The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-03-21
A NEW WAY TO PAY OLD DEBTS

The little bell, a touch of which the
late Secretary Seward claimed to possess
such magic powers, was very insigniti-
cant little bell, indeed, when compared
with the Moffet whisky bell, with its
punch and register attachments The
tinkling of the former might consign a
man of questionable loyalty to the dun
geons of Fortress Monroe, but the other
little ;oker seems destined to work great
changes in the financial condition of
municipal corporations, and perchance
accomplish the payment of State and
National debts without resorting to tax
alton or the levying of duties on inn
ports. 1t opens a new field of patriot
ism. He who loves his country and his
toddy with equal fervor, can indulge
that love to the mutual qualification of
himself and his fellow taxpayers With
each cocktail will be mingled a sense of
public duty performed. Each whisky
sour" will be sweetened with the refec-
ton that the National debt is being
lessened. There will spring up feeling
of self-sacrifice to the public good with
each repeated tinkle of the little bell,
until patriotism merges into impotence
and oblivion.
The people of Chicago, who are marvel
eusly acute in observing "new ways to
pay old debts" are agitating the ques-
tion of adopting the Mofet register as
means of paying the current expenses Of
the city. Since the recent decision of
the Supreme Court of Illinois pro-
neuncing their city certificates worth
less, not cent can be realized until the
next annual tax levy. The officials are
without salary, and are compelled to get
their bitters on tick. They would be
pleased to hear the tinkle of the little
register The bondholders are without
their interest They, too, would be
pleased to hear the pennies dropping
into the city treasury.
The Chicago Inter-Ocean is very ar
IDENTIFY in favor of the adoption of the
Mofet register in that city. 1t calcu-
hates that it would put $1,500,O00 per
annum into the treasury. The esti-
mate is more than sustained by some
figures given. There are upward of
three thousand saloons in the city, sell
ing in the aggregate about half million
drinks per day. At l cent glass this
would produce $4,000 per day, or there
shouts. II an honest tally was kept,
this would bring about 81, 800, 900 into
The treasury, counting Sundays-and
your genuine Chicagoan wrestles zeal
ously with his accustomed beverage on
the Lords day, whatever he may do
during the week. The 10. says that
"the city is in great straits; it does not
know where to turn for the necessary
means to carry on the government This
plan solves, in great measure, this diff
Guilty. Let Chicago try the bell-punch." ."
We remember previous occasion when
Chicago was in ''great straits" 1t was
during the Mayoralty of 'Long John
Wentworth" At that time the city
treasury was empty, the taxes unpaid,
:lty scrip was worth 80 cents on the
dcllaf; the police were unpaid, the fire
department. disorganized and tumbling
10 pieces, the city officers dependent upon
;heir private capital or the charity OF
their friends for their daily supply Of
Drn-juiee. Long John was equal to the
emergency. He organized monthly raids
npon the brothels Of the city, and from
the fines imposed upon the miserable
sutcasts of society who frequented them,
sufficient funds were gathered to carry
an the city government. When
.he proprietors of these dens saw
that a systematic levy was
being made upon them they compro-
clised the matter by voluntary
mcnthlv contribution. and ever after