The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-11
EVADING THEIR TAXES.
SaloonKeepers Who Fail to Comply
with the Laws Requirements.
Some of the Subterfuges to Which They Re
sOrt-What the Treasury Loses by
Their Practices.


in this city without paying for it," said saloon
keeper who pays as he goes, land you'E be
doing good thing
"What do you meant" inquired the reporter.
az mean that there are are large number of
don't pay it at all-and some who beat both
their county and city licenses The county COM
missioners have been doing a large amount of
good work, and Pm surprised they haven't
dropped onto this matter before now. 1t may
take some time for you to work it, but its worth
your while"
.-.., DELINQUENT IN TAXES.
The reporter sauntered into the city clerks
office. The city license is $50 a year. The clerk
thought it quite likely that some persons were
selling without city license, but he had no way
of looking 1t up The reporter then looked over
the records and found the following delinquents,
with tax due and unpaid from the date given in
each case: Henry Guetig, No. 101 South Illinois
street, from Sept 5; Henry schwomeyer, No.
475 Indiana avenue, Sept. 16; Charles Ziegler,
No. 100 South Noble street, Oct. 3; James Ham
lin, No. 1872 South Illinois street, Sept 5: Anton
Maurer, No. 81 North Alabama street, Sepr. g..
The law makes these violations subject to a fine
of not more than 800 nor less than So for each
days sale without license, each days sale be-
ing deemed separate offense. Each one of
these dealers was served with notice of explra-
ton of license by the superintendent of police,
and thus the violation of law has been with eyes
open, and not ignorantly.
At the county auditors office deputy sa i'd:
sour books give the names of those VINO have
applied for and been granted licenses. Those
who do not apply and sell without license, we
can have no record Of 1 have no doubt there
are nearly hundred of them, and that every
year the school children of this city de-
frauded out of from So 900 to $4,000. Per-
haps the true figures will be found between; say
the loss is $500, I have long wondered why
the board of school commissioners have not
looked after this matter. 1t is ascandalous
thing, and should have been attended to years
ago."
Upon hint the reporter went to see young
attorney, who has gwen the subject consdera-
Bile investigation, with view to offering his
services to the school board.
at will not be an easy matter to get the names
of the salOOn-keepers who do not take out county
license to sell Intoxicating liquors, and probably
the only way to discover all the offenders would
be to get shrewd detective to make thorough
canvass of the city and visit every saloon and
place where liquor is reta1led, and examine as
to whether they are supplied with the county
license. There are not many who escape the
government license, but from the investigation
have made, think there are from eighty TO a
hundred who do not take out county license, or
evade paying 1t from three to six months at q
time"
"HOw is that done7"
EvADING COUNTY AND CITY TAXES.
I'm this way: Say that liquor license ex-
pires in December. The dealer purposely fails
to advertise for the three weeks prior to that
event that he will make application for license,
and let's the time go by; or he advertises in due
form, and then fails to pay his money and take
out his license. II unmolested he slips along
another three mOnths-applicatons for
selling liquor can only be made at stated
terms of the County Commissioners
Court, in December, March, June
and September, and then plays the same thing
over again if he thinks it safe, or If he gets
frightened, which is rarely the case, he adver-
tises, takes ont his license and pays his money.
He has come out ahead anyway, you see. Beaten
the commissioners out Of three months time
and saved S25 thereby. Now there are large
number of saloon-keepers who play this trick,
and the board of school commissioners of this
city know they do, having been told of 1t, and
yet they allow the school children to be robbed
in this way year after year."
"What could the school commissioners afford
to pay to have their interests, or rather the In
terests of the school children and taxpayers of
this city, looked after in this mattera"
WHAT THE AUTHORITIES MIGHT DO.
~ should think they could afford to pay 81, 900
year. That would be better than losing, as 1
have made the calculation, $12, 900 year, and
the loss Is that much when all the leakages are
taken into account. Mind don't include in this
list drug stores that sell bottled beer be drunk
on the premises and whisky retailed by the glass
under the specious name OF prescription But
the boldest and most fragrant violations of the
law pass by unnoticed. have been credibly in
formed that it has happened in this city that
licenses two or three years old framed and hung
upon the wall in dark corners and near the cell
ing, have been made to do duty for the current
license. hundred dollars saved by the saloon
attic who had gall, and no questions asked"
At the office of the collector of internal reve-
nue. the reporter found the opinion to prevail
that. whatever the neglect of liquor vendors
there were few, if any, who dared trite with tho
United States government. Here all retail drug
gists, whether selling liquor legitimately or
those who keep tipping shops. pay license as
retail liquor dealers, and. the government is
nothing out. In looking over the list of persons
who take out license to sell intoxicating drinks
the reporter came across nunlber of names,
most of them those of keepers of houses of i'll
repnte, who, though they pay government tax,
evade the city OF county tax. Why are they thus
favored2 sesA
1t may be a matter for reflection to the saloon
keeper who pays all these taxes assessed against
him to ask himself why he is made TO pay, and
these other persons, his competitors, al
lowed immunity from payment 1t may also be
matter for inquiry for the Board OF County
Commissioners, and for the Board of School Com
missIoners of this city. Perhaps the gra nd
jury might proitably take a hand also.
.gt-
.o.- -Dss: The Roadsters' Races.
The races of the Indianapolis Roadster Associa-
off afr