Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1908-03-03
PROHIBITION OR
HIGH LICENSE WHICH?

There is rapidly growing sentiment
throughout the state for stricler con-
troll OF the liquor traffic and the abolish
ment OF gambling. This sentiment ls
growing among the better class of saloon
keepers us well us among the class who
do not patrOniZe the SALOONS at ALL
These men ren,ize that the people OF
Nevada, when aroused to the wide
spread evil resulting from the present
wide open system, will demand and en-
force either total prohibition or stringent
laws to control the traffic. And this is
no idle dream
The present low price of liquor Iicen-
ses Ill this state il a burning disgrace.
Under the present law, man with $50
can procure county saloon license for
three months. In addition TO this he must
pay go government license year and
S5O state iceners for the same time.
This makes his license for the year
amount to Sl95. With this small CAPT.
tai and sufficient means to procure a
small stock of liquor, he Is authorized
under the laws OF the state OF Nevada to
open saloon. lIo is not compelled to
give bonds for the proper conduct Of his
business. About the only rest rictluu he
Is under is that he shall not sell liuuor
to minors nor Indians. IF he il the
right kind Of man, and many OF that
call
III th; state, he Will conduct his busi-
Less along Legitimate hues and keep An
orderly, decent house. But u,.fortun.
atcly al saloon Keepers in Nevada do
not belong III this cIats and the result ia
the dlVe with ali of IT. misery and crime
NOW, there are two methohs by Which
the liquor traffic can DO controlled in
this Gfatc. One Is by absolute urobibi-
ton and the other is by high license
backed up by stringent laws The writer
Is not prohlbih0nist and would not in
'eFtere with the personal liberty of any
man, but he Is heartily in favor ~ q
huch h'gber saloon license, than now
prevails III Ncvudn, and of mora re-
s1Hc''Ve laws for the control Of the
nquor tralhc. Hc would place the crrnty
license Mt $500 year and rcstric, The
number OF saloons according to y certain
unit OF population.
Inc result OF this would DO less a.
IoouS, less crime, less poverty and mis-.
cry ana more money in the county tr.as.
nTics. III this system wns now in rnr 90
ana the unit OF population fixed nt 300
hiNo would have three saloons ips,ead
OF eighteen and S2iOO wouId 20 into the
county treasury IDstoad OF the S11OO
paio by the saloona under the present
License law. Tho people would be bon
GIFTED by high license, backed up by a
stringent restrictive law, both in the IN
crease or the amount paid for licenses
ana the decrease in the amount paid FOR
criminal prosecu tions.
This matter should receive the raroest
attention Of saloon men and they shouId
so conduct their business rs NOT to
arouse the people against them 10 the
extent Of prohibiting the liquor traffic
IN this state. For just as sure M the
sun rises and sets, tho liquor busrncaa rs
now conducted VIII not he permitted in
Nevada many more years. There ia a
tide rising that caDnot he checked until
the wide open system, the present curse
OF the state, will either give way TO
absolute prohibition or high license with
strict regulation.