The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1878-02-01
DEATH FOE pOLLARs.


DEATH FOR DOLLARS.
Money VisX of the License Question. |
Every reform and benevolence meets
the great beast Of opposition. It comes |
up out :sof the sea or puddle shaking its /
name as If dripping with an ocean OF diff
fculties. On the brow Of this beast is |
ever the cold and relentless dollar, bear
ing, not the motto of the mint, sin God |
| we trust" but q pompous Interrogation /
poiat. How will your work Of love ef-
feet our revenue? If we cannot show in /
the scales of justice glitterIng dividend, |
many an honorable mans will proclaim |
against it. God in high Heaven is moved
BY tears to crush q kingdom If it perse-
cute his child, but men stand reYerent to
wrong while prayers and tears and blood |
all plead for rescue. One asks, t'Shall we |
save this soul 20 another answers from the |
oracle OF his iedgeT; no, let him perish,
there are dollars in his destruction" /
The great moral question In this city, and |
the country to-day is, Drunk or Sober" /
The most successful temperance revival |
Of the century is stirring our nation. |
Emporia has felt its power, has partially !
dethroned her idolatry, and instead of |
the ruin prophesied, her friends rejoice |
j and her sceptics are silent in the con-
seriousness OF a great exaltation. We
hear no moral argument against a pro- |
hibitory law. But plausibly and per-
sistently financial deficits are urged upon |
our streets 10 the interests of the blood
money brokers we have escaped. Were
all these statements loyal to truth we
could afford to trust their influence.
Unfortunately the selfish exagerate and
the uniformed believe. First there is
that elephant of direct revenue marc hing
; in the procession of reasons as he does in
3 circus arrival and carrying about as
long ears. They say he Is our beast Of
burden. That he is 8 beast of burden, is
3 true In more than one sense. The $2,5GO
deposited by our five saloons is apparent
r ly very helpful to our treasury. 1t will
: pay rs many bills as any other equal sum.
The trouble is, it is not content with pay
ing bills, but makes them still easier. The
{ loss of this revenue, through the repre-
! sentaEons of its producers, Is creating
3 tax payers scare. Some even believe it
exceeds the direct tax, and that its with
drawal would double the next levy. The
t following facts may comfort those troubl-
t ed. ana convince some mathematical
r minds that we oan keep house without
r saloons.
!, The resources of the city OF Emporia
J. for 1877 were:
For general fund, from licenses 81, 700. 90
For general fund, direct tax, 1912
l., Interest fund, 3,66O.59
Sinking fund, 2,329. ~
e Schools, 6,249.l2
f Total gen'I tax and license SIC. 2s9 80
: OF this, LICENSE of Ave saloons, $4,000,
equals two-13ths or ABOUT 10 per cent.
This then is the real amount returning to
taxation Adding special tax for side.
walks, &C., still further reduces the per
Z cent. to owners Of real estate. The to-
!. tai tax Of the county for 1877 is 81, 30O.70.
, OF this the saloon revenue is but I2N per
1 cent. I'd. But we are told the business
Of these five saloons helps largely to pay
v our taxes. Let Us see. The assessment
on Personal property Tor the whole ave
In 1871 was sa45.0O; taxes paid at S.l6,
d $2e.76al Most any poor woman would
: rather pay that than see her husband 1t
their bars. 3D.. Many are Influenced by
o the prospective depreciation Of city scrip.
, The city has fallen into habit Of arrear,
8 ages. Each administration IS herhaps
javar ANXIOUS to- make an economical
Il showing, and while they pay the premi-
II ses inherited, impose other debts upon
! the coming year. For these deficiencies or
: ders OF serIp are Issued. The holder must
garry this until the authorities are pleased
|. to provide for 1t, and the tax gatherer
!. can collect money TO pay its face. All the
& while it draws Z per cent. interest, yet,
= chiefly from an uncertain date Of pay.
d ments must sell below par. As the city
; estimates for the current year were made
: 5efoFe the LIST Of January. the usual Eeve-
nue from saloon licenses was given .
place In our resources. This leaves the
2 treasury this year $4,5eo short. For this
!. they Will lssue-seriIs and the claim is
i THAT It's Increased bulk viii create great
. er decline than ever known before. Pos
% sibly touching % cents per dollar. The
It sufferers VIII be first, the. paid Iaborers of
n the pelies and street service. I'd. The
: city in the purchase OF sgppIses, The
# thought Of loss 70 our psoriy paid police
Il nsrciful, but in g grave an issue Is OF
, little force. A very small sum would
1. compensate ali. The public loss is the
J. real one. Bat this. iayrct crushing, aud
= will not probably exceed $500. Beside
: and above all this the value of this scrip
VIII depend on the assurance CT payment,
d. and 50 upon or authorities. Governor
T. Anthony says Of the Stats. bonds. draw.
Re- ing, Ike ours, per cent. Interest. tibet they
> fare held It premium Of { per cent. by
" the most prudent investors. In fact it il
70 difficult to ind AeideFs willing 70 part
N with them At the highest Quoted prices
I. Then day Of redemption that we can
:. depend upon VIII surely bod our paper
e At or nearly its face. Let the public re
(. call The price os city papeE before We Asd
"A q license revenue, then remember the
promisesof increased value under the In
,e huense OF that iqecsae sad see how little
a 1t hes realised frem Il. So We may ex-
n pect ne great loss with generous manage
ment- These are the main financial dit
ieultiee that embarass our council. Mex
or week we expees 70 show ether facts IL
be our situation that ecmpsusate immedi.
y ately az scop, hiI these increased de.
Re tma1ds. At taxes viii ee Eiightly in
n creased next year up admit. That theI
d Will continue large on this account Va
de- deny. In the mean time ltt zoe ou,
eouneil be Blamed soE al fears and folliel
Is that thEea1sa IA. Tieir da1culsies an
b real while the 1ineulEg Is szinIng. tn
be license pressure Il ke4y9 Esd uresp4Ine
u We sknuld sympz<hfze WllA 6helr en
~ barEas1 EST ~ ~ ss flaraze4 3oTslfT Z
= rlxht. They stzna 1stHean slss push
! seal ard ths public 2ssks1book. IA