Amador ledger., 1908-03-27
Encourage Home Industries.

1t is the first business of local
government to encourage home in
dustries. Additional taxation is in
evitably involved in every step in
the process of dividing up the
governmental machine. 1t woud be
possible to govern the people of Cali
fornla with a state government only,
abolishing the county and municipal
machinery. Probably this could be
effected at very much reduced cost
than the existing complex system.
But the extra cost of local self
government is deemed far more than
Offset by the advantages of bringing
the governmental machinery close to
the doors of every small community.
A pr otecting hand is thereby extend
ed to the various industrial interests,
and this to much greater extent
than the vaster state machinery could
hope to do. In this fact lies the
benefits of self-government. Those
at the head of affairs are identified
with the wants of the community,
and should use their authority in
building up business. II this we're
done judiciously, it would in full
Offset the extra cost in taxes in sup
port of a separate government. But
il it is not exercised properly, the
separate government becomes a curse
and dead weight upon the town,
dragging 1t down, instead of building
it up.
One of the principal means of sup
port of a city is the license tax. 1t
Is also one of the most prolific Of
abuses. Unless this license law is
carefully framed 1T does more harm
than good. The prevalent idea that
to keep down competition from out
siders helps those who are perman-
emily located here in many respects
is mistake. New enterprises should
be encouraged In every way, and the
fact that strangers coming here for a
brief stay in any special line are apt
to take away few dollars, is a miser
able argument to use in support of a
policy of prohibition. Thee license
law of Jackson, and of the county is
framed in this fashion in some re-
spects.
n striking example of this occurred
recently. Two young men we're here
the past week. They were in the
amusement BUSH ess. They proposed
to open place here in the moving
picture line, il suitable arrangements
could be made, and run 1t as a per-
manent institution. Now the love of
amusement is inherent in human
nature. 1t must be catered to. If 1t
cannot be gratified in one town,
people will 60 where it can be
gratiHed. Such places bring people
in town, and when this Is done more
or less money is spent, not only in
the amusement place itself, but in
other business houses. Well, they
we're fully satisfied that a city like
this could support resort of this
character, if liberal policy was
adopted, and they were willing to
make trial. But they instantly run
up against barrier when the license
tax was looked up. The license is
50. so per day. There is no provision
for weekly or monthly or quarterly
license. 1t is $3.50 per day straight
through, just the same for a travelling
troupe coming here to open up for
one night. For skating rink or a
merry go round there is provision,
made to meet special conditions, and
this is right. A skating rink can be
run at So per month, a reasonable
sum. But a moving picture show,
permanently local in the business
street, and steady draw for trade of
all kinds, must pay S75 per month of
80 days. What an absurdity. And
the trustees declined to change the
rate; one of them remarking that
such business would hardly pay,
and it was no use to encourage per.
sons to sink money in such ven
tuIe. The parties who we're thinking
of the proposition, and who are in
that line of business in towns no
larger than jackson, where a liberal
spirit is shown, left in disgust.