Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-02-25
WILL THRESH OUT
NEW LICENSE TAX
ORDINANCE FRIDAY
City Commissioners to Confer on
Measure Covering Every
Phase of Trade

How much the butcher, the baker
and the candlestick maker. the NOV
ing picture operator, the huckster, the
peanut vendor, the insurance agent,
the utilities corporations, the con-
tractor. the skating rink and circus
manager, the liveryman and the broker
will have to pay the city of Harris
burg for the privilege of doing busi-
ness each year will be threshed out at
conference of the city councilmen
Friday afternoon.
The problem is embodied in Har-
risburg's first real license tax ordi-
nance, introduced yesterday in Coun-
Gil by Commissioner w. L. Gorgas,
superintendent of finance. The meas
ure not only provides for the fees to
be charged for conducting every line
of business in the city and for the
method of levying and collecting or
assessments. but for the appointment
of the new municipal Office of city
license tax officer.
The officials salary is fixed by the
ordinance at $1,000 and he is required
to file bond for the same amount.
Old Law obsolete
Not since 1892 has the city adopted
license ordinance and the develop
ment of new lines of industrial and
commercial activities has made this
measure more or less obsolete. Many
changes in the fee schedule will be
necessary before the measure is finally
adopted.
The Chamber of Commerce has
asked for the privilege of hearing
on the ordinance and this will likely
be granted within the next few weeks.
Representatives of certain lines of
business affected will also ask to be
heard The conference Friday after
noon will be held at 8 o'clock and
City Clerk Miller was authorized to-
day to call the commissioners to-
gether. Announcement was made
that the meeting will be behind closed
doors.
In addition to considering the new
license tax measure the commission
ers will scan the 1914 budget measure,
also offered in skeleton form at yes
terday's session. City Clerk Miller is
notifying the various departmental
heads to send in their estimates.
The principal problem of the license
measure is the amount of the fees to
be charged.
Tentative Rates
Tentative rates are as follows:
SioStlS, SolllSC-
toners, produce and merchandise ven-
dors, lumber and furniture dealers
saddle and harness merchants, sta
TONERS. jewellers and merchants of all
other kinds, 50 annually, with an ad-
ditional mill per dollar on gross vol
ume of business; maximum limit of
fee, 500.
Contractors and realty agents, $5,
and half mill per dollar on gross vol.
ume of business.
Fire and life insurance agents, SO.
Auctioneers, $40.
Hawkers, peddlers, without horse or
cart, $40; with horse and cart, S12;
farmers selling own produce in street
excepted
Instalment firms and companies, $25.
Soliciting orders for goods from
others not merchants, 500, excepting
commercial travellers who take orders
for firms which pay license.
Street booths, peanut and fruit
stands, whether by consent of abutting
property owner or not, $40.
Bowling alleys, pool tables, etc, SO
per alley or table.
Shooting galleries, $40.
Restaurant keepers. S5, with addi-
tional mill per dollar on gross volume !;
maximum limit, 500.
Brokers, pawnbrokers, market house
companies, express, telegraph, tele-
phone, steam heating, gas, water or
electric lighting companies, 800.
Livery and boarding stables, SO.
Keepers of drays. hacks, automo-
biles or other vehicles for conveyance,
So per vehicle.
Skating rinks. opera houses. cir
cuses, menageries Except wherein
proceeds are for charitable, educa-
tional or religious purposes). $100.
Moving picture theaters, $50.
The license taxes for 1914 are made
payable June l and on April 1 an
nually thereafter; per cent. penalty
will be added for delinquency after
July 10 in 1914 and after May 10
thereafter. Fines and penalties OF
from s5 to 500 or thirty days in Jail
will be imposed for failure to pay.
The City Treasurer will be required
to furnish tags inscribed with number
and year. Failure to show tags will
entail penalty of s5 to s25 fine or
thirty days. The license tax officer
will register and collect all licenses
and the Board of Tax Revision will sit
a hoard nf annaaIs