The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1907-05-04
ARGUMENT FOR
PROHIBITION
CONTRIBUTIONS SENT IN FOR
PUBLICATION
Good Reasons Advanced in Favor of
Dry Town-Taxation Discussed
The Relation of Negro Labor to
the Liquor Traffic
Saloons and Revenue


cessary to raise the tax levy
1t has also been argued that the
revenue from the saloons is neces-
sary to enable the city to conduct
its schools, and that if the saloon
revenue were lost to the city, the
schools would be compelled to close
or that the number of teachers en-
pioyed would necessarily be reduced,
and the efficiency OF the schools
greatly impaired
In view of these arguments, it
might be we'll to examine the con-
ditions as to taxation, and especial
ly as to the schools in several wet
and several dry counties Of the state.
J. In Greenville, with 10 saloons,
the tax levy last year was 10 mills;
the levy for school purposes AZ
mills This is higher than the levy
for school purposes in any other
town in the state. so far as we can
learn. The bonded indebtedness of
the city is S432, 10000. The city
owns the water works and sewerage
system.
2 In Natchez, with 81 saloons, the
tax levy last year was 1874 mills,
We have not before lis the amount
levied for school purposes. The
bonded Indebtedness OF the city is
$500 100000. The city owns the
water works and sewerage system.
3. In Biloxi. with saloons, the
tax levy last year was IA mills, the
levy for school purposes 2H mills.
The bonded indebtedness of the city
$II5,ooooo. The city owns its
water works
Note the Inference in the follow
ing dry towns:
I. Columbus. Amount of tax levy
for general purposes last year, 10
mills. Levy for school purposes,
~ mills Amount of bonded indebt
edness. $3I8.ooo.oo The city owns
its water works, city hall property,
fire department property, stables,
gravel beds and other pieces Of prop
erty not including the school build
ings, of the value OF S3So,ooo.oo An
additional school building is now be
ing erected at a cost of $35,ooo.oo,
the present school facilities being in
adequate to accommodate the gen
eral attendance
? Meridian Tax levy for last
year I434 mills, Of which ~ mills
was levied for school purposes.
Amount OF bonded indebtedness OF
the city is $555, 10000. The city owns
its water works and other real es-
tate. including the city hall and sta
bles, of the value Of $2oo,ooo.oo
3. In West Point, the tax levy for
last year was I411 mills, of which
amount ga mills was levied for
school purposes.
The bonded Indebtedness of the
city is SI4o,ooo.oo. The city owns
It's water works, electric light plant,
sewerage system and city hall prop
erty.
This does not include the school /
property OF the value of S55. 100000. |
An investigation shows that the
property Of these dry towns is as
sessed about one-half OF its actual
cash value. The taxes were not in
creased i'll any OF the dry towns after
the saloons were voted out.
The mayor of West Point writes
that this city owned nothing when
whiskey was voted out, except one
school house, and that the taxes
" ere then as high as now, and adds
that the city has improved in every
way since the saloons were voted
ont, nearly, if not quite, doubled IN
more factories, and de-
cided improvement, both morally and
Property materially in
creased in value, people more sober
and Industrious, and many other inn
TO numerous to mention.
This mayor also says that he con-
Quoted 4 saloon up to one year be-
fore the saloons were voted out and
he then argued that if the saloons
raising taxes, running people away. {
ard running the city: but he has lived I
10 see that those things were not i
true.
We were informed that a furniture a
factory would recently have been lo- +
,ated in this county, but for the t
op@a saloons here. the people not i +
1esiring to build a factory in sa-
Don town, on account of the demon a
lhzing effect upon labor. l.
One furniture factory which can $
,e erected and put into operation j
or less than the actual expense of c
INNING saloons in Greenville for one t
ear, would be of more benefit to the h
ity in one year than its 10 saloons t
you'd be in ten years Nv
Negro Labor and Whiskey Up
The argument is made, and not Isl
H. - T., lc.