Mexico weekly ledger., 1899-03-09

tions-see that none are made except
those actually needed-and at the
same time do something to increase
the State revenue. Iel
1t is said that there are 1900 drug
stores in the State, and 1t is likewise
said that 10000 OF them sell liquor.
The proposition is to place license
OF s25 per year on all that sell liquor
for any purpose (except wine, sup.
pose, for sacramental purposes). This
would bring about 100000 per year,
or ssOO,OOo In two years, into the
State treasury. Some think drug
stores are on the increase and such q
tax would turn 5000 each year into
the 9tateB Golfers.
Again, the saloon or dramshop IL
cense lie now not less than s26 nor
more than $500 for State purposes,
and not less than $3.50 nor more than
$500 for county purposes, for every
period of six months. See Revised
Statutes, Section 4575. The State now
taxes each saloon in the State $50
every six months.
II is now proposed to change this
statute so that the State tax on each
saloon will be s1o0 every six months,
or s2OO per year, thus doubling the
amount OF revenue each year from
this source. 1t will be readily seen
that this proposed change in the
saloon tar will help the State treae-
ury wonderfully. But serious ques-
ton arises along this line of policy.
As the law now reads the County
Court Axes its own saloon license tax
at not less than $3.50 nor more than
s400 for each six months, and one
half thereof goes to the road fund. II
the State doubles Its saloon tax, what
will the County Courts do-let the
present tax stand, or lower 1t and
thereby lessen the county road fund.-
THERE'S the rub, and there win be
red-hot fight over this matter in this
House.
Again, 1t is proposed to place a tax
Of II cent on each gallon of beer made
or sold in the State--i..e., cents per
keg of 10 gallons. This will bring
another large run each year to tie
State treasury~-how much, am un-
able to say-but several hundred
thousand dollars. Thus the drug
store that sells liquor, the saloon and
the beer will put the State treasury
In good shape. II you don't like IL,
then don't drink the liquor or the
beer, and you will not pay the tax.
Last Wednesday night Lincoln Insti-
tute, the college for colored boys and
girls in this city, gave elbow out"
in Representative Hall. The Legisla-
ture and people of the Capital City
turned out handsomely to see and
hear the boys and girls. Music and
recitations and elocntion and oratory
flowed and commingled as they flowed
In rythmic rhyme and African ca
denoe, greatly to the enjoyment OF
the big crowd Mexico was superbly
IN line and led the advance guard In
splendid style-James N. Basket rep
resenting her in an admirable address
on "America's Greatest Statesmen
The singing was excellent. Walter II.
Harrison, Of Portland, Mo, eaught
the crowd nicely with an original ad-
dress on "Missouri." He "loomedn
and brsught down the house half
dozen times. Champ Clark and his
'ImpeFial Missouri address should
look out for squallsl This school for
the colored people lie supported by
the State, and, judging from what 1
saw OF the teachers and pupils last
Wednesday night, it deserves the
sympathy Of the people and the coll
ored people ought to be proud Of it.
Many years ago stock yards as they
now exist were unknown. The live
stock business has grown to immense
proportions in this western country
and stock yards have become a neces-
sity. oommon justice TO stock-rais-
ere and dealers demands that some
law should control and regulate the
doiugs, and especially the charges, Of
these yards. There is complaint that
the proprietors have grown immense
ly wealthy BY exorbitant charges and
are daily adding to their great for
tunes st the expense Of the cattle
dealers and raisers. Mr.. Prather, Of
Atchisons offered House Bill No. l4e,
which makes all stock yards public
iuafffutiona and ,laraa th.... -