Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-07

TAINTED MoNEP IN TIE SCHOOL FUND
The Omaha Baptist association has by
unanimous vote adopted resolutions de-
manding the repeal Of the present state
law which places money received from
certain licenses into the school fund.
At 6rst glance this declaration would
doubtless meet with the assent of mem
bers Of all Christian denominations
who are imbued with the idea that
money derived from the liquor traffic
is tainted with a curse and Its use to
pay for school books and school teach
ers places the seal Of responsibility
upon an admitted evil.
Upon second sober thought this view
must prove delusive and sentimental.
At the outset 1t may as well be under
stood that the law which places money
received from liquor licenses in the
school fund cannot be repealed by a
legislature. 1t is incorporated into the
body of our state constitution, which
sets apart all money derived from fines
and licenses for public school education.
This includes not only the money re-
ceived from liquor dealers, but all the
money received from licenses given TO
theaters, circuses and public resorts, as
well as from peddlers, pawnbrOkers, bill
posters and dog wners. 1t includes,
moreover, the money derived from fines
imposed upon the vicious and criminal
classes of every description.
II 1t were possible or practical to
repeal that part of the state constitu-
ton and abrogate the laws enacted In
conformity thereto it still would be an
open question whether anything could
be gained by diverting the license money
into another channel.
What would be the gain from the
moral point Of view IL the tax imposed
upon liquor dealers were payable into
the general fund of the state treasury
instead of being paid into the school
fund? Instead Of paying the wages Of
teachers in the common schools the
money would be used to pay the sal
aries of the teachers of the state nor.
NAL school, the deaf and dumb school,
the school for the blind and the insti-
tute for the feebleminded. 1t would
also be used to pa the salaries of ou
state officers, supreme judges n dis
trict judges, members of the legisla.
ture and employees in state institutions
generally. Would it shock religious
sentiment less to distribute the tainted
money Of the ~saloonkeeper to the
teachers In state educational institu
lions, judges Of our courts and state
officers than If it were paid out to the
teachers In the kindergartens, primary
and grammar grades and high schools
OF our cities and v~iiiage5f
The members of the Omaha Baptis
association are, perhaps, not aware o.
the fact that nearly 500, 600, 000,0 900
year is collected from the distilleries
breweries, saloons and other establish
ments that deal in liquor and tobacc'
under the federal internal revenue law
All this tainted money finds its way int
the national treasury, to be paid out TO
the maintenance Of our army n navy
for the salaries Of the president and cab
met, the judges of u supreme cour
and members of congress. The chap
lains of the army and navy and tn
chaplains Of the two houses of congress
do not resent being paid in tainted in
ternal revenue collections-neither d
the veterans on the national. pension
roll, or the contractors who construc
our warships and public buildings.
A large part of this tainted and curse,
money finds it's way in the long run int
the contribution boxes Of the churches
Just as does the money paid by liquo
dealers, gamblers and vicious people o
both sexes to our dry goods merchants
milliners, dressmakers, clothiers, jew
elry stores, hotels and restaurant keel
ers. Would the Baptist association, o
any other religious body, put a straine
into the contribution box that woul
keep out the nickels, dimes, quarter
and dollars that had passed through th
cash register of a saloon, oil the cas-
register of a storekeeper who sold hi
goods to the saloon keeper or bartender
Would they reject the money contrib
uted by q banker who handles liquo
dealers deposits and pays out tn
tainted money to all classes of his cui
toners?
e