Ex parte Stoddard

• Decision Date: 03 April 1913
• Docket Number: 2,036,2,037.
• Citation: 131 P. 133,35 Nev. 504
• Parties: EX PARTE STODDARD.
• Court: Nevada Supreme Court

131 P. 133

35 Nev. 504

EX PARTE STODDARD.

Nos. 2,036, 2,037.

Supreme Court of Nevada

April 3, 1913

In the matter of the application of R. C. Stoddard in behalf of Z M. Taylor and another for writs of habeas corpus. Writs granted, and petitioners discharged.

R. C Stoddard, of Reno (Arthur C. Lyon, of Grinnell, Iowa, of counsel), for petitioners.

Cleveland H. Baker, Atty. Gen., for respondent.

NORCROSS J.

Original proceedings in habeas corpus in behalf of Z. M. Taylor and L P. Rounds were instituted to obtain their release from the custody of the sheriff of Churchill county. The cases are identical and will be considered together. Taylor and Rounds were held under arrest, charged with the violation of that certain act of the Legislature entitled, "An act to provide for licensing itinerant and unsettled merchants traders, peddlers and auctioneers," approved March 24, 1905 (St. 1905, c. 153).

From the agreed statement of facts it appears that Taylor and Rounds were authorized soliciting agents and salesmen for the Spalding Manufacturing Company of Grinnell, Iowa, a manufacturer and wholesale and retail dealer in buggies, motor cars, and other vehicles; said company having no store or other place of business in the state of Nevada, permanently located or regularly taxed therein, and said agents soliciting sales and selling the products of said company without license, as provided in said act of 1905.

The act under consideration provides:

"Section 1. It shall be unlawful for any itinerant or unsettled merchant, trader, peddler or auctioneer to sell or offer for sale any goods, wares or merchandise at any place in the state of Nevada, without first obtaining and paying for a license, as hereinafter provided; and all sales or contracts of sale made without such license shall be null and void.

Sec. 2. An itinerant or unsettled merchant, trader, peddler or auctioneer within the meaning of this act, shall include every person, firm, or corporation, selling or offering for sale any goods, wares or merchandise, which has no permanent store or other place of business at some point or points within this state, and which is not permanently located and regularly taxed therein.

Sec. 3. Each and every itinerant and unsettled merchant, trader, auctioneer or peddler shall, before selling or offering for sale any goods, wares or merchandise within this state, procure a license for each and every county in which such person shall attempt to sell or offer for sale any goods, wares or merchandise, which license shall not be granted for more than one month and shall cost the applicant three hundred dollars ($300).

Sec. 4. This act shall not apply to drummers and commercial travelers representing and acting for wholesale houses in this and other states so long as they do not attempt the sale of goods, wares and merchandise at retail in competition with established retail dealers, nor shall it in any sense alter or change the present existing laws governing merchants, traders, peddlers and auctioneers permanently established and doing business in this state; Provided, however, that its provisions shall apply to and be enforced against any peddler or auctioncer acting for or on behalf of any itinerant merchant or trader.

Sec. 5. * * * The provisions of this act shall not apply to the sale, or offering for sale, of the products of any farm, ranch or range situated within this state."

Section 6 fixes the penalty for the violation of the act. Rev. Laws,§§ 3890-3895.

It is contended by counsel for petitioners, and so conceded to be by the Attorney General, that the act in question is unconstitutional. The question of the...