The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-11
The saloon-rax Question.

To the Editor OF the indianapolis Journal:
Long before I reached home I was met with
the news that the ordinance increasing the tax
on saloons had been defeated, and the nearer
approached the capital the more interesting did
the question become ] am inclined to think
that too much criticism has been passed on my
brother members of the council, Messrs Rees
and Benjamin. am satisfied Mr.. Rees had
good excuse for being absent, otherwise he
would have been present and voted his convic-
tons. Mr.. Rees is a careful, conscientious man,
disposed to treat everybody fairly and do the
very best he can under the circumstances. Mr..
Benjamin, have no doubt, had his reasons for
voting against the ordinance A man dare not.
and ought not, to vote against the inter-
ests of his constituents. The saloon
element is largely represented in his ward.
Again, this question has not been fairly before
the Council and that may be another reason for
Mr.. Benjamin's vote che question was the
taxing Of saloons to raise special fund for o
special purpose. This is all wrong. 1t is akin
to blackmail and blood-money, and becomes a
question to whether not the fund shall be
raised in that way. The saloons have right to
exist, under laws, the Common Council to
the contrary notwithstanding. But the Council
have perfect right to say that the saloons shall
pay license proportional to the increased ex-
pense which the saloon business imposes upon
the city-provided the Council does not exceed
the limit fixed BIZ law 1t does not
meet the question to say that the saloon
men pay a general tax on their real
estate and personal property. Everybody does
that. They do that for the support of the gov
ernment--national, State and city. But here is
a special business, which everybody recognizes
mankind would be better off without but the
law says it may exist The law also says we
may prescribe the conditions of its existence.
Then I say, meet the question squarely and
fairly; say to the saloon man, your business in
creases the city's expenses fully 500 to the
saloon; that will be your tax" Don't go lodging
around. Let that be his ultimatum, and he will
soon shuttle or gross the cards The saloon
man, nine out of ten, understands the game,
tax him for special purpose, he
and his neighbors may be opposed to
the purpose. Then he will complain
then he has right to complain. But when you
submit his question fairly to the powers that be,
he will as a rule submit, like every other citi-
zen. was unavoidably absent on last meeting
night, but am on record on this question, and
shall not shrink from the duty it imposes Ire
greet the issue at the present time, but the fight
is now on; surrender cannot be thought of, let
alone talked about. To quit now Is to confess
ourselves whipped; that shall never be. The is
sue must now be met, and met in way that
there will be neither hill. tree, stump or rock
for anyone to hide behind. In the near future
I will present the question in such way as will
bring us victory, or a sad defeat In the Coun-
Gil this should not be party question, but a
question OF how to govern the city. The Dem
Gratis have not got all the saloon men. They do
not drink all the whisky. / guess the Republi-
cans have something to say on this question.
INDIANAPOLIS, May 9. GEORGE w. SPAHR