Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-09-10
Let the Retail License be Five Hundred
Dailars
fconmnnicatehA

La communication printed in THE
HERALD Of August 9th. l urged that
at the election to be held on next Tues
day we should vote for $500 license
because high license tends to decrease
the number of saloons, to make those
that take out license more orderly, and
produces more revenue than low license;
and, | especially urged, that at this
time, when we are burdened with a
Judgment and costs of $1,000 and more
the saloons. by paying higher license,
ought 70 contribute their just proper
ton (haying in view their income and
small assessments towards paying this
debt The Teller in its last issue, re-
ferring to this communication, saws
that it fayors the highest practicable
license, and 'abstractlY would favor ;
$500, because ''the higher sum. to be
paid, the less the number of saloons. y
and that it would favor the adoption of
the largest amount if it would result in
giving two instead Of three saloons; but
it thinks that it would not, and that all
three would take out $500 retail
license. But it adds that the saloon.
keepers threaten that if the retail
license is raised TO $500, none Of them
will take out a wholesale license, and
that if they do not (and it thinks they
will stand by their threat) we win Get
no increase of revenue by adopting a
$500 license, and that all who want
liquor will be put 10 the Inconvenience
of drinking it over the ''bar,n and it
asks the voter to carefully consider
how unpleasantly we would be situated
if no saloon sold at wholesale.
am pleased to see that The Teller
upon principle takes a stand in favor
of high license, bat think it shows a
lack Of its usual nerve when il quails
before the saloonkeepers' threat. Let
rs consider this threat.
put it down as an axiom that no
saloonkeeper keeps his saloon open for
the public benefit, but that every one
OF them takes out license and contin-
ues his business for what he can make
cut Of it, There is no philanthropy
about q saloonkeeper His motto is,
Number ONE He does not sell
''only for accommodation. Now, un-
der the law, saloonkeeper can take
out q retail license, or u wholesale
license, or both. He viii take out both
II his experience tells him that there
IS a profit to him in retailing, and IN
ichoieSdling. Ii this years experience
under $500 wholesale license tells him
that there is no profit in wholesaline he
will next year take out no wholesale
license, even if the retail license be put
as low as 5000. If he finds that there
has been proht to- him this year in
wholesaling at a license of 5000, he will
take out wholesale license next year.
no matter what the retail license NAV
be, for he eciU lca'tt that profit.
II the saloonkeepers, by next spring,
when the new license fee will 90 into
practical operation, have found that
there is no profit to them in wholesal-
ing under the $500 license fixed by law,
not one of them will take ont whole
sale license, and if the retail license be
fixed by next Tuesday s vote at $3.50, the
total that will next year be paid by the
thee saloons for license win be 1850,
or $500 less than they pay this year for
liquor licenses. This difference in the
revenue coming into our city treasury
would have to be made up by the tax
payers. But If we adopt a $500 retail
license the amount of license money
paid into the treasury, if no wholesale
license were taken out, would be 81 500
the same amount as this year
If, however, the saloonkeepers find
that they have made profit this year
in selling liquor mot to be drank upon
the premises las who doubts that they
will y they will one and all gladly take
ont wholesale license. With retail
license of $500, and wholesale license
Of $500, the three saloons wOlld pay
into the treasury 81, 100. The 5000 be-
You'd what they pay this year would 90,
somewhat, toward relieving the tax
payers from the burden Of the Me
Limans judgment.
! shall occupy no space in noticing
what The Teller says concerning the
evils that might result from compelling
purchasers Of liq1or to buy it by the
glass aud drink it in the saloons. The
time never has been in Lancaster when
anyone wanting to buy liquor by the
pint. or in larger quantity, has been
put TO much Inconvenience to get il.
and, unfortunately, there is no sign
that III the lifetime of the editor of The
Teller, or OF the writer, anyone in our
city, thirstng for bottled beer or whis-
Ky. and with money TO buy, need long
thirst in vain. -
CIRcUIr CoURr.-JuIus Frenden.
who was arrested some time ago for