Jefferson jimplecute. (Jefferson, Tex.) 1907-1926, 1913-12-11
". c. 7. U. column.
THE REVENUE ARGUMENT.

HE KEW ENtE ARb l MEM.
The saloon makes drunkards
and paupers and criminals. I'M
happy homes and feeble-minded
children. And the voter makes
possible the saloon. If you ask
him why, he will probably tell
you we need the revenue"
When the liquor traffic is EXTERN
mated root and branch by ma
tional constitutional prohibition,
the number of dependent and
otherwise undesirable citizens to
be cared for by the taxpayer will
be reduced to the vanishing point
and there will be no lack of legit.
innate revenue for all needs
This is evidenced by the records
of prohibition states, counties
and towns. These are pihng up
facts and figures which are fast
knocking the supports from
under the revenue argument of
anti-prohibitionists.
The Federal Government col
lects some S220,O0,000 a year
from the liquor business. This
includes special taxes paid by
brewers, distilIers and dealers.
The estimated amount received
by state, county and municipal
governments in license and tax
is about SIS, 100000. Thus the
total internal revenue from the
traffic is something less than
S350,0O0,000. The average legis
lator and many good citizen is
honestly of the opinion that these
liquor millions are needed to
help meet the enormous expenses
Of government. They sincerely
deplOre the liquor evil and would
gladly see it abolished were it
not for the delusion that there is
financial profit in licensing the
same. They see the money
pouring into the nations Golfers,
see the amount placed in the
credit column of the ledger, and
go their way without stopping to
consider the debit side Of the
account.
Government officials and the
voting public generally, will
some time be convinced that it
is very poor fnanciering to fos-
ter an industry which makes so
many people non-producers, re-
suits in the degeneration of
families, and throws an army Of
incapables upon the state and
upon charity organizations. But
they will have to be shown"
1t behOOveS US as prohibitiOnists
and as Observation-Disclosures
to show them that the cost Of
the drink traffic to the United
States approXimates annually
s., 900, 900, 900 in loss of products,
mortality and in crime and pau
perism." Five billion dollars as
against three hundred and fifty
million-a balance of 81, $50, 00O,-
600 on the debit page! 1t re.
qulres more than thirteen times
the amount of revenue received
from the traffic to take care Of
It's consequences The figures
are astounding, but they are, we
are assured by Prof. John A.
Nichollsin his Economic Studies
of the Liquor Problem" the re-
suit Of careful and conservative
investigation made by expert
Statisticians.
We must show further that
abolition Of the liquor business
does not mean abolition Of the
money it represents; that under
nationwide prohibition the same
100000 will still be in circu-
lation, still available for govern
ment needs; and that there are
better and wiser ways of collect
ing it from the people than
through saloon-keepers an d
brewers and distillers. To our
mind the new income tax amend
ment to the Federal Constitution
provides one good way. Other
ways and means will quickly be
devised as the brains of voters,
lawmakers and Cover N @ n t
fnancierS become more and more
free from the the benum bing and
and befogging inhu ence of.
alcohol.
Give me sober people, "
said William +. Gladstone, and
| will take care of the revenue. -.
The Union Signal.