Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-09-10
What Shall the License Be?

lOkS BAl EndlA w NiAt dIhNia4 1lttilHk
for retailing liquor, for three years
from the first of May, 1856. Every.
body, it seems, must be glad thai
this election is to be had, for the re
suit sets ut rest the question fol
three years. During that time, nc
agitation Of the subject can be had
and those interested a make GER
tain calculation upon being undis-
turbed, one consideration of settling
the question for three years to come
is sufficient, if no other existed to
justify holding the election.
The TRIBUNE believes hat an in
creased license would be advantage
GUS to the city financially and NOR
ally, and hopes that the voters will
so see it next Tuesday. We now
have sixteen saloons, paying each
5000 license. If the rate be increased
to $500 and the number of saloons
be reduced one-half, the revenue of
the city is increased by $500. If
the rate be fixed at $3.50 and the
number Of saloons is reduced to ten
or twelve, the city finances will be
improved over what they are at
present. 1t is practically certain
that any increase Of the rate Of
license will result in putting more
money into the city treasury. Under
the old rate of $75, the city's revenue
from saloon licenses was but $1,000;
at 5000 we get $4,000. Why not
make it $4,000 or $4,000, and have
so much more to pay out to poor
men for needed repairs on our streets
and sidewalks?
Undoubtedly an increase Of the
ate Of license would reduce the
number of saloons. Then, if the
saloon influence is morally bad, the
extent Of that influence must be in.
creased or lessened in proportion to
the number of saloons. Wherever
tried, the high license plan of cur
failing the evils Of intemperance has
had good results. Those in the
liquor business, paying high licenses,
have SO much at stake that they are
more careful not to run risks Of
forfeiture by violating laws: A
high license reducing the number of
saloons, the people car keep better
informed as 10 the manner in which
they are conducted. Admitting the
tendency of saloons to be harmful,
is it reasonable to contend that as
much harm can result from five or
ten such establishments, as from
fifteen or twenty?
The Madison Democrat, is ably
conteuding for "a $500 license in the
Capital city. From a recent editori
al in that paper we IN AXE the follow
ing extracts:
f. This liquor question Is
n perpetual distributing element i'm
every considerable city or town. 1t
comes up in some shape al every
spring election aud at every general
election. It is a continual annov-
ance TO the community, and must be
TO every man engaged in the manu-
tacturo ar sale of liquor or beer.
The law of last winter, promises, at
least, "a partial subsistence of this
omnipresent liquor question. Prohi-
blton has ly no means quieted the
bitter feeling, nor suppressed the
sale of Liquor in Iowa and Kansas,
and the condition of things there
was far more favorable to prohi-
bitlon, than in this state. 1t does
seem as If q high license has a better
prospect of satisfying the public,
and Of placing the liquor traffic
where it will bo permitted to enjoy
the rights of any other business,
than any other kind of legislation
Then tile only question is how high
shall Che license be. Now if the
argument IS ono Of r9isino citv raw