The $12.50 License That Became a $300 Shakedown
Expressman J.A. Fletcher said a license inspector never asked him to renew, then had him arrested, searched, and thrown into a steel cage with seven prisoners—over a $12.50 fee he says he would have paid.
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.
SEATTLE, April 6, 1893. To the Editor: I am and have been engaged in the express business for nearly five years, and am a truthful witness of the difference between honest city government and 'reform' administration. I wish to inform the citizens and business men of Seattle of a species of tyranny practiced here in our midst. Heretofore we have had an officer called a license inspector, whose duty it was to collect license from expressmen. I am on record for prompt payment of license since I have been in the express business, and everything went smoothly along the grand highway of honest and efficient city government. We had become accustomed to honest officials, competent and obliging, and were never accused by them of dishonesty ourselves, but a change in the collection of licenses came with the great 'reform.' Last Wednesday week ago I was taking half a ton of coal to a customer, and on Thursday was arrested by Mr. Ellicott. I noticed him standing in front of the alley and walking up and down on Union street while I was engaged in carrying the coal on my back to my customer's rooms. This walking specimen of reform and secret service espionage applied to the lady and asked my name and what I charged her for hauling and packing upon my back upstairs her coal in kindness of heart. I have no objection to any person knowing my name. He received the desired information, and on the following morning I was arrested for not having my license renewed, when I had all this time waited for this new official to notify me and receive my money and give me a receipt. I refused to put up $30 bail and they searched me and forcibly took over $300 in notes and valuables, and then threw me in the steel cage with seven hard, old, tough malefactors. So much for reform. They could not see the way clear after Ellicott had put his foot in it, so I was dragged before a police court and was fined $10 and costs, which foots up the beautiful sum of $30.95. Now, I am compelled to pay $12.50 for my license, which Ellicott could have had for asking; I would have paid it, and was anxious to do so. All I ask is justice and no favors. Mr. Editor, if this is reform for heaven's sake let us inaugurate some honesty with it, or at least let men of common sense, justice and humanity fill the offices. J.A. FLETCHER, Expressman.
“I refused to put up $30 bail and they searched me and forcibly took over $300 in notes and valuables, and then threw me in the steel cage with seven hard, old, tough malefactors. So much for reform.”
Then as now, a small unpaid fee could escalate into arrest, cash seizure and a jail cell, with 'reform' rhetoric used to justify aggressive enforcement. Fletcher's letter is a reminder that fights over licensing, fines and police discretion are as old as Seattle.
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