The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-03-19
A Sure Mode of Correcting an In.
Iquitous Discrimina ion.

Inc CONSTITUTIONAL amendment pfopoS-
ing to allow the people to express by ttleii
votes whether or not they desired to allow
liquor license money be retained for free
school purposes, in the counties where it i:
collected, has been most uniustly defeated.
The equity and rightfulness of the PROPOSE
ton recommended it to the favorable con
sideration of a majority of our legislators III
both House, bat it was defeated by failing
to receive two-thirds majority in each
House. The cause. though now unsuccess-
full, is worthy, and perseverance and or
ganized effort will. in few years. insure
its triumph.
When our present Constitution was
adopted. prohibition had no foothold in
this State, and liquor licenses could have
been easily obtained anywhere, and there
| was some uniformity Ill the tax derived
from it. The whole court expenses. in
Guiding st t. witness fees. etc, which are
now chiefly borne by the different counties,
| were then paid by the State, for which out
lay commensurate revenue had to be pro-
| videi.
i In the past few years all uniformity in
the collection of this tax has been abro-
gated. Numerous and extensive localities
have, by speci ii lie 5islation. attempted to
| totally prohibit the sale of liquors
within their boundaries. These are con-
stantly increasing, and in six or eight in
stances, embrace whole counties. From
this portion of its territory, this State de-
rives not cents revenue from liquor traf-
tic, yet the people living i'll it share equally
with others in the fund thus collected.
1t is an indisputable fact that while
| prohibitory laws do absolutely prohibit the
collection of liquor licenses, they are far
( nj al ~
/ liquor; and such curtailment of the liquor
traffic is attended by an exemption of such
localities from contributing in the least to
an important source of State revenue, for
pro rata of which they extend an eager
! palm.
! Where the majority of citizens of any 10
cality want prohibitory ltws. no objection
to their request can reasonably be made.
| if prohibition is all that is involved. When.
however, it is considered that localities are
thus exempted from contributing to a pub
| lie fund. for a portion of which they per-
sistently demand. and, in part. rely, for the
education of their children, such prohibit
ton loses all It's moral and benevolent fea-
lures and becomes an ubiquitous system
for robbing one community to enrich an
other.
Some of the friends of prohibition have
yet to learn that no movement of that char
acter can ever have general and permanent
success unless the doctrines of morality
and consistent fair dealing are practiced
as well as preached; and that their abhor-
renee af the liquor traffic and desire for its
total eradication will be an open question
as long they strenuousIy oppose surren-
dering that portion of its fruits that is
given them by an infamous provision in |
our State Constitution
The deficit caused in the school fund by |
the adoption of the proposed amendment, |
could be supplied by an additional poll tax. |
or from the revenues derived from ad valo- |
rem taxation, or from fines or privilege /
taxes that are paid alike by all parts of the |
State.
1t is a monstrous absurdity, to claim that
the same reasons that are urged against /
localities receiving a pro rata of a fund /
from which they have voluntarily debarred
themselves from contributing, can be urceI
against the whole peoples receiving any
part of the regular ad uaioren State tax
now, or hereafter, to be collected from the
Wessqn Mills, or any other property in any
county.
1t is equally preposterous to claim that
because some man from prohibited coun-
ty drinks occasionally, or regularly, in
+
prohibited county shall have an equal
share of all such license money. 1t might
as we'll be asserted. that because people
from one county sometimes trade at
stores in other. counties, that therefore, no
special county tax could be collected on
the capital invested in such merchandise.
The greater portion of our State where
liquor licenses are obtainable, on payment
Of tax and compliance with law, is now
subject to unjust discrimination and exac-
ion in this matter; and this portion has
he right and power, and it is its daty, to
correct itis injustice from which Its people
ire suffering. Let every prohibited local.
J be required either TO waive its pro rata
# the liquor tax, or pay an additional tax
quail to the average liquor tax in licensed
and if any locnlity viii not
emply With these tsrI9s repeal its prohib- |
tory laws exespt those in the immediate
icinity of colleges. If this question is
thoroughly agitated majority Of the next !
legislature viii probably be committed :
D such action. GTvIs.