Arizona republican., 1915-12-08
Where the People
 May Have Hearing
WORD TO THE POLICE

To the Police Commission, Phoenix: Gentlemen:-Being one of the prin- clpal dealers in a general variety of second hand goods, I take the liberty to present a few potent suggestions, and explain certain points relating to this business.
 The present law requires a record kept (and goods also kept seven days before selling) of all articles pur- chased. This is wholly impracticable and wrong, as it is not, and cannot be obeyed. First, a dealer would have to raise a double amount of capital; he would have to hold for storage purpose more than double re- quired room, he would have to employ double the number of employees, and therefore, a living business would have to be doubled, for him to exist strongly advocate, and believe in safeguarding property, but if you make | 1t impossible for a large dealer to | carry on business you encourage petty | transactions, and vice.
 You suggest requiring of a dealer | to take the name of any one selling, | and the name of the party buying i If l were to demand of some lady here, selling from her home some use 1 AN'''' S'A SANiVs litl ildIIits dScs SlLe anu l other requirements, and then when selling make a like demand from 1 purchaser. believe me there would be | few transactions. Fictitious names of course could be given. and right there 1 trouble would follow
 You suggest that dealers give a 1 bond-a bond for what2 All second hand competing dealers pay cash; but l presuming that the seller gave credit and failed to be paid, where does the 1 bond avail? Do not all business l houses purchase on credit, from 3C 1 days up2 Is the second hand busi- ness system any different? Would l giving the city bond put any lucre | in the pocket of a creditor. even il l the city cancelled the buyers licenseI | Is not the stock he carries of any l assurance? Really I don't know the 1 system of others in business here l but with me and I have followed 1 many lines, my system is precisely | what it was when I was a first in stead of a second hand dealer. Al low me to give the information. that were I dependent on profits from tho petty sales of razors, old pants, wOrT out guns, etc, etc, I would die Oi starvation within ten days. Our prof | IL lS utilN eu pIlutibdIN. anu dlIllbS wholly from repairing old furniture istoves, etc. placing them on the mar ket, and disposing of them to peopl, of moderate or small means with this it is expected that junk dealer keep toOthpicks and cogwheels, anC everything intermediate
 Let me here present to you another side of this question On the out skirts, Cover the line) of this city i: a dealer who. unmolested can buy | sell, exchange or take on commission any article scheduled or unscheduleC in the city lists. With no rents, n' | ely tax. etc, etc, he should be abl' to flourish and grow fat. Do vol wish by untenanting these junk stores | to drive away trade?
 | Now the autcioneer-AnOther un restricted dealer. I am on the yer! best of terms and friendliness witt them all. but allude to the inconsist ency of conditions. If I purchase bicycle a long record must be file, in. and the bicycle held seven days The same wheel can be taken whil l the acution progresses, eff not sold me put up. and disposed of for cash, t me, who places it on sale. sells to stranger and is at no risk, trouble O | annoyance whatever. The wheel wa stolen. What recourse under thes
 conditions has the owner when no
 finding his wheel? None whatever Again, an autcioneer buys. sells. am
 hawks all goods that I keep. He i not required to rent buildings or em ploy clerks and deliveries to dispos of these goods, but by making glitter ing promises of returning double re l suits to owners. he takes from tn second hand dealer, and sells imme
 diately, that which you demand W
 hold seven days to safeguard the pub lie. How about that?
 These things are alluded to for req
 son of some commission member chasing second hand, and auctio
 dealers, on the same basis. and intend
 ing treating them similar. It is
 great mistake. What is sauce fC
 the goose is gall for the gander"
 I offer no suggestions as to treat
 ment of autcioneers; but I see no req
 son for asking second hand dealers
 store his purchases. That a recOr
 of such articles as bicycles, guns, pis
 tols, jewelry, musical instrument
 saddles, etc. should he kept, is undis
 putable; provided not purchased wit 1 household goods direct; but to lis
 everything, both when buying an
 selling is simply impossible, unneces
 sary, and clamp which when tight
 ened would force any dealer of moder
 ate means out of business.
 GEO. O. FORD.