Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-04
The Practical Side of the Prohibi
ton Question.

The Practical Side of the Prohibi-
ton Question.
One of the foremost of American
presidents, a statesman famed for his
pertinent utterances and who was
willing to stand by the right as he
saw it for principles sake, regardless
of what might be the consequences
or what the people might say or
think, once said. ut is a condition and
not a theory that confronts u.s." This
utterance which has gone down into
| cial affairs of the country. ~
What the head of the nation said
at that time applies in a greater or
less degree to the situation in Rock
Island at this time. The head of the
municipal government without enter
| ing into a discussion of the theoretical
side of the pending issue of prohibit
ton. has stated in plain terms what
will be the immediate consequences
of prohibitory enactment by voice
of the people of Rock Island. In the
course of an interview appearing in
The Argus this week when asked
what would prove the inevitable and
| immediate consequence of the abrupt
termination of the source of munich
pal income coming from the liquor
licenses, Mayor Schaffer gave in tab
ulation the present city revenues ag-
gregating $113.S21 per annum. OF
| =
loon licenses. On the. other side .of
the ledger he presented the estimated
expenditures amounting to $106,500.
Leaving wholly out of account the
cost of improvements, such as sewers
and street intersections and the like,
the mayor estimated that the deficit
for the year without saloon license
| fees will be S29,G79.
In the event of the city attempting
to put forth contemplated improve
ments and the carrying forward of
work already begun, would swell the
deficit to $46,679. Asked as to the
method proposed in the event that
the saloon license should be cut short,
Mayor Schaffer stated that he would
be compelled to cut out about half of
1.-THE street lighting, reduce the police
and fire department about so per cent,
icut the street fund half, and shave
Iall other departments in the city in
the same manner.
The city has 2S7 street lights and
IA alley lights, and there are applica-
ttions for 80 more at the present time
The city has 90 men on the police de-
APARTMENT and IS on the fire depart
ment. 1t has been planned, said the
mayor, to- add this. year one more
hose company on the hill to furnish
protection to the great district in the
southeastern section of the city. The
street fund, now $4,000, is about ST.,
600 too low for actual needs. the sum
of $4,000 being required for the spring
cleaning of the alleys alone.
The garbage service requires six
: wagons, and in fact two more are
/ really needed. The sidewalk fund at
the present time, he also pointed out,
is obviously inadequate.
This is statement from the mayor
of the city, business statement neither
|prefxed nor attended in his conversa
ton with The Argus by word as to
! the merits or dement's of the prohibi
. ton system, in it's relations to the
liquor traffic. 1t was not the advance
ment of a single theory but the plain
presentation of a condition from which
there can be no getting away. Doubt
less there are people engaged in fur
:, thering. the crusade in favor of the
: abolition of the saloon source of mu
: nicipal revenue. who would be willing
C ITO suffer the attendant deprivations
y and sacrifices for the good of theiI
s cause. Such men are praiseworthy
J. but the condition submitted by the
mayor is one which will bring the
e burden of hardship upon all classes
r of people. And in addition to the
4 predicament of darkened streets will
i come, with the depleted police force
!. ments of practical business economy
a danger. The footpad or the thief, o.
:, the robber, does not need the saloor
to aid him in the plying of his ayoca
!, ton. All that he requires is darkenet
:. streets and an unprotected cOmmun
ity. The existence of the saloon /.
not essential to his existence. Ht
. can work, as handily without it a.
with it. In fact the night maraudel
as a rule does not undertake reck
less proceeding with a befuddlet
;. mind He knows too much for that
The force of argument agains
the reduction of the essentials to pub
lie safety, applies alike to an enforced
+ retrenchment along the lines of publi
improvements. Rock Island ha
$ reached a. point where it must con
T tinue to advance, not over the graves
I of fallen drunkards for the agitation
that has been had, will just as surel.
as the night follows the day teacl
. the saloon lesson, and put it in it.
place and keep it there-but in keep
!. ling with the policy of all go-aheat
r cities. Rock Island is not anxious tt