotten, but
case last week in our own city, where
ut-of-town dealers stepped up to the
captains office and settled recalled it
to mind.
1t became known to the local asses
sors that Portland parties were in
town with stock of millinery, which
was for sale. The assessors accord
ingly visited the scene of action, as
sessed the goods and the party
promptly paid over to the city treas
urer the amount of the tax. $3.50.
1t will be recalled that some years
ago it was the rule, rather than the ex-
ception, to have appear in almost any
place in Maine some party with a mess
of goods with which to hold a Bank
rupt Stock" sale, a Fire" sale or some
other kind fof sale. All this became
exceedingly annoying to our regular
merchants and steps were taken to de-
wise means of Kidding the State of the
nuisance. Oh
A. NJ. Goddard, then a practicing
lawyer in this city, was given the
proposition and he drafted the timer
ant Vendors" bill and had it presented
to the Legislature. Mr.. Goddard says
he remembers that, when appearing
before the committee on judiciary in
behalf of the BILL he was asked by
member of the committee If il was not
prohibitive in its requirements. Mr..
Goddard was frank in his reply that 1t
certainly was prohibitive and that was
just the intent of the bill, to prohibit
the nuisances of that day from being
longer inflicted upon our people. The
bill was enacted into law in short
order.
For few years after it went into
operation numerous cases came up and
more or less revenue was derived from
it's workings, but it was not designed
for revenue and the prohibitive part of
the schema soon began to get in It's
work and the Fly by Night" traders
soon gave up Maine as a profitable
field.
The so-called prohibitive part is in
the fact that before person can even
advertise one of these sales he must
have deposited with the secretary of
State the sum of $500, which remains
on deposit until the license is cancell-
ed. Then s25 is paid for a license good
for a year, in any part of the State.
This license then must be taken to the
city treasurer, the assessed tax paid
and it there remains while business is
being done in that place. When the
next place is visited the license is pre-
sented to the proper official and the
same ceremony as to assessment and
taxes is repeated. AS may be imag-
ined all this makes no end of bother
and expense, and few have had the
nerve to often repeat it. In fact, it ac-
complished it's purpose, it drove out
the undesirable vendors.
Inquiry at the secretary OF States
office developed the fact that since
1904 the State has constantly had on
deposit the sum of $500 each from two
Boston firms of high standing, who for
years have done a legitimate business
in this State, but who were obliged by
the technicality of the law to observe
the same conditions as the itinerants.
One Of these even has within the past
few weeks had it's license cancelled,
leaving but one on the list.
The law has been evaded by a few
persons by selling by sample only, the
delivery of goods being made at lat
er date. AS a rule, however, Augusta
are perfectly well able to
take care of all the shopping wants of
its own as well as those Of people of
other places