Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-12-19
HIGr LICENSE.
An Address to the Citizens of Sacramento
Upon the Subject.

The subject of high license has been I'M
der consideration by very large number
of citizens of Sacramento for some time
past, and from a committee of whom the
following address has been received, with
request that it be published:
To the citizens OF Sacramento The chief
obstacle in the way of more rapid and
grand advance in the growth and greater
prosperity of Sacramento is our present
rate of taxation. There can be but one
opinion as to the desirability and urgent
necessity of reducing our taxes at the ear
Hest moment possible. Any method by
which this can be accomplished should, in
the interest of the general welfare and
prosperity OF the people and the city, be
speedily adopted.
The amount required TO meet the ex-
penses OF our city government. and the 0e-
mandS accruing from the Indebtedness of
the city is about $4,000 per year. OF this
amount, an average OF $50 600 is obtained as
revenue from net water rents harbor dues.
Court fines, business licenses, ETC., leaving,
say, $4,000, to be raised by direct taxation
upon real and personal property. To meet
this, tax of 81 so on each 500 of property
assessed, is required to be paid. This rate
of taxation is not only heavily felt by all
owners of property, but all who rent houses,
for high rate paid by the owner is, in
measure required to be returned by the
tenant in an increased monthly rent. Not
only this but wherever q high rate of taxa
ton exists, manufacturers are deferred from
engaging in business, fewer people select
such city for their residences, and the gen.
eral growth, activity and prosperity of the
place, however beautiful and desirable it
may otherwise be, is thereby retarded, and
the result is fe.t by the entire community.
The problem, therefore, of reducing our
rate of taxation, and thereby lessening its
burdens and increasing the general pros
perity of the city, is one which interests
every taxpayer and citizen, and should en-
list their most hearty support.
The use OF liquor, as a beverage, is
luxury. 1t is right and proper that it
should bear, as do all Injuries, greater tax
alton than tie necessaries of life There
are in this city about $50 saloons and
places where liquors are retailed, from
which licenses are collected. The license
now collected by the city from saloon is
s. per month, and the total revenue from
this source during the past year was about
S12,500. Now if high license of $50 per
month were established in Sacramento
and required of each place where liquors
are retailed-as has been done so success
fully and satisfactorily in many of the
Eastern States and cities-the entire ques-
ton of high taxes would be solved.
Experience has shown, where high IL
cense has been adopted, that the number
of saloons was thereby decreased from 10
TO so per cent. in cities of any considerable
| size. If, therefore, 20 per cent. of the
| saloons in this city should be closed by the
| adoption of high license the 200 re-
! naming would, by paying $50 per month
each, pay into the city treasury the sum of
$4,000 per year. Now if revenue of
| $4,000 can be thus raised from high Ii
| cense, it will reduce the amount TO be
| raised by direct taxes upon real and per-
| sonal property, from $4,000, as stated
| above, to $4,000. and the tax rate would be
reduced from 81 90 on each 500 10 only 20
cents. This would at once give Sacramento
the reputation of having low rate of tax
alton, and yet the necessary funds to meet
, all obligations upon the city debt and for
! municipal requirements would be fully
provided for.
The effect upon the taxpayer of reducing
our rate of taxes from 81 90 to 20 cents OH
each 500 of property assessed. may be thus
illustrated He who now pays on $4,000
the sum of $3.50 taxes, would pay at the
! reduced rate but so; instead OF the taxes
| upon 5000 being $95, as now, it would be
but $50; the taxes upon homestead of
and upon property assessed at 81 900, in
stead of paying $40. the tax would be
but s..
The saloons and drinking places which
will be closed by such increase of the
license tax, would be the low and cheap
| houses where vile liquors are sold. and
whence emauates most of the crimes COM
| mitted, as is shown by the universal testi-
mony OF police authorities.
IL -, IL
| investment that now avoids us, increase
industrial prosperity, stimulate improve
ments, open opportunities to the unem-
| pioyed, which now throng our streets, and
thus augment the trade and business of the
city, besides conserving its peace, quiet and
general morals.
The social. economic and moral consid-
erations that enter into the question are by
tar too numerous and extensive to be taken
| up in detail They will suggest them
selves 10 every thoughtful person.
1t is wv too easy to open saloon, re-
| quiring in many instances comparatively
no investment whatever, and, as result,
we have one drinking place to every los
voters OF the city. But NOT all voters
patronize saloons, and therefore each sa-
loon is supported, in fact, by not to exceed
| 100 voters.
Wherever a system of high license has
been adopted. it has by experience been
approved, and invariably continued by
consent of all parties. In cities of ILL
noiS, Wisconsin, Nebraska and other
States its working has been found,
both as to large increase of revenue
and decrease of crime, to have far exceeded
the most sanguine expectations. Los An
geles has recently adopted high license of
$50 per month. and at municipal election
| held in that city few DAYS since twelve
out of fifteen City Councilmen in favor of
high license were elected. In San Fran
cisco and Oakland petitions are being cir
culated tor the adoption of high license
upon saloons, and are being very numer-
Ously signed, with prospects of early adop-
ton. For financial and other considera-
tons, looking to the benefit of our COM
munity, Sacramento should not be second
in this matter, but should take immediate
steps in the same direction, as it will result
in the interest of the general prosperity of
the city. COMMITTEE.
DUSS's SUBTERFUGE.-The San Francisco
4