The Price of a Circus: Seattle Council Fights Over 'Rubbing It All' for Big Top
In 1903, the City Council clashed over licensing fees for Ringling Bros., with one councilman arguing that theatrical companies already take enough money from the public.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Over a License for a Circus to Exhibit.
The city council met in special session this afternoon to consider the license to be placed on the Ringling Bros. circus, which will appear in this city next Friday. City Comptroller Parry read the ordinance governing circuses, and then stated that a great deal of trouble had been experienced in collecting the licenses from circus men. The ordinance provides that not less than $100 a day shall be paid a license fee.
Ringling Bros., management, gave their opinion as to how much should be paid. They gave the amount of license charged in Denver, Portland, and other large cities, and intimated that they thought the sum of $25 a day would be reasonable.
Several members of the council spoke on the subject, and Councilman Coblitz moved that the license be placed at $100. Councilman Hill moved that the license be only $10 a day. Councilman Hill spoke in favor of his motion, and stated that he did not think it was just to 'rub it all' the firm. 'Theatrical companies,' he said, 'come and take more money out of the city than all of the circuses, and I don't think taxation is just.'
Comptroller Parry finally drew up special ordinance fixing the license at $25 a day, and a fine on the side of $100, making $125 total license fee for this circus only.
There were ten councilmen present and the ordinance was passed by a vote of six to three.
This 1903 debate over circus licensing fees mirrors modern struggles over the cost of doing business in Seattle, from event permits to commercial rent hikes. The councilman's complaint that 'theatrical companies... take more money out of the city' echoes contemporary arguments about whether large entertainment venues or corporate tenants are subsidized at the expense of local residents and small businesses.
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