The Chitina leader., 1915-07-20
C0RDOVA v Il |
TAX|T|NERANT
MERCHANTS

providing that municipalities might
tax itinerant merchants. This was
done as the present law on the subject
was entirely inadequate, city ordi-
nances providing for such taxes being
void as not within the powers of the
cities in Alaska under the Code. The
matter was brought to the attention Of
the legislature, and it needed no urg-
ing to make the members see the
necessity of remedying the situation.
Accordingly H. B. "a was introduced
and passed, being signed by Governor
Strong April 20. The law is as fol-
lows:
Section 1. That the Common Coun-
Gil of any incorporated town within
the Territory of Alaska, in addition to
the powers to impose taxes now
granted by law for the purpose of pro-
viding revenue for municipal purposes,
is hereby granted the power to pro-
vide, by ordinance, that any itinerant
merchant before doing business with
in such incorporated town, must first
procure a license in the manner pro-
vided by the city ordinance, and pay
for such license such sum as the Coun-
Gil, by ordinance, may prescribe for
each month that such itinerant mer-
chant does business within such in
corporated town.
Sec. 2. The Common Council of
any incorporated town requiring, by
ordinance, that the license mentioned
in Section l Of this act, must first be
procured beofre any itinerant mer-
chant is permitted to do business
within such incorporated town, may
also provide, by ordinance, that any
person violating any of the provisions
of this act, upon conviction, shall be
( deemed guilty of misdemeanor, and
the Common Council may provide
punishment for such misdemeanor by
fine or imprisonment or both.
Sec. 8. An itinerant merchant, in
the meaning of this act, is a person
who has no fixed place Of business and
brings into incorporated towns Of
Alaska, commodities, merchandise. or
agricultural products not maunfac-
tured or produced by himself, or
bankrupt stock of goods, for the pur-
pose of selling any of the above men
toned articles, commodities. or prod
ucts, in competition with merchants
proper, engaged permanently in bust
ness and residents and taxpayers in
the town where their business is car
ried on.
The law becomes effective on July
20, and already the Common Council
of Cordova have had the matter under
consideration. There can be no doubt
about the passage Of an ordinance by
the local council which will tax timer
ant merchants. for all the members
are In favor of 1t. The present ordi-
nance is void, but as soon as the law
becomes effective new ordinance will
be introduced. The only delay will be
due to the fact that it takes five coun-
cilmen to pass an ordinance, and
there are only three in town now.
BARLEY Howard will return on the
next boat from the south, and Edgar
Davis will also return within short
time from the Hot Springs at Sitka.
When he returns the matter will with
out question be put into law and
placed upon the city ordinance book.
The Juneau City Council is ,contem-
plating a similar action, and like Cor
dova they are only waiting for July
20 to come round before introducing
the ordinance. 1t is more than likely
that all the other cities in Alaska will
take similar actions.
/ -:O:-