Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1904-03-03
MEET THE ISSUE
Rev. H. n. Spear Defends Local
Option.
Question All Important one For
Ionia County Voters.

believe that every loyal citizen il
Ionia county is seeking for the exac
truth regarding the practical workiu.
of county prohibition. So many con
ilicting statements are being made tha
many honest voters are already con
fused as to their duty at the polls
With all the fairness and accuracy a.
my command | desire to consider some
OF the statements thus causing con
fusion TO the voters OF Ionia county.
The Belding Star makes the follow
ing statement a To taxes in Van Bu-
rem county. a certain farmer had
gone so far as To secure tax receipts
from Van Buren, county, and these
showed that the rate of taxation for
county purposes remember for county
purposes only was nearly three times
that 10 lonia county. AS that is just
where the local option matter Affects
the pocket books of taxpayers &c. J"
The impression conveyed is that coun-
" prohibition is the cause OF higher
taxes in NanBuren county that ia Ionia
What are the facts? Before me lies
the printed proceedings OF the eBoard OF
Supervisors of Van Buren, county for
the Oct. session and the Jan. and Feb.
sessions of l902.l903 On page 10, |
find these two items OF expense that
throw some light on the question. Jail
construction SIS, ,549, Court House con-
struction $40, 14S. These two items
make SOC, ,297. The entire tax for Ionia
county the same year was $50, 500 The
following statement from Mr.. S. II.
Wilson, Supervisor of VanBuren
county, is OF interest.
"Dowagiac business men have ex-
plotted the fact that Cass county taxes
are two and six-tenths mills and Van
Buren five mills. They ascribe relief
to their saloons. Now VanBuren has
an estimated valuation OF sixteen mil
lions. The liquor league says Is saloons
will come in under the changed law.
That would mean 81 500 for the county
dcwn only TO four and seven tenths |
mills But we are to remember that
Van Buren, has built new county build
ings costing $l25,000. Paw Paw puts
up $780, 600 the county is bonded for S35,
COO and we have $4,000 TO raise be-
sides regular expenses Besides it ID
better to pay out money in taxes than
To support saloons as In Cass The
fact is that in the l3 years OF county
prohibition, Van Buren has enjoyed
the reputation of having one OF the
lowest tax rates ia the state, In re-
cent years, on account of public i'm
provements, the rate is higher than in
some neighboring counties. As a
proof that the citizens OF VsnRuren
do not attribute the present high rate
of taxes TO the lack Of saloons, 10 this
practical fact, last April by majority
of 800. the voters refused TO vote the
saloons back This was the fourth at
tempt OF the saloon men 10 overthrow
county prohibition, hence there vas
abundant opportunity TO vote the ga.
loon back If they so desired.
The Belding Star quotes the Port
land Review as follows: with the
county SG3 900 in debt as shown by the
treasurers report TO the Board OF Sup
ervisors in their Ian. session, will the
taxpayers feel like adding S2l 800 more
by voting not TO accept the liquor Ii.
cense money! On page l35 OF the
Tonia county Supervisors report for the
oct. and Ian. sessions l903-l9N, | find
the county Indebtedness s27, 900 Instead
of S63, 900. Then instead Of adding 92l,-
500 to the county debt by the loss OF Ii
cense fees, it should be sl0,6i2.50, as
half Of the license money goes TO the
local town or corporation approving
the liquor bond. Taxpayers living out
side these towns and corporations, In
no way profit by the license money
going to such towns and corporations.
So much for accuracy. But we may be
allowed TO ask, why have a county debt
OF even S27, COO? There have been nc
costly public improvements. The ga
loon licenses have been forthcoming
One OF our Supervisors is authority for
the statement that the rate of taxation
has been too low to meet expenses
Hence TO decrease this debt, meet eIper
ses county taxes have been increasing
in amount for several years IN le0l
county taxes were S29,050. In 1902
S32, 500 10 1903, s47 900. Here we Sc,
taxes increasing with the saloons. The
rate has been too low 10 meet curten
expenses in years past, and hence VI
may expect the rate TO be higher mex
year, whether the county is wet or dry
The Belding Star again quotes tn
Portland Review. Take Montcslr
which adopted local option last spring