The Cairo bulletin., 1907-01-24
SEE JOKER" IN
NEW OPTION BILL
ILLINOIS ANTi-SALOON LEAGUE
MEN IN PANIC OVER POT
TER'S MEASURE.
CHANCE TO CUT TAXES
II is Feared Will Appeal to the Farm.
ers as Act Gives County Treas
urer Part Of Liquor Ii.
cense Cash.

Springfield H., Jan. 23.-Senator
w. O. Potter of Marion, small town
down in Egypt, has thrown the Anti
Saloon League detectives into panic
by introducing local option bill that
apparently covers all that is desired
by the league but that contains the
following rider: twenty-five per cent
of all revenues derived from the Ii.
censing of dramshops under this act
shall be paid by the officer collecting
the same into the county treasury q
the county in which the revenue is
collected. The officer collecting the
revenue shall Immediately on colect-
ing the revenue pay to the county
treasurer of the county the amount
above stated and take his receipt for
same, which receipt shall be a full
protection to the officer in accounting
TO the proper municipality for which
he is acting"
At the first flush some of the anti
saloon leaguers figured the rider
might aid the local option reform in
country districts, but tonight they are
beginning to see Joker" in the
measure, They now fear the country
interests instead of opposing saloons
may by reason of the amendment vote
to maintain them il consideration of
receipt by their county treasures cf
25 per cent of the license money.
Would Reduce Taxes.
| In many countries in which there
are strong saloon cities and villages
the Potter bill, if adopted, would have
the effect of greatly reducing taxes
for county purroges. If it can be
shown the FARMER how his tax bur.
| dfns can be lightened, II is suggested
by the wiseacres, he will not be dis
posed to regard the city saloon as ar
unmijigated evil.
In this connection 1t is noteworthy
that Senator Cruickskark. Of Chicago
has a bill in the senate which aims
to make the minimum saloon license
| S COO instead of $500 q year aud IN
retain the beer license at $3.50 If
he leg Stature shout adopt the
Cr:irkshank and Potter bills. IT is fig
ured, The saloon interests would not
suffer to the extent planned by the
| Ants Iloon League.
In TACT, the introduction of the
Cru:ckshank ana Potter bills Is accept
I'd by some members of the Legislative
as portendng another disaster for To-
cal Cpiion. Wore the Potter bill to be-
come a law approximately sl,70O00h
of the revenue Of the city Of CHI
cago would go to the county,
Bitter Contest Imminent.
Two years ago the local option bill
was introduced in the senate by Mr.
Anderson of Rockford. The measure
was orthodox in all particulars, except
that 1t carried referendum which
the Anti-SaIoon League fought des
peratcly After long wrangle local
option was defeated The Potter bill
augurs another bitter contest, notwith'
standing the general impression that a
local option law in Illinois is inc
vitable.
Senator Campbell introduced a bill
prepared by Attorney Wheeler of the
election board of Chicago which aims
70 change the date Of the election Of
Judge Ben NJ. Smiths successor from
! November to April. Senator Campbell
explained that the election Of sue
lcessor to Judge Smith Of the superior
court in Chicago would cost the coun-
! ty 1920 600 and that there was no rea-
son why his bill should not be adopt
cd as an emergency measure.
! The bill was advanced 10 second read
/ ing without reference and will be sent
to third reading tomorrow.
The Breidt state treasury bill. under
which II is proposed to give the state
authority to go into the banking busl-
ness. was sent to third reading today
without further amendment and with
ont argument. As a reformative meas
urc the bill is considered dead.
House Committee Idle.
Progress in organizing the general
assembly furnishes strong evidence OF
clash with Governor Deneen and
reform measures advocated by him.
Members of the house Appropriation
committees are complaining because
they have nothing to do. The state
board If charities has not presented
its estimates for the state charitable
institutions and three legislative
" eeks will have been lost because of
delay on the part Of the state admins
tration
The board Of charities will meet
Thursday in Chicago to pass or its
estimates
The fact that Senator Berry, Of
Carthage. Hancock county. will head