Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-01-02
HIGH LICENSE.
A Correspondent Objects to it and Gives
His Reasons---a Replv

HIGH LICENSE.
A Correspondent Objects to it and Gives
His Reasons--A Reply.
EDS. EEcoRD-UNIoN IN the RECORD UNION of
December 10Th is an Address to the citizens
OF Sacramento upon the subject of high license
In the same issue appears an editorial in sup
port of the scheme of the committee" who
issued the address to the citizens
Of course it would be glaringly apparent to
any one not beTest of reason that the revenues
of the city coald be increased by increasing the
taxes under the system proposed The 'com-
mittee" mag be weighted with superabun-
dance of wisdom, but their utterances and
action are something equivalent to calling the
attention of one who can see to the brilliancy
of the sun. There is nothing new in the prep
osition. Taxes always We're raised by forced
collections, but in this instance it is proposed to
compet few to bear burdens that should be
equally met by all.
Through some improvidence the capital city
IS required to raise revenue of S2i0,0JO yearly.
This Is, no doubt, grieyous burden to the tax
payers, and is a matter to be regretted. The
committee" however understanding figures
and not lacking for ingenuity, clearly demon
stTates that the taxes imposed on certain por-
ton OF its citizens may be mat arially lessened
by increasing them on a certain other portion.
This Is plain. One mans taxes may be cur
tailed, of course, il another is required TO pay
30 per cent more than ne has heretofore paid.
This may be wisdom, but il comes to the public
| highly favored with selt-interest-an unfair and
unmanly desire to force upon certain business
interests an excessive share OF the public bur
| dens.
| Five dollars per month has been and row is
| thought sufficient tax upon those engaged in
| the sale of liquors. But the committee" now
propose to increase the license tenfold. This
being the first proposition. it may be considered
an act of modesty. To this extent the com
mittee F" will be relieved from the Just payment
of their proportion of the $4,000 annually to be
provided for in the city.
Why they conclude to reduce the saloons to
| the number of fifty and figure that basis is
| not clear but inasmuch as they seem to under
| stand the rules of reduction and addition, they
could have given the saloons at twenty-fi five and
made the license" $780, and still further low
cred their own tax obligations.
The committee" in its address, says that in
certain States high license" has worked like
a charm. This is an assumption. or else it was
deficient of facts In the States named and
elsewhere il has been demonstrated that pro
hibition does not prohibit" and that e" high Ii
cense" is only another name for prohibition.
Prohibition is in fact, delusion and humbug
and is only advocated by fanatics and cranks
| who fail TO understand the practical workings
of any question affecting society, and whoever
have their dizzy brains tiuunderng in the thic k
| fogs of impracticability.
Say they If the license is advanced to $50 per
month 1t viii do away with large number OF
saloons denominated the Flower ass" This
is quite true, and it is also true that the re-
naming fifty - could be treated in the same
| way. But while it stops the low saloon" does
it prevent the driuker from drinking, or destroy
the inclination to drink of those who atronized
those saloons. II the person drinking at these
low places cannot get 1t at retail prices he
VIII buy 1t by the jugful elsewhere take it home
and make a dive" of his household I; or, if he
does not do this, he will find his way to he
respectable saloons, and spend his money
there. His custom will not be rejected, because
the high license" saloon must catch every
dime to meet the extraordinary demand made
upon 1t by the new high-tax system. The result
is 1t only changes the drinking places o: large
number of individuals, concentrating them
within more narrow limits 1t will be seen that
this scheme is not to reform the attendant at a
" low saloon, but merely an effort to raise a
revenue by imposing high license" upon
certain citizens whom the committee virtually
say keep respectable places of business. Now
Mr. Committee, if this be true, what right have
you to require them to bear an UNEQUAL tax
| burden? Moreover, What right have you to
| deprive two hundred" of the privilege of do.
ing business, and thereby of making a living,
and to select fifty" who may engage in the
same traffic? Is it not for the sole purpose OF
lessening your own burdens, and is not your
ADDRESS the result OF a nefarious attempt To
| force certain OF your neighbors to perform pub
| lie duties which you should honorably and will
| ingly share with them?
1t is assumed that fifty" will take out license
| under the high-pressure plan. Suppose they do
not, the city then loses the So O66 it is now re
| ceivlng, and the taxes viii be increased upon
| you instead of being diminished
There are many phases in which this question
may be viewed. One doing a legitimate, re-
| spectacle" business should certainly be clothed
| with equal rights and privileges in every COM
! munlty To force unequal burdens upon him
! Is species of robbery that should not be
| tolerated. Equal taxation and equal rights
| are Just and fair nelual taxation and UNEQUAL
| rights are tyranny, and should not prevail in
| any enlightened society The propOSitiou
| savors strongly of the stand aud deliver
| method of raising money. road agent >,
taxes your money under cover of mask; the
-. 9llnlttee proposes to abstract your coin
under the cover of a city ordinance it is wholly
immaterlal to an honest man how it goes when
both methods are adopted through rascality.
But the committee" do not seem to care
about the honesty of the process their chief
aim being to compel the few (fifty) to meet
| burdens which they should assist in CARRYING.
Money raised by the method they propose is
preposterous dishonest and can Justly he ga He'd
the late cut-purse scheme of raising revenue.
II. X. McLENNAN.
Chico, December %, 1885.
The RECORD UNION welcomes the free
discussion of this question. If the prin-
ciples of high license cannot bear debate.
it is unworthy of advocacy. Our columns
areopen just as freely to those who oppose
the proposed policy, as to those who favor
it. As we view it, it is purely an economic
question, and therefore one to be discussed
EPssooAphdASiyr anu NlIDOul tut slightest
acrimony whatever. We propose briefly
to reply to Mr.. McLennan's argument, and
| to correct some misapprehensions on his
part. 1t IS admitted that by high license
| the revenues of the city will be augmented
Indeed that is one of the chief reasons
for the adoption of the policy. Nor is there
| anything new IN the proposition. License,
| as source OF revenue, is as old as the
| forms of government. Taxes are forced
| collections and involuntary payments, and
this is from the very form and necessity of
government. Thus far we are agreed with
| our Chico correspondent. Ii is also true
| that high license is, like all other Incense.
an unequal burden relative to the taxes
laid on others than dealers in liquors. But
| as laid upon a class, it is equal in its
| operation. So thus far there is
| no divergence from our correspondents
views. He is in error, however.
| in assuming that the necessity of raising
revenue is to be regretted. The aggregate
| amount may, because of its magnitude. be
| Objectionable, but this people do not object
to paying taxes sufficient TO give the lives
| and property of our citizens protection. our
| children an education, and 10 conduct CITY
affairs upon a plane commensurate with
our commercial importance and the needs
| for well ordered government, and comfort
able residence in the place. They do, how
ever, consider 1t grievous burden to
| be compelled TO contribute largely to de
| fensive measures, rendered necessary in
large part by the liberality accorded
in the matter of selling liquors by GER
tam class They deny most emphatically,
that it is an equal distribution of the bur
| dens of government to compel all equally
| to bear the consequences of the business of
the few who keep low places where crime
| is prolific, and this, be it noted, is an econ
| omic and not alone a moral consideration.
1t is trne that the taxes of one class are
to be decreased by augmenting those of
| another. This always has been done, al
ways will be done, and it is right and