Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-21
TAXING THE SALOONS
Finding Basis of Assessment for
This Years Business Tax.
FILLING THE CITY TREASURY.
The Speak-Easy Campaign Being Kept Up
Vigorously.
AFTER THE HILL DISTRICT HUSHERIES

The Board of Assessors is just beginning
to get returns from the liquor dealers, whole
sale and retail, as to the amount of business
they expect to do this year. While the
business tax on general trade is but mill
on the dollar, on the gross amount OF busi-
ness done, liquor dealers have to pay 10
mills, or l per cent There are only two
classes of business assessed higher-brokers,
who pay 15 mills on their commissions, and
billiard rooms, 20 mills on the dollar.
The custom in assessing this tax is to take
the business of the preceding year asa basis,
but in the case of liquor dealers this has
been found impracticable. Last year there
were only SO saloons in Pittsburg, but this
year there 31O and the wholesalers and
bottlers have been increased proportionately.
Many of the newly licensed did no business
at all last year, or if they did, they hesitate
to proclaim the fact, and therefore there is
no basis for the assessment
NOT FAIR WAY.
Then the increase in saloons this year will
naturally result in the decrease of the busi-
ness of those operated last year, and the
proprietors Of the latter do not care to have
it used as basis for future taxation.
To obviate these difficulties the board
announced to the liquor dealers that it
would accept sworn returns OF the amount of
business transacted in the first two weeks OF
the present month, as basis for assessment.
The returns already made show marked fall
ing of in the business OF the old saloons. but
the total amount Of liquor business done this
year is expected to be double that of last year.
1t does not necessarily follow that more in
toxicants are being consumed by PittsbHgers,
but it Is mainly attribu ed to the fact that the
increased number of saloons and the suppress
sion OF speak-easies by the police has directed
the business into its legitimate channels.
The city is also drawing an increased rev.
enue from the liquor traffic, legal and illegal,
in other ways. The city's share OF saloon Ii
censes this year amounts to $4,000, as against
SIS, 900 last year.
ANOTHER SOURCE OF REVENUE.
The war upon the speak-easies is also quite
profitable, nearly ST. 800 in fines and costs being
taken in at yesterdays hearings. The First
District contributed about Sl.500 of this
amount, Police Magistrate Gripp turning in
over $500 and Police Magistrate McKenna
nearly $780, If this could be kept mp for year
or two it would materially tighten taxation,
but it is expected that the speak-easy proprie-
tors will not be able to stand the strain, and
before the end of the month will have either
gone out OF the business or to the workhouse.
One or two of the liquor dealers whose busi-
number of licenses have made returns which
were little too low to suit the Board of AS
SCISSORS. The latter have on file numbers Of
THE DISPATCH containing complete report
OF the License Court proceedings. Where
man swore in court that he did certain
amount of business and then divides it by two
tor the benefit of the assessors, the report of
his sworn statement is flashed upon him They
never deny the accuracy of the report, but
simply say: We'll, let it 60 at that, then"
THE WORK GOES ON.
The police of the First District gathered in
q few of the speak-easies on the Hill yester-
day. The house of Robert Edwards. No. "a
Old avenue was visited and the proprietor and
five inmates were arrested. Thomas Carney,
246 Webster avenue, was also victim. James
Crellard, 366 Fifth avenue. was pulled
in together with five visitors. Laura
Muegle, Fifth avenu. near Federal
street; Patrick Nester, $50 Fifth avenue;
Michael McCabe, Arch street; John Powers
36S Fifth avenue: Phillip Rau. 3eS Fifth ave-
nue.; Lizzie Mckee. 10 Mckee alley; Mary
1Ss Ffth Marv S0sePh
Charles and Mary Conley and N. Downey
Schaffer street. In this house seven visitors
white and colored were arrested. John Gro
we're conducted by Inspector McAleese, and
most of the prisoners were placed in the Elev-
enth ward lookup.
sPEILMAN NOT DEAD YET.
Among those arrested it will be observed is
the name of Joseph Speilman. There was a
report on Monday night that Speilman had
dropped dead but it was untre Michael Nc
Cabe, John Powers, Laura Muegle, Joseph |
Speiman and Philip Rau furnished bail for
hearings this morning.
In the Second police district the work of raid |
ng the speak was also kept up under the |
supervision of Inspector Whitehouse and Cap |
ain Mercer. Seven houses were raided and the |
oroprietors placed in the Fourteenth ward |
ock-up. The arrests we're: Peter Freadling, |
forward avenue. Twenty-third ward; Patrick |
Ioddy, 73l Forbes street; Patrick Murray, |
Forbes and Morris streets; John and Mary |
D Brien. Fifth avenue, near Stobo street; Sarah |
logue, Fifth avenue, near st. Agnes Church; |
Mary E DOYLE, Fifth avenue, near Boston |
treet; Mrs. E. Connors. 526 Forbes street.
Patrick Coddy, Patrick Murray and Sarah |
Logue we're released on bail for hearing to-
lay.
Michael Lydon, an Eighteenth ward resident,
who has been in jail for some time a charge |
Of selling liquor without license, was released |
on bail just in time to attend his |
xife's funeral, she having died during his in.
,arceration.