Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-10-05

2 The traffic should be taxed because
it can afford to pay liberal revenue. Il
is the most profitable business In the
State. A barrel of beer, which costs IS
is sold out at retail for mCrethan S25-
the capital invested is small, the profit
200 per cent. The same capital can bt
invested every week, making profit Of
! l0,400 per cent in one year. A gallon
of whisky. which costs 81 20, makes g.
half gills, at five cents, in all, So 20, Civ
ing profit of 1866 per cent. OH single
| investment
Look at the aggregate profit i'll Ohio
For the fiscal year 1881 the beer made il
the United States was l3,237,7OO barrels
the whisky and brandy 60,OOO,O0O gal
Ions, besides spirits and wines import
ed, valued at $S,762,762, paying dutle:
S6,471 ,641, and sold IA tretail at probably
$75,OOO,OOO, giving as the share for Ohio
$5,0G0,000.
The beer consumed in Ohio in barrels 900, ,00(
Cost to consumers at $25 per bbl $22, ,0OO, ,OO(
Cost to dealers at s. 7,2O0,OO
Profit on sales 1890, ,00t
American spirits consumed, gallons 5000, ,OOt
Cost at 81 20 per gallon $500, ,OOt
Cost to consumers lO,OOO,0Ot
Profit on sales 7,2OO,O OOt
Estimated profits on domestic and
mixed drinks 10000, OOC
Total profits on sales of retailers 80, 2,500,00C
The average capital invested in this
less than 1000, ,OOC
Average profit to each dealer 3,131
Estimate for rent, fuel, lights, and tax 3OC
Net annual profit to each 1881
The total cost to consumers annual
ly in Ohio for spirituous and malt
liquors, probably about ,0OO
1t may be said the national govern
ment derives large revenue from beef
and spirits. So it does. But this is
mainly included in the cost of the pro-
ducts, and is paid by by consumers. Re
tail liquor dealers pay Il special annual
tax of S25 each, and dealers in malt IL
quors $50 each. This is only II per
cent OH the profits of sales. These deal
ers pay State and local tax on capital
of $4,000. This is only about lilo OF
1 per cent on profits. The total of all
these taxes, State and national, is less
| than 4-10 per cent on profits. Every
| farmer, merchant, and manufacturer
pays more than this rate on his capital
and more than per cent on his profits
The national banks Of Ohio pay more
than 81 per cent on their capital--a
sum nearly equal to One-halt their net
profits. Here, then, is privileged class
an army of $1,000 men-who are In
hostile array to escape their just share
of the burdens of taxation. In this con.
| test these dealers are in part aided by
Ic>- &c t.1 m
manufacture in Ohio of spirituOus and
malt liquors, with an annual product OF
S7O,OOO,OUO 1t is not strange that these
regiments of retail dealers, Is, 900 strong
are ready to meet promptly large assess
ments for the Democratic campaign
fund, and to seduce from duty all whose
unfortunate appetites have obtained a
mastery over their better nature and
Judgment.
The farmers of Ohio do not realize an
annual net profit of s per cent. on their
| investments in lands, the merchants
with their greater risks by fire and bad
debts do but little better, and manufac
turers are about in the same condition
There is no injustice or inequality OF
burdens by relieving the farmer, the
merchant, the manufacturer, the me-
chanic, and the laborer of some of theiI
taxes, 10y imposing an additional tax on
| the liquor traffic. If the State should
tax only occupations on the basis OF
profits, the dealers in spirits would be re-
quired to pay vastly more than the Pond
law requires.
If the $4,000 saloons of Ohio could be
reduced to 5000 a tax of $3.50 Oh each
would produce revenue of $2,OOO,0OO
3. The traffic should he taxed because
unlike almost every other business, II
imposes burdens upon the public. 1t is
the cause of very large proportion OF
the crime, poverty, and insanity which
afflict the State, and reach almost every
hearthstone and home. The cost OF
criminal prosecutions, of infirmaries, OF
asylums for the insane, and other public
burdens from the traffic reach into the
millions. They fall upon the taxpaying
farmer, merchant, manufacturer, me-
chanic, and laborer. They have right
to demand relief.
4. The traffic should be taxed as d
means of restraining the evils resulting
from it.
There is one dealer for every 209 peO-
pie in the State, one for every forty fam,
lilies. They toll not, neither do they
spin, yet Solomon in all his glory kept
not half 80 many saloon keepers III all
his dominions. These men live off the
labor of others. Any man now with a
capital of only 500 or without any cap
ital can commence business, and avoid
all pecuniary responsibility for unlawful
acts. If the number of dealers be re
duced one-half by an adequate tax, this
class of men may seek other employ
ment, may earn a support by honest in
dustry, and still leave an abundance OF
dealers, who can be held amenable fol
violations of law. 1t is to their interest
to tax out the needless surplus number
of dealers, and the larger business there
by left for them will leave them largel
profits, even after paying the tax. Many
of the evils of the traffic result from thu
immense number of irresponsible per
sons engaged in it. Reduce these an(
the consequent evils must be greatly
reduced. A sufficient tax, to be paid il
advance, will accomplish this result
While the Pond law was in operation
many irresponsible dealers keeping wilt
dens were preparing to quit the business
With Its overthrow they continue in full
blast.
The Republican platform declares il
favor of amending the Constitution "il
so far as it may be an obstacle" in Civ,
ing to the Legislature practical contro
over the liquor traffic to the end that tn
evils resulting therefron may be effect
ually provided against" The platform
i of 1881 demanded such amendment ere