Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-03-02
PRACTICAL WAY TO REDUCE CITY
EXPEHsEs.

There is speedy and unembarrassing
way out of the financial difficulties in the
conduct of the city departments, without
increase of taxation. We have shown
that high license is feasible; that it Is prac-
ticed elsewhere; that in few places IN the
Union is the liquor license go low as in
Sacramento that under what we have
termed high license, the rate will then be
far less than is required in many other 10
calities in the country. Whatever people
are saved from paying out they must count
Al gain. The city collects for all classes
of license rights S26. 600 year. We pro-
pose the abolition of that tax entirely. In
It's place let there be levied license tax
or Injuries only, as represented by the
liquor traffic. We have shown that the
income per annum will, at the minimum,
be:
From the second grade. .......... r....... 1900
Total income from liquor licenses. $50, 400
1t is objected that So per cent. of this
sum must, under the law, go into the
sinking and interest fund. That can
make no difference in the principle in.
volved whatever. Let US see:
Fifty-fve per cent to sinking and interest
fund is..................--... Si9, 10
Forty-fve per cent applicable to city uses is 40 go
Total. ............... $50, 400
This leaves the city in pocket, as
gamer by the change, the differ
ence between As per cent of $780,
coo now received from licenses, and the
net sum to be received after payment of
fifty-five per cent. into the sinking and in
terest fund-to wit, SIS. $50 But the real
gain is more, for there has been saved to
the merchants and traders of the city all
imposition Of license tax whatever by this
new method. Of the $780, now col.
lseted for licenses, we pay ffty-five per
cent. into the sinking and interest fund, or
the sum of Sl4, 800 per annum, which is
S34, $40 less than tits proposed to pay under
the high license system. If it is objected
that this increase Of revenue, raised in this
manner, will cripple the effort being made
to adjust the city indebtedness at the low
est possible cost to the people, then let US
reduce mater rates sufficiently to eqaalize the
sums. Any necessary expenditure for i'm
proving the pipe lines and extending the
water system should be betrayed from the
income from the water rates, and not
counted as tax, but rather as an invest
ment, for it is not continuing expense,
and is to render more secure the property
Of citizens. It is now in order to note the
gain by the proposed new system, and
which has thus far met almost, if not
quite, the unanimous approval of the citi-
zena ~ All merchandise license tax
abolished; ~ water rates reduced to
the lowest possible figure (3)
we add large sum to the
city revenues, enabling taxation to
be reduced and the city made more invit-
ing TO poor man and to capitalist alike,
with the consequent prosperity that must
flow from such condition; AZ we will,
to large extent, if not wholly, eliminate
the lOw doggery, the deadfall and the rob.
ber's roost from our system, and thereby
lessen the expenses of our city government
in keeping the lawless element in check.
In any event, therefore, the levy of
high license rate must be to the benefit of
the city, and is the shortest, least involved
and most direct path to practical reduction
of taxation and water rates, and the econom-
ical settlement of the city indebtedness. 1t
cannot involve the city in new litigation,
and will conduce to our general well.being.
That the tax levy has been made does
not affect this question, for it does not fol-
low that all the income from it must be
expended. The license should be fixed
before April lst. What objection then can
there be to relieving business.houses and
water takers by making change at once,
and thus practically reducing general taxa
ton, by increasing the treasury funds.