The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1913-11-15
SALOON LIOENsEs AND PUBLIC REVENUE.

We have stated In another editorial ii this issue that
the city receipts will be reduced $4,000 year
count Of the revocation of eight saloon licenses The
city commissioners, it is said, will not grant
licenses in their place. but will take this to
duce the number licenses Ultimately it is reported,
the commissioners hope to cut the number of saloons
in Duluth down to 1OO a.,.. - 1911 III
The city has been depending upon the money de-
rived from saloon licenses to in large part the
penses OF government Every time license is revoked
it will be the commissioners to look about
and lind its equivalent from some other source for we
haven't learned to run the city with less money
der the commission form Of government than did our
very much abused aldermen under the old FORM The
money must be gotten from somewhere We not
increase the rate for it is already too high. We
will not increase the valuation the thousands
OF acres of unimproved land within the city limits
which is undervaued for taxation purposes for IT
we do will have the Real Estate exchange
backs, and have always been or less partial
the speculative interests in Duluth at the Of
the producers and builders there is little chance save
through militant fight to derive city revenue
from taxes increased land values.
But must have money to city govern
ment, and how to get it without increasing the
high tax without disturbing the assessed
valuation of unimproved lands? Expediency answers:
Raise the saloon license fee. 1t is suggested that
the present 900 license fee be increased to $4,000
We trust that the true friends of law enforcement
not seriously considering such proposition There
political reasons why license fee should
not be increased Indeed if we had way We would
reduce the license to nominal sum Of say SO year.
large fee has not in itself reduced the number of
saloons has it contributed towards essenng drunk
enness In fact the contrary is true.
If the commission form of government must depend
increased license fees and other forms of indirect
taxation to give it sufficient with which to do
a cty's business then have taken step backward
rather than forward The only for licensing any
business is to put it under police control small fee
for this purpose is equally effective high license
tax. The tendency of the times is to get away from
every form of indirect taxation; take it away from
labor products, business and industry, and
put it land where 1t properly belongs. This
not be done in hurry but gradually other cities
making progress in this direction and Duluth will
be obliged to do the
There is a moral involved in the question Of
higher license of greater Importance than the political
objection We have had many years. experience under
high license in Minnesota Our present high license law
bought and paid for by the brewers and they knew
what they doing when they placed it upon our
statute books. With it they have succeeded in using
the cities their allies to combat all proposed legisla
ton to correct evils connected with the liquor traffic.
The cities have become dependent upon saloon
license money to furnish for them that they
lean upon it, and any increase in the present fee will
compel them to lean heavier in the future 49, =.
The added expense the retail liquor dealer through
Eh1gher license will compel him, all high license egs-
ation has done to resort to Stimulating" methods
his business which only result in increasing in
temperance. He will to it that features added
to the saloon that will tend to increase his sales and
bring to him the necessary money to meet his higher
license obligations. This is the moral phase OF the
question. No friend temperance consistent
| y become higher license advocate.