Early Springfield Ordinances
From Directory of the City of Springfield
John W. Kees & Co., Springfield. 1852
AN ORDINANCE
To license and regulate runners and solicitors for taverns in the city of Springfield.
Sec. 1. Be it ordained by the city council of the city of Springfield, That the mayor of said city, be, and is hereby authorized and empowered to license for each and every tavern in said city, a suitable number of persons to solicit passengers for said taverns, at any railroad depot or other place in said city.
Sec. 2. No license shall be granted as aforesaid for a longer period than six months at any one time, and said license shall be revocable at times, by the city council on good cause shown, and shall not be issued to any person who has not at the time of making the application therefor, attained the age of fifteen years.
Sec. 3. Every person procuring license as aforesaid, shall pay for the same to the treasurer of said city, two dollars, and shall moreover give bond to said city in the penal sum of fifty dollars with security, to be approved by said treasurer, conditioned that said runner or solicitor shall observe and comply with the provisions of this ordinance, and the regulations and ordinances that may be hereafter made by the city council touching his duties as aforesaid, and said person shall also while acting as solicitor as aforesaid, wear a badge containing thereon the name of the tavern for which he is soliciting.
Sec. 4. Any person who shall within said city, in any way act as solicitor as aforesaid, without having obtained a license as aforesaid, and complied with the provisions of the third section of this ordinance, he shall on conviction thereof before the mayor, forfeit and pay to said city for every such offense, not more than ten nor less than one dollar with costs of suit.
Sec. 5. Every person licensed as aforesaid, who shall at any railroad depot in said city, or on any street or ground contigious thereto, use any profane, vulgar or indecent language, or solicit passengers in a noisy or boisterous manner, or be guilty of any disorderly or improper conduct, or obstruct any walk, gangway or gateway leading to such depot, he shall, on conviction thereof before the mayor, forfeit and pay to said city for every such offense, not more than twenty, nor less than five dollars and costs of suit.
This ordinance to take effect and be in force on and after the first day of September next.
JAMES M. HUNT
Mayor of the city of Springfield
SAMUEL PARSONS,
Recorder
Passed August 7, 1850.