Ploch v. City of St. Louis

-Action to enjoin the enforcement of an ordinance taxing cigarette merchants located in the City of St. Louis. On demurrer the court ruled that the amended petition did not state a cause of action. Plaintiff refused to further plead. Judgment for defendants, and plaintiff appealed.

Plaintiff has been selling merchandise, including cigarettes, in the City of St. Louis for a number of years. He did so under the general merchants license ordinance, which required a license tax of $1.25 on each one thousand dollars of sales made during the year preceding the first Monday of June. Tie also paid an…