The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1884-03-13
A Sure Mode of Correcting an In.
iquitous Discrimination.

iquitous Discrimination.
The constitutional amendment propos
ing TO allow the people to express by their
votes whether or not they desired 10 allow
liquor license money be retained for free
school purposes, in the counties where IL Is
collected, has been most uniustly defeated.
The equity and rightfulness of the PROPOSE.
ton recommended il 10 the favorable con.
sideration of majority of our legislators in
both Houses, but 1t was defeated by failing
to receive two-thirds majority in each
House. The cause, though now unsuccess.
full, IL worthy, and perseverance and or
ganixed effort will, in few years, insure
tie fRiuz4ph.E = sa-re-'sg '-'-----s -
When .ouf present Constitution was
adopted. pf0hibitlon had no foothoid m
this Htate, and liquor licenses could have
been easily obtained anywhere, and there
was some uniformity in the tax derived
from IL The whole court expenses. in.
Guiding State witness fees, etc, which are
now chiefly borne by the different counties,
were then paid BY the State, for which out.
lay comrlensurate revenue had TO DO pro-
vided.
RNHa
the collection of this tar has been ahro.
gated. Numerous and extensive localities
have, by special legislation, 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-
fic, yet the people living in il share equally
with others in the fund thus collected
II IL an indisputable fact that while
prohibitory laws do absolutely prohibit the
collection Of liquor licenses, they are far
from altogether prohibiting the sale of
liquor; and such ourtailment OF the liquor
traffic Is attended by an exemption of such
localities nm 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 To-
cality want prohibitory laws, no objection
TO their request can reasonably be made,
If prohibition Is all that is involved. When,
however, il is considered that localities are
thus exempted from contributing TO pub
lie fund, for portion of which they per-
sist6ntly demand, and, in part, rely, for the
education oftheir children, such prohibit
ton loses all its 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 10 learn that no movement of that char
acter can ever have general and permanent
m..l. "a A..
and fonai tent fair dealing aHk practicsd
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 as they strenuously 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 fund
from which they have voluntarily debarred
themselves from contributing, can be urge
against the whole peoples receiving any
part of the regular dd vdIorem State tai
now, or hereafter, to be collected from the
Wesson Mills, or any other property in any
county.
1t is equally preposterous to claim thai
because some man from prohibited coun
ty drinks occasionally, or regularly, in O
licensed county, that every person in the
share of all such license money II NIGH
as well be asserted, that because peopl,
from one county sometimes trade al
stores in other:connties, that therefore, no
special county tax could be collected OF
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 nov
subject to unjust discrimination and exac
ton in this matter; and this portion hai
the right and power, and il is its duty, 4
correct this injustice from which Its people
are suffering. Let every prohibited local.
ty be required either to waive its pro rat,
of the liquor tax, or pay an additional tal
equal TO the average liquor tax in licensed
communities, and if any locnlity will no
comply with these terms repeal its prohib
itory laws except those In the immediat,
vicinity Of colleges. If this question i
thoroughly agitated majority Of tho mex
Legislature will probably be committe,
to such action. CTyIs