The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-01
Councilmen Said to Be Consider
ing Higher City Tax.
MOVEMENT TO MAKE 1T $1,000
Robberies In Resorts Below YesIer
Way Put on Foot n Plan to Reg
uIafe Traffic - Would Increase
City's Revenue From This source
30 Per Cent.-Councu Consider
Ing Figures From other cities.

Liquor licenses in Seattle come too
cheap is the alleged belief OF some of
the members OF the city council, and IT is
said that movement Is being foste-ed by
them 10 Increase their cost to 81 900 n year
for retail. and 800 for wholesale. Increases
of 300 and 500 respectively The cause Of
this rumored agitation is said TO he the
large number OF robberies that hav. oc-
CURED In some Of the saloons south of
fesler way. 1t Is hoped that by estab-
fishing higher licenses some OF these places
will be forced TO close business and others
that can pay 1t will be more careful that
they conduct orderly resorts, as they would
not care TO run the risk of FORGETTING a
1900 permit.
1t In not expected that n retail license
OF only 500 moro than charged at present
would result In the closing OF n great num-
Der OF places but the councilmen favoring
such measure say II would increase the
revenue OF the city to an appreciate ex-
tent, well AZ lesgen the number of sa-
looms now frequented by the criminal ele-
ment
That the council has power to take such
action ~ the belief OF the corporation
counsel This has not been disputed, and
II r. stated that the purpose OF the charter
amendment submitted to the people two
years ago 10 increase licenses to 81 600 was
for the purpose OF asccrtanins the public
sentiment and getting basis for action
that would be n safe assurance of the
popularity or such a measure. II Is held
that an amendment 10 the charter Is not
necessary. The proposed amendment did
however, receive a majority OF the votes
cast but was subsequently decla-sd to
be Illegal. because OF n technicality con-
nected with the publication OF tho election
notice OF the proposed amendment
The average number of FALCONS In Seattle
IL less than I'm other cities Of the same
size. In Albany, N. ", city of 10000
population. for example. there are 40 IL
censcd saloons or one for every rs TO
go people; San Francisco has 3.052 saloons.
or ono to every 100 OF population. Los An
geles has one for every $50 people; Portland
has 254 saloons, or one for every $50 3eop.e,
and Seattle one for each $50 OF population.
A comparison OF the revenues from the sale
OF liquor received by each of these places
shows that Albany gets 1910 for each sa
Noon; San Francisco from $50 TO SIS. Los
Angeles $500. Portland xss5, and Seattle SOS.
basing these computations on the receipts
OF tho cities from liquor licences fer the
calendar year 1898.
II IL a consideration OF these figures and
Of those for other cities that is causing the
councimen to think seriously of increasin~
the revenues from this source. Under a
license OF sl.o00. with 10 per cent. less ga
lonnr than now. the annual revenue would
be tls00aO a year, A2 900, nearly 80 per
cont. more than now. This would cause
general reduction In the tax levy. IL Is
held besides a general Improvement In
the character OF the saloons licensed