Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-03-30


the dry year showing the least increase
of any one of the three years
The drug stores Of Rockford nave
never in all their past history sold as
much whisky as they have in the last
two years. The registry sales from
these drug stores (and nobody knows
how many sales have been made ana
not registered) have amounted TO more
than 5000 every month for the past
two years. According to the omclal
report, 1888 of these sales were made
in February, 1909; and to show that
the drug store was becoming more pop
uIar as a saloon, in February, 1910,
these sales reached 1916. When you
consider the fact that each one OF
these sales is from one-half pint TO
quart, and possibly gallon or more,
you can see how enormous this bust
ness has become. These figures do not
take into account the blind pig nor
! the ''bootlegger" When the saloons
were running in the city of Rockford,
| the report made by the internal reVe-
nue. commission shows LOG special tax
stamps issued to that city. In the
fiscal year, 1908 and 1909, when Rock
ford was dry, the number increased to
| 112. Since the first day OF July, 1909,
until now, 95 such stamps have been
issued. Every one of these stamps
represents a seller of intoxicating
drinks. There is hardly a soft drink
parlor in Rockford that is not reputed
to sell all kinds of liquor, and many
of them have a special tax stamp hung
up in public view. On Feb. 10, 1910,
after 81 months of prohibition, 1t was
announced in Rockford newspapers
that the soft drink parlors had agreed
to close up until after election. If this
of itself is not a parody on justice,
then we are willing to be corrected.
The prohibitionists make comments
upon the tax rate in Rockford The
city tax-that is the only tax for cor
porate purposes-on $500 worth of
property (Which is equal to the tax
rate on each 800 taxable value)
amounted to $1.S3 in 1907; $1.57 in
1908, and $1.95 In 1909. In 1907, tax
of $9,740.65, equal to 101s cents on
each 500 taxable value, was levied
for the completion of the new city hall,
for which no levy was made in the
years following. The tax levied for
city purposes is determined by the
portion for corporate purposes after
deducting from the amount appropria-
ted of all other revenues from the city,
the balance remaining being the
amount to be raised by taxation. In
1908, before Rockford had been voted
dry, an appropriation for that year had
been passed, thus including in the an
ticipated revenue of the city $4,000
from liquor licenses. The total ap-
preparation for the general fund for
that year was $50. $3.50; the income
from all other sources except taxes
estimated at s65,27717, thus making
necessary tax levy of S25, 27S.63 for
the general fund. In 1907, the tax
levy for the same fund was $2O,O47.67
In 1909. the tax levy for this same
fund was $SS.923.S7, the appropriation
$117.309.5S, while the revenue from
other sources was estimated at $23,-
3S5.75. This is absolute proof that
the closing of the saloons in Rockford
caused a considerable increase in
taxes.
The insincerity and apparent decep-
ton on the part Of the prohibitionists
is more flagranuy shown in their
figures when it is stated that they do
not make any mention that the school |
tax in 1907 was $2.77; in 1908, 1928; |
and in 1909, $1.9S. In 1907, a new
high school building was erected. The |
total levy for school purposes amount |
ed to S255, 561.62. In 1908, the total
levy was $21S,5O2.S3; and in 1909, |
$1S2, 90S.66
In addition to this, in 1907 the city /
of Rockford spent $35,24S.O3 for ma /
cadam; in 1908, $1S,472.52; and in |
1909, $21 ,41545. Looking at this from |
another standpoint, in 1907, the last |
wet year, SIC miles of streets were |
macadamized; in 1908, 2.O5; and in |
1909, 1.O9 miles. This work was here
tofore paid for by the city from gen
eral taxes, except that the property /
owner was required to pay % cents !
per lineal foot. Since the city of Rock |
ford went dry-the city not having !
sufficient funds-the board of alder
men on Feb. Z, 1910, was forced to
pass a new ordinance requiring prop
erty owners to pay the entire cost |
of matchmaking and curbing the |
streets, except at intersections, which |
are to be paid for by the city. Under
the new ordinance, instead of the own
er paying 25 cents per lineal foot, he
is now compelled to pay $1.35 per foot,
not including the cost of curbing
If you will examine the city clerks
report for 1909, you will find among
expenditures this item: Deficit in
funds in 1908, $25,5O4.S5," in 1908, re-
port covering the wet year of 1907,
you find Deficit in funds 1907, So
70S.01." The total income of the city
for 1909-the completely dry year
was $310,64S.74, and the total ex-
penditures $347, 639S2, leaving an &C
tual deficit for 1909, $36,9911S.
AUTHORIZATION LEAGUE
PRESS COMMITTEE.