Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-03-10
$1,000 J! LICENSES.
A Scheme BY which to Raise Tia
Wind. $50
Proposition to Heavily Increase the Saloon
License TN-It Will Not Work
Chance for Some Fine
Finaneiering.

The Council Committee on Finance has
been casting about it, for some little time
past, to figure out scheme by which the
city can be tided over its present financial
chasm. II is fact patent TO all familiar
with the INSIDE of city finances that .
Robert Morris might well be called upon,
with Macedonian cry, to come and help
us. The pressure of The bonded indebted
ness and the oyereheck at the Exchange
Iank coming with the large amount neces-
sary for current expenses has produced
q flatness Of the city purse which the COM
mittee is endesvoring to overcome. One
of the most lucrative sources of reve.
nue. and most steady, is the liquor
license and on this the eye of the commit.
tee was turned. The rumor has gained
great currency that proposition had been
sent out on feeling" expedition, to raise
the license to 4 much higher figure. This
of course came to the ears of the coffee
house keepers, and q caucus was the re-
suit. 1t was quite freely stated that 81 90
was the figure SO prominently mentioned.
But, to get the talk and the opinions of
both sides, was the mission ola Rg3IsrER
commissioner, yesterday.
A prominent member of the Finance Com
mittee said he and the others had been not
little perplexed over the empty treasury,
and had talked over a variety of plans.
"As for license" he said, tile committee,
as committee, has done nothing. though
the individual members have talked 1t
up. have heard $1,000 mentioned, but
do not think the present council, from
- Ia VI
such high figure. We must look else
taxation. The county levy OF 20 cents has
raised great howl and We want 10 make
the burden light rs possible. The ten
cent street paving levy will be made, but
that will not help US. II We could only
tide over couple OF years, We would to all
right, as in that time We would have paid
off $50 900 in the Brady and Wilkinson and
capitol loans. But how are we going to do
it? That's the question"
A visit among the saloon men, as might
have been expected, developed the fact that
they are unanimously opposed to increas-
ing the license. As one OF them said:
"Three hundred dollars is as much as the
majority Of US can pay and make anything.
To raise it would be TO put premium on
breaking the la as saloonists would use
every means, ldNlul UT OtucIWisS, w tahc
in money" 1t was said, however, that a
few OF the wealthy coffee house keepers
were disposed to favor the 81 90 license, as
it would close out large number OF the
saloons and give them monopoly. But il
there were any such, the reporter could not
find them.
After q careful examination OF the situa.
ton, and after talking it over with both
sides, the reporter concluded it would be
bad policy 10 heavily increase the license.
1t would not increase the city revenues.
There are now about lis saloons which in
cluGes all liquor housesJ paying $500 each,
making $34, 500. II would require thirty
five saloons at 81, 900 10 make up the sum,
and it is doubtful il that many could pay
the additional 500. Further than
that, saloons pay water rent at
the rate Of 10 per cent on their rental valu.
alton. To reduce the number OF saloons,
no matter what the license might be, would
lose large position of these receipts.
From temperance standpoint this is no
better argument. As much drinking will
be carried Oh if the number Of saloons are
reduced, as before.
While, therefore, the matter of 5000
licenses is being talked Of, it will scarcely
amount to anything.