The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1908-03-18

tfdue tHdl society ana government
may be willing to tolerate when the
vices it promotes lose the greater
part of their evil by loss of all their
grossness. says the Oregonian.
1t is popularity of alcoholic
drink that it benumDs ana obfus-
Gates the intellectual and moral fac
ulties, especially of youth; so that
these liquors become, under unre-
stricted sale, chief instrument OF
the mental and moral degradation
that gives so much trouble to human
society. Closer regulations and re-
strictions of the sale must. therefore,
be made and enforced in all commun-
tiles hot prohibition, for that is an
extreme remedy, not enforceable, and
therefore no remedy at all. Besides.
of everything in this world there is
a legitimate use; and so of spirits,
wines and beer. But the conditions
under which they are sold and push
ed for consumption are to be restrict
ed among us. more and more, till all
the gross abuses arc cut out. Thirst
parlors'' are to have no further pro-
motion in these United States. Drink
they will be reduced TO the grade of
those in the cid countries, and every
offense against decency and morality
connected with them or promoted
through them will be placed to their
account. 1t will follow, of course,
that the number and attractiveness
of the drinking places will diminish,
and that places that sell liquors will
not be allowed to furnish apart
ments' or "clubrooms."
Fiscal considerations have a bear
I ing on this whole subject, and can
not be disregarded Government, ma
tional and state. must have revenues.
/ The liquor trade is one of the chief
sources. Under restrictions of the
trade the revenues of government
will be reduced. and the deficiency
in taxes must be made up from 9TH
er sources. Almost one-third of the
total revenues of the United States
are derived from liquor taxation. For
the fiscal year, ended June So 1907,
the federal government derived from
the liquor tax s216,000,000 out of a
total of $685., 100000. States that
are enacting prohibition under local
option laws are now demanding that
in the districts where prohibition is
voted the United States shall refuse
to license to sell. and shall moreover
forbid transportation into these dis
tricts of liquors from other states.
How far this may go one cannot tell ;
but should the ultimate demands of
prohibition be conceded the whole
revenue of the government from tax
alton of manufacture and sale would
be cut Off The principle also would
prohibit the Importation of wines and
liquors from other countries, and a
very large revenue derived from the
customs would also disappear. 1t is
not supposed that prohibition will
reach these extremes, but the theory
requires IT. and if it should the gov
eminent would be obliged to get its
revenue in other ways. 1t is a con-
sequence that would profoundly af-
feet tariff legislation. and more mon
ey would have to come from duties
on imports. This. again, would give
protected interests further advan-
tage. Taxation of incomes and inner
itances by the general government
would follow, and stamp taxes on all
legal papers, deeds, contracts, bonds,
bank checks, bills of sale, and even
on photographs. as in war times. It
is just as we'll to realize in advance,
what ii all would mean. And the
deficit in municipal revenues would
have to be made up by increased
LANES On property, DuSlHtSS anu Octu-
pations in all lines. Yet whatever is
done will come about in gradual
way There will be restriction, not
total prohibition; and the revenues
from the liquor trade, though proba-
bly, they will gradually. or at least
relatively, decline. are not likely to
be cut off wholly. But If restriction
shall go far. it may be taken as GER
tain that the fiscal situation and
revenue requirements. forced upon
public consideration, will be no small
factor in the debate, and in the guild
ance of public action.
Since all things In the life of a
great people are correlated. it will
be seen that a subject like this,
which deals with so many important
interests, moral. social, fiscal, politi-
cal, can not be settled at once. or
Theoretically Or mada m Weld IN any