Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-03-01

and periodicals and sales by newsboys.
A question as to this exception was
later made by Judge Dearth Of DeX-
ter and he was given assurance that
neWsboys would be exempted from
the provisions of the act.
Mr.. Goss said that the bill was ia
vored by merchants associations and
chambers Of commerce throughout the
State and that its purpose was to get
the record of temporary peddlers and
to require those doing business perma-
nently to contribute to the expense of
government as merchants along the
street were obliged to do.
The measure was advocated by A. L.
| T. Cummings, secretary of the Retail
Bureau of the Portland Chamber Of
Commerce. who said that he believed
that it would benefit the merchants of
his city by doing away with unfair
competition.
George E. Thompson Of Bath spoke
for the measure saying that it would
protect the homes from a class of in
solent peddlers who were often a men,
ace to the wives and daughters of
people in his city.
A. N. Soule. president Of the Angus
ia Retail Merchants Association, the
organization with which the bill orig
mated. stated that the bill was aimed
at the following classes: Boston COM
mission merchants who, when over
stocked put teams up into Maine;
dealers in stepla dders who come to
Maine from New Hampshire; dry goods
and clothing pack peddlers: tea. coffee
and spice teams: dealers who furnish
supplies to peddlers; dealers who send
out agents. quack eye glass doctors.
Cuban cigar peddlers, street corner
hawlSers and the Armenian peddlers,
who visited the poorer households and
frequently spread disease. He said that
if he took stock Of goods to Gardiner
TO sell he would be obliged to pay
tax to the secretary Of State and he
thought that the peddlers also should
be made to pay a tax.
The Waterville Chamber Of Com
merce was represented at the hearing
by II. l.. Emery and by President
Ralph Patterson. Mr.. Emery speaking
in favor of the measure as one OF JUS
tice to the home merchant.
James M. Gillir of Bangor spoke for
the Bangor Chamber Of Commerce and
in favor of the measure.
C. B. Hosmer of Lewiston thought
that there should be an amendment so
that the exception in regard to the
sale of farm products should only ap-
ply when the vendor was the producer.
Rep. Packard of Rockland read a letter
from the Rockland Merchants Associa-
ton in favor of the bill.
Senator Davies and Senator Gillin of
should be made in favor of the needy
blind and cited the cause of w. j. Ryan
of Portland, the blind peddler OF the
Farmers Almanac, well-known through
out the State.
"Mr. Ryan is a State institution and
should not be disturbed" declared Sem
ator Davies. and MI Ryan from his
seat in the hall of the House. where
the hearing was held on account of the
big crowd present. recognized the COM
pliment and smiled.
The case Of the remonstrants was
forcefully presented by Augustus F..
Moulton, who declared that the State
had already passed two itinerant ven
doris laws which had been declared I'M
constitutional because they violated the
principle that all persons should be
7
| He appeared for the peddlers of
| Portland many of whom were worthy
people and for the Maine institution for
! the blind. The license of $25 for every
town in which they operated would be
practically prohibitive, he said.
This is a measure in favor of the
big men and against the little men and
it is absolutely un-American," said Mr..
/ IIa that the nprSOn
who had drawn the bill was good
| lawyer and had left out any reference
to the out of State peddlers and left
in it the very feature to which he and
his clients objected the application to
| peddlers in the State.
He declared that the bill would pre-
vent a barefoot boy from pedling blue
berries to the summer residents at the
beaches without first getting license
costing s25 from the town clerks of
Old Orchard, Scarboro, Cape. Elizabeth
and all other towns in which he oper-
ated. 1t would also put the Indian bas-
! ket peddlers out of business.
He spoke of the peddlers of his city
as men who were just starting in bus
mess with large families and would be
ruined by the measure. He called upon
! several WllHCSoSo ia oNPPoAS -N-~
contention.
| Rep Baxter of the committee cited
the case of worthy women that he
knew who peddled extracts in Portland
and surrounding towns and said that
! this bill would put them out of BUSH
ness. Mr.. Goss admitted that 1t would
but said there had to be some hardship
somewhere.
Cyrus n. Blanchard of Wilton ap-
peared before the judiciary commit
tee in opposition to an act which would
authorize the guardians of insane
! widows to waive the provisions of their
husbands wills. He said there should
be a provision for a hearing before a
probate judge and decree made by a
judge. Judge Sanford l.. Fogg Of Au-
gusta also appeared in opposition to
the bill.
County Commissioners F. S. Farrar
! of Corinth and Charles w. Stephens of
Old Town and Probation Officer Robert
A. Jordan of Bangor appeared in be-
half of an act which would authorize
the county of Penobscot to borrow
! $4,000 for the purchase of county
farm for inebriates. Mr.. Jordan spoke
of the condition of the men in the Jail
sometimes FIVE in a cell, and afflicted
with all kinds of diseases and said that