Omaha daily bee., 1889-01-26
SIOUX CITY WEIGHTED DOWN
Prohibition Has Increased Expenses
and Curtailed Receipts,
YET THE LAW is OFTEN svADED.
Property Owners Ruined and Driven
Away, Employees Thrown out OF
Work-Niggardiy Pay
of Omcials.


they become much more apparent the more
the individual discovers how little the peo
pie are in sympathy with it, and how many
are the means employed TO evade the CALLING
restrictions.
The enforcement OF the law, even now at.
tended with the gravest results, had the eff
feet about year ago of closing up the sa.
looms and destroying the business of two
brcweries which were then located here
Up 10 that time saloons had been
running comparatively free. They
paid no license. Some Of them were
low places, as are to be found in any city,
the greater number was of the better class
Of such resorts, willie some OF them were
palaces and run by men of unimpeachabe in
tegrity. The prohibitory law was passed
and for several years the movement to close
up these resorts was in progress. The pco-
pie did not demand their closing They had
voted on the prohbitory amendment and out
of total vote of 100 there were but about
two hundred and fifty votes cast in favor of
prohibition and this was in a registered cleo
tion. But the amendment prevailed and this
community was compelled to accept law
against which the sentiment of its inhabi.
tants rebclled There was, therefore, a
iencncy on their part toward the liquor
dealers and it was thought that eventually
they would be allowed to continue in
business by the payment of a license
which could be paid into the general fund.
Some of the saoonSecpcrs, for short time,
paid at the rate of $1,000 per year, while
others paid nothing at ALL equally confident
that the law would be declared imperative.
The supreme court declared the law consti-
tutional, and the Haddocii murder tempor-
arily excited the people ana the liquor in
n
year ago
At that time Sioux City had 1870 saloons.
The proprietors of 100 of these, with their
families, their capital, their energy and en-
terprise, after disposing at reduced rates
of their property, left the city for
all parts of the country, except
where prohibition obtains. Some of
these men we've worth as much as $1,000
while the business interests represented
were not less than S500,C00 Their saloons
had brought heavy rents to the owners,
which a measure, ruled against other
places circumstance which has since
changed, to the dissatisfaction Of the land
lords.
With the saloons, Sioux City's two brew
cries also went out of existence The r.
Setter, brick institution turning out
10000 barrels Of beer annually, which had
at Sl5O,OO0. 1t gave employment to
eighteen men, 1t paid out about Sl2 600 for
help about the same amount for barley, and
about $50, 900 for hops. With other expendi
lures, it is estimated that the brewery was
the means of paying out annually $4,000
the greater part of which found ITS way uto
the pockets of residents of Sioux City.
There was also the brewery of the Franz
Brewing company larger institution, val
ued at 100000. 1t had a capacity of 1900
barrels of beer every year, and gave employ
ment to twenty-three men. Nearly all Of
these were married men with families, a
number of whom owned their homes. They
were practical brewers and when the brew
cry was closed down they were compelled to
sell their places at loss and return to the
east. This brewery expended in Sioux City
annually in material and labor about
$50,00O Taxing into consideration the
number of people engaged about the
saloons, the brewerics and kindred lines
exclusive of their families, it has been est
mated that Sioux City lost 1000 people by
the enforcement of the law, or, in other
words, there would be 1000 more people at
work in this city than there are at the pres
ent. Taxes are considerably higher and
nave made wonderful advances in the last
six years while this law has been the dis
turbing element. There are instances where
taxes have increased 100 per cent, and
number of cases in this respect haze been
brought TO my attention, one being where
last year the citizen paid SEA and this year
was compelled to pay Si7 on the same prop
erty.
Independent of this fact, Sioux Citys in
come is niggardly, and she possesses perhaps
about the poorest paid officials Of any
city of its size in the country. If the high
license law prevailed there would revenue
which would aid in making a radical
change in this respect, besides aid
ing in the support of the schools,
all of which now falls as direct tax
upon tie people. The mayor of this city re-
ceivcs S612 per year. This is not nominal
salary. II is here consid cred an actual one,
and is supposed to remuncrate the incumbent
for the work which he has to perform i'll his
office The city clerk is paid $40 per month,
the city treasurer, who, of course has 10 give
bonds, Is paid $50 per month, as is also the
auditor. These salaries are just about what
is paid to an average clerk in the dry goods
stores Uf the city, Yet the people refuse TO
consent to their being raised because it
means so much OF direct tax upon them.
There are three assessors who get 81 when
= they WORK. The police marshal receives S75
month, But the man VINO LORDS II over all
of them is the police Judge, whose services to
the city are most appreciated and who receives
the muni1cent salary of 81, 900 year, The
ofice is therefore sought, but the niggardly
principle on which the town runs is now sug-
/; gesting reduction in this gentlenan's wages
q TO be IN keeping with those Of the other Of
fcials.
These facts were obtained from an official,
" who blushed as he impaired the Ting
y pieco of information that while he was COM
PEELED TO give bonds in the thousands he was
yet receiving only the salary of boy in
well regulated house.
M "This law is forced upon u.s." said the
n same Official, "by the rest OF the county The
,city is opposed TO il, but is overshadowed By
people from outside who come TO town, get
drunk-and have taken care OF several of
Z ff1hem-and then go home ana vote prohibit
,on. The sentiment is increasing every day
pnd a move will be made AT the next legisla
}nre for high license law. The law is vic.
\ Hated every day, II costs more To run the CITY