The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1884-11-27
trr tie II raid ami News.
PROHIBITION.

Mr.. EDITOR IN the approaching ele"-
ton 70 be h"!I upnn Dec. I'd. 'lnnn the
question of ..L.:c"nst." NO Licrr+e."
many OF on" citizens and taxpayers seem
concerned a< to the financial result to tn"
town. and in cas-. We have NO License
as to how the ordinary expenses OF The
town will be met. unless the town fax Is
largely increased. Now 70 allay appr"-
hrnSion on this subject and show that the
ordinary expenses OF the town can be
met with only 1 very small additional tax.
| would call attention to the following
facts and figures. with the confident be
l:ef that it can be shown that instead ot
any harm Detailing the town from the
success of No License" by Increased
taxation. or injury to trade or business.
the success of NO License" wOnld re-
lound to the good OF trade. and give IN
impetus to the development OF an III
creased prosperity throughout the whole
community.
From the Clerk OF the Councils report.
made few days since. OF the receipts
and expenditures OF the six and onc-lalt
months of the term of office OF the pre-
sent Council. we will find
Amount OF Receipts III that time s5294.93
Expenses - 4S9S.Si
Bnt in these two items are credit OF
500. .00and debit of $700. 90. rs the same
was borrowed from and afterwards re-
paid to the same parties. and with this
deduction. together with $4,000 turned
over by the retiring Council. we have
$4,000 to deduct from receipts and
Amount of Receipts stands $4354.73
Expense 4l9S.SI
Now what does it cost to run the town:
We find included in this $4l9S.S1 the sum
of $400. 90 paid for the Singlcy lot. bought
to widen Main Street. and in round num-
berS about $500 OF past due indebted
ness paid by the present Council. De-
ducting these two amounts we have S35'S.-
s. rs the amount spent during the past
six and one-half months. upon the same
basis OF expense it will take in round
numbers S65 20. 90 for the years expenses.
In round numbers we have from the
Clerk his estimate for receipts for bal
ance of term $4,000. this added to
amount already received OF say. $i3JO.03
makes an aggregrate Of $G05O.O0, not
one dollar of which IS from the license for
selling liquors, or from the special fire
tax. this latter being levied and applied
specially to the credit OF the fire depart
ment.
Now of this $G05O.00 received as rerc-
nue. from the town $3.50, 90 is from the
tax OF two mills levied on the real and
personal property within the corporate
limits. at an aSse>s"divalHation of ) .22',-
G0J.00. An sncrea>c CT one mil! lax
wouldS.raise sl2a5,G0. which added to
the present revenue woul MAKE We
me OF $4,000. 4 two mill TAX addi-
tinnal would make it $50 o.
The present Corncil with the floods
and fires OF the yea have had 10 meet
their share Of extraordinary expenses,
snch us fall to the LOT Of every counci.
Still from their exhibit OF expenses any
one can make his own calculations OF
how small III amount Of revenu" wolll
have to hr raised by increased tlXati"n,
shoulI the town 60 dry and not have
any revenue from the liquor license.
AnA it would be we'll just here if We
should take an economic view of this
slle OF fl;q,lor from different sand point.
In 1879, from a complied return made
with The CONSENT of the r. R. arthoritieS
of the receipts at Newberry by R. r. OF
spirituOus and fermented liquors, the
sales OF liquors, wine, beer and etc. IN
the town for twelve months were Sl23,-
00o,0'. Now ifno license is granted Tor
this absolute loss of 5 25.000,00, and yon
are asked to pay an additional one mill
tax Of Sl..23,O' is it anything il compar-
ison to The saving to be made, to spend
one dollar and save one hundred dollars
20 the community? Should No Lii
cense:' be successful on Dec. 3rd. this
town and county during the next twelve
months will have the pleasure II saving.
or consuming in food, clothes. and tie
varioas comforts Of life, this o lie Hun
dred Thousand Dollars. And there is
not business man, 4 professional man,
a mechanic. or day laborer in the town,
but will have some of that s 25.000, 90,
now utterly thrown away and wasted,
passing through his hands and lodging
in his purse, and the small additional
tax he may haYe had to pay will be
many, many times returned 70 him in
money value.
Now, Mr.. Editor, in the al owe calcu-
latlons we take no note Of the Fire De-
partmrnt debf, that is arranged for by
special tax. and likewise w. have said
nothing of the Opera Hou-e i. bit. for il
that i ever pal it must b" by 'Ir impo-
sition OF <p 'cial tax. for 81 far the
granting OF licenses has nrvr,.- enabled
our town au horities 20 pay y dollar on
che principal OF that debt.
The above estimates are taken from
the revenues Of the town, as they have
been collected for the present y0ar, with
| out any increase Of street duty. and with
view to no increase Of reYeIae except
that derived from the present taxes and
their application made only to the Or
dinary yearly expenses Of the town.