Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1910-11-04

has not lost trade which formerly
came to the home business men. 1t hai
not found a merchant but who admits
that every dollar sent away from Poll
County for liquor is lost to the home
business man. 1t has not found a mer-
chant who will say that people are
coming from wet towns to trade in
Polk County because Polk County
towns are dry. 1t has, on the other
hand, found many merchants who say
their business is no better than 1t was
two years ago, but who are not will
ing to be quoted for fear of making II
worse. Many merchants talk freely
with the editor Of this paper and tell
him that they believe business would
be far better in Polk County under a
strictly-regulated system than under
the existing, so-called dry rule, but
few are willing to talk for publication.
Nothing cuts a business mans pride
more than to have to admit publicly
that his trade is falling off. Most mer-
chants would rather lose both ears
than do it. If, however, there are three
merchants in the whole town of Dali
las who are willing to say that they do
not believe business would be better
with well-regulated saloons in Polk
County than under existing conditions,
the Observer has been unable to find
them.
QUESTION-Are taxes lower than
they were two years ago, or are they
higher?
ANSWER-Both county and city
taxes are higher. Polk County paid in
1910 (dry) approximately $53,O0O
more taxes than it paid in 1908 (wet.)
The city tax of Dallas for 1907, (the
last wet year, was $4565. The city tax
for the year 1909, (the last dry year,
reached the enormous total of $9108.
1t would not be fair to say that all OF
this increase, either in county or city
tax, was caused by the county being
dry. But these figures effectually dis
pose of one familiar argument that
dry rule makes taxes lower.
QUESTION-Is there more money
in the treasures of the incorporated
towns of Polk County than there was
two years ago?
ANSWERING. There is less. Here
in Dallas, there isn't any. Notwith-
standing the enormous levy made last
year, the town is "broke," and has
been since late in the Summer. 1t has
already spent something like $500
more this year than it got in taxes, and
there will be no more money to pay
until next tax-collecting
next April or May. The
big tax this year will not be marker
to the one which will have to be levied
next year, for in addition to levying
enough TO run the town another year,
the levy next year will have to be
made large enough to cover the big
deficit for this year
QUESTIONABLE the salaries of
peace officers lower under dry rule
than they were under wet rule?
ANSWERING. They are the same.
OUBSTION-Has the loss of $2400
a year in saloon license in Dallas been
made up in the saving in police court
expenses since the town went dry, as
an overly enthusiastic prohibitionist
told some of the farmers in Southern
Polk County?
police court was never source of ex-
pense. 1t always showed clear profit.
A police judge that couldn't make his
court self-sustaining would be kicked
out of office in short order by the
The police court has never
been source of expense to the tax
payers; consequently, the loss of $4,000
license year is a net loss to the city.
oUESrION-Is Polk County paying
out less money for the support OF
paupers since Polk County went dry,
or is 1t paying out more?
ANSWER-It is paying out more.
The Polk County farmer is paying
twice as much tax for the support Of
paupers as he paid four years ago.
The Register of Warrants in the Coun-
ty Clerks Office shows that the pauper
bill for the year ending July 1, 1908,
(the last wet year, was $1539.67.
The pauper bill for the year ending
July /, 1910, was $224015, For the
fiscal year ending with January /, 1t
will exceed $4,000. For the month of
August alone, the pauper bill was
as much money in one
month as the county ever paid in six
months under wet rule. That month
marked what might be termed High
ride in Pauperism" in Polk County.
QUESTION-Has drunkenness de-
creased in Dallas under dry rule, or
las il increased?
ANSWER-The police records show
I has increased; that Is to say, it has
increased among the residents of Dali
as, by far the greater number of
hose arrested being young men.
QUESTION-Will the oft repeated
argument of prohibitionists that men
lay their debts better in dry counties
han i'm wet counties hold good in Polk
county?
ANSWERING. Collections are no
asier in Polk County than they were
wo years ago. The books of one of
he largest mercantile concerns in
Dallas shows that out of a total of SO
accounts contracted during wet rule,
,nly two accounts have been paid i'm
he last two years. OF total of $4l6
N the Observers books. contracted |
,rior to 1908, only $91.O5 has been
,aid In the last two years. The obser-
er has offered to sell these outstand-
ng accounts at 10 cents on the dollar,
nut so far no buyers have appeared. |
We now offer them at cents on the |
ollar, with an extra per cent dis
cunt for cash. This offer is open to
II persons who are not friends of the
ditor.
QUESTION-Have the fines receiv- l
d from violators of the local option /
lw been more or less than the amount 4
pent by the county in detecting and |
them2
ANswER-SO far as the Observer |
} able TO figure Il. II Is about a stand
n. To arrive at the exact figures on !
his question. the services OF an ex-
ert accountant for n week or ten |
avs would be required. AS nearly as |
he Observer has been able to figure /
|. In the limited time at its disposal. ]
he county has received In fines the |
um OF $3.50. Against this are the |
rand Jury costs amounting to ovef
1000; board OF prisoners about