Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-08-07
MANY PROTEST NEW
MUNICIPAL LEVY
Corner Grocer Might Suffer Sc
vercly Through His Com
positc Wares.

Undertakers, architects. dairy men, md
small grocers Of Wilmington have placed
themselves on record MS opposed 10 the
ordinance now before City Council look
ing to the licensing of nearly every busi-
ness and profession in the city. The small
grocers say that they will be hit hardest
by the new license system. because a
small grocery is composite sort Of store
where milk and candies and cigars may
be sold as well as groceries In addition
the small store may have slot machine
or two, may handle newspapers, and
sell ice cream.
The license on grocery store is to be
so. For selling cigars there is n TO be
charge Of So for candies $40, ice cream,
S5 newspapers So, and three dollars for
each slot machine. This would amount
to nearly $40 n year in operation licenses.
TIE small grocer SAYS the system is not
eunable. that he s discrimiDated against.
In support of his argument he points
out that merchant tailor, no matter how
arge his busi ness is To be charged but
$40, contracting plumber. SIS, coal
dealers. s25. baker $40, etc.
w. l.. Richards Of the Clover Dairy
Co, contends that the milk dealer 10 bit
harder by the proposed schedule than
ANYBODY else 1--WE would readily agree 60
pay n fair tax" he said. "but this measure
is unjust To our business. Charging each
team $3.50 in addition to <he main tax
Of $50, would make the dalries the moat
levied business of all.
"We deal in a public necessity" said
Mr.. Richard. Our product is one that
would be far greater for us than for a
business engaged in selling luxury"
Michael A. Mealey. president Of the
Delaware State Funeral Directors Associ
alton saws that the undertakers wiz act
on the proposed ordinance at the MEET
ng Of the association Tuesday night.
f. A word of approval comes from ELI
wood Souder. furniture store proprietor
who said ct is beyond question that tho
city must have additional revenues. |
feel that this tax is a good one becatise Il
reaches many people who otherwise would
not contribute TO the support of tho city.
There is some hope that tho small
grocer will not have to pay more than the
one tax covering his grocer's license.
Charles Forwood, chairman of the finance
committee Of City Council, when asked
this morning whether il was the intention
of the ordinance to charge a grocer several
fees in case he happened ia sell candy and
cigars and lee cream as we'll "a groceries,
eaid that il was question which council
or the city solicitor must decide.
"City Council is averse 10 passing any
tax ordinance that ia going 20 constitute
hardship To any man" Nh. Forwood
aaid. cit may be that q merchant who
paws license for selling groccrie may
not have TO pay an additional one II he
happens to sell cigars or candies. ! oan-
not say yet just how the measure will
operate But | do want 10 say that NOM
bers of tho City Council want 70 give a
hearing 10 any end all business men who
think that the proposed ordinance will
work hardship 20 them. The council meets
az committee of the whole next Wednes-
day night, and at that time such persons
will be heard"