The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-11-03
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'PEODL.ER' CODE: ON
TABLE FOR WEEK
Stormy Session Of City Council
Marks Attempt to Lower
Transient Merchant Fee.

After long and stormy session, in
which the city commissioners, the city
legal staff, a score or more of promi-
nent local retail merchants and gro-
wives league joined and in which
michigan street. was embroiled,
Commissioner Phillips proposed reso-
luton relating ITO the lowering of
license fees for transient merchants,
failed in it's attempt at third reading
and passage at the meeting of the
city council Monday afternoon. 1t
was tabled for one week, pending fur
Their investigation.
At the outset the chances of the
measure passing were dealt a telling
blow when City Attorney Samuelson
opined that farmers who wished to
bring in any kinds of produce in any
manner might sell it in any way with
no liceRse hindrance on the part of
the city, providing he lives in the
state of Minnesota. There Is no IL
cense or tax Of any kind regulating
the raising or selling of food stuffs
by farmers within the state.
Would Reduce License.
Commissioner Phillips ordinance
provides for a reduction of the tran
silent merchant license from $40 per
day to 81 per week, a reduction of
$50 a week. 1t was originally thought
! that this would greatly encourage
farmers to bring in their produce in
| carload lots for sale here. But when
City Attorney Samuclson held that the
farmers were required to get no Ii
cense, the measure lost big argu-
ment in it's favor.
! The ordinance then resolved itself
down to a measure allowing outsiders
to bring in any kinds Of foodstuffs for
sale here at a material reduction in
J the license fee.
| George M. Peterson, representing
the retail merchants, and Simon Clark
spoke against the passage of the or.
dinance.
Says People Need Protection.
Commissioner Phillips sat through
considerable of the argument silent
but when he finally arose he kept the
floor for some time and spoke rather
bitterly. You people are at thu
mercy of Michigan street," he said
addressing the growers and referring
to the commission men. This OBJ
lection, I believe, is merely one o.
Michigan streets schemes to keep ou
competition.
you say that you need protection
But how about the people? DON
they need it too? There is no ques
ton but that this ordinance, by re
ducing the severe license fee, will en-
courage outsiders to bring in food
stuffs for sale here in carload lots
and this will result in a material de
crease in the cost of living.
Il was in the grocery business si1
years. I know that there are som'
grocers who have a bank roll hi,
enough to go down to Minneapolis Of
St. Paul or some other place ever,
now and then to make carload pur
chases, thus saving money. But tn,
average grocer cannot do that be
cause he hasn't the means: so he j.
at the mercy of Michigan street
Michigan street controls absolutel.
the very destinies of the average Du
lnth grocer. The license fee of SO ,
day is too severe. Outsiders can
make any money above it and thel
stay away.
Mayor Magney and COMMISSIONS
Phillips, the latter the author of thu
ordinance, were in favor, following
the arguments, of putting the meas
ure to the test" md either passing 1
or turning it down. Commissioner
Farrell, Silberstein and Voss, however
expressed themselves as being in ia
vor of holding it a. week, pending in
vestigation. That's the way the vot'
stood-3 to 2. Hence it was tabled
| for a week