The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-09
CURB BROKERS RAIL
AT $1,000 TAX PLAN
Ordinance Which Also Calls
for $4,000 Bond Raises
Howl Of Protest.
why PICK ON US?' Is CRY
Measure Is Denounced as an
Unwarranted Attack on
Personal Liberty.

Those shrill cries OF pain and anguish
which echoed and reechoed through the
canyons of Wall Street yesterday after
noon and which caused Onicer Bill Glass
to take a good Arm grip on his club and
puff down Broad sthreet on high to
ascertain who could be committing as
sault. maybe robbery. or possibly even
murder, on his beat, were found. after
due and deliberate Investigation by the
watchful Bill to come from curb brokers
who received a fash from the City Hall
that Alderman william +. Quinn had
proposed via an ordinance literally
sprinkled with many a whereas to
charge them u 900 each for the use OF
Broad street as n mart OF trade. Deep
BREATH
The ordinance as they heard of It's
provisions through II sort of q fog. from
which many OF them will not be able
to emerge for two or three days. pro-
vides that each of them should nay
into the treasury OF the city OF New
York the sum Of 1000 annually for the
privilege of trading in stocks In the
open air OF Broad street
As they wept into their cups In the
inns and taverns Of Wall Street yester-
that with a single exception, scheduled
to go into effect July 1. 1t Is a piece OF
legislation calculated to remove per-
sonal liberties from man In going about
his daily labors, and-with the single
exception Of July the most heinous
example OF class prejudice extant.
Besides where would the $1,000 come
from Many of them of course will feel
a warm glow that such sum should be
mentioned in connection with their
names. but others--particularly those
who happen TO have that amount Of
money-are determined to fight the in
creasing wave Of personal liberty limita-
ton.
The New York Curb market, an insti-
tuition of the financial district. where
ANY security in the world can be sold
has held Broad street as its very own
for half a generation. It sways up and
down the street with the years and at
present Is bounded on the west by the
line OF so Broad street and on the east
| by 20 Broad street. In dull days it's
numbers decrease and II quiets down
considerably. but In a good market II
wakes fat. spreads itself all over Broad
street and keeps the neighborhool as
well as itself. boiling with noise and
good nature and trading activity. 1t has
hcih Strcct ny ~ Soft Vi
appropriation of that thoroughfare and
Of course has paid no rent.
Just before the day days Of 1914 II
was proposed to the Curb Market As
ISOLATION that II move indoors. Such a
howl OF protest went UP from the brokers
that the proposal was pigeonhoied and
| 1t now lies gathering dust in the official
desk in the official office. The brokers
| themselves feel like II would be trying
to put a bucking broncho in n drawing
room. OF course It could be done. but.
They just seem to feel as II they must
have room, and Broad street furnishes
IL. But this $1,000 tax proposition lie
| another thing.
Officials OF the organization were
asked about it last night. They did not
treat II In a serious light. They wanted
TO know. quite casually. who is Mr. Al
| derman William F. Quinn, and where
does he get that thousand dollar stuff
and more sarcastic remarks along the
same general line The drift O. Il
seemed to be: Why pick on u.s.
The ordinance. which was referred 10
the Committee on General Welfare for
| consideration, not only provides for a
| 81 600 license fee for curb brokers' bu,
also that they shall furnish a bond OF
| $4,000 to the city FOR the due oh.
servance OF all financial obligat!ona' ~
| Upon conviction of a violation Of the
| proposed ordinance a broker would b
| liable TO a fine OF $500 or Imprisonment,
for six months. or both.