The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-06-23
DRY WEST VIRGINIA
FACING BIG DEFICIT
Prohibition Amendment Becomes
Effective on July I, and Is Eek.
pectod to Cause Higher Taxes.
"FoR RENT" SIGNS NUMEROUS
All Saloon and Brewery Property
Must b, Disposed or by Midnight
of June 3O-Cities Are Heavy
Losers.

Wheeling. W. Va. June s2-The pro-
hibition amendment to the State Con-
stttution. prohibiting the manufacture
or sale of intoXicants within the con-
fines OF the State. becomes effective on
July i.
The change will mean thousands of
dollars loss in revenue. and measures
interim between now and next De-
cember, when the next Legislature
meets and can devise ways and means
of increasing tho revenue to mako up
this big deficit.
Cities are arranging to tax every
thing that Is taxable and increasing
the taxes on articles and privileges al
ready taxed. Already many cities have
arranged to boost the license on au-
tomobiles, poolrooms. etc. and tho
Finance Committee OF the Wheeling
City Council has drawn up an ordi
nance levyinE 4 license tax on cha rters
of corporations, ranging from $40
year on corporations having an author
lied capital of $1,000 to SITS to those
with a million capital.
Wheeling, the largest city in the
State loses heaviest in revenue as n
breweries emptied sic.21S annually into
this citys cXchcqucr. Three large
breweries which go out OF business
In this city represent with their equip
mant s2.S93.0 600. and the prohibition law
means practically the confiscation of
this property. along with that of the
breweries and saloons throughout the
State. These three breweries employ
FL persons, and they paid out
nually to their employees s353.132.92.
The wholesale and retail LIQUOR deal
ors of this county paid in licenses to
the State annually $4,000.
During the last few months For
Rent" signs have become moro con-
spicuous In the business districts Of
West Virginia cities and towns than
ever before. On July l there will be
thousands OF Idle store rooms. Many OF
the snloonkeepers. however. will en-
gage in other business, most of them
In tho restaurant business. Many will
open poolrooms. Some of the saloon
men and brewers have arranged to en-
gage in business in other States. Many
have become wealthy. and are content
to retire. Many of the breweries will
he diverted into cold-storage plants.
The Rayman Brewery, OF this city. the
largest in the State. will engage in the
pork packing business.
The prohibition amendment provides
that liquor dealers must have DISPOSED
OF all their stocks by midnight Juno
80. The new law does not make il
Impossible to obtain intoxicants They
still may be shipped into the State by
express, but they must be received
personally by the consgnee, who must
attach his own signature for their re-
cept. State and city officials arc CO.
operating to make prohibition pro
hibit. Ohio authorities will cooperate
with West Virginia authorities in pre-
venting "bootleggng"
The State tax commissioner is cx-
officio commissioner OF prohibition. and
nc is being kept busy Interpreting the
law. He has decided residents of the
State may treat their friends in their
own homes. but the word "reasonable.
appears in much OF his Interpretation.
and 1t Is likely the many complex
points of the law will have to be in
terpreted by tho courts 1t is not
clear as to just how much liquor n
man may have in his home, or lust
what extent man may treat his
friends
Inc loss In revenue to the State az
r result of the operation Of the prohibit
tlon amendment in licenses from ga
looms. breweries and distilleries 10
Sol 5,134 annually. This does not in
Guide the loss to cities and counties
The amendment will close about 500
saloons in the State. There have been
thirty seven dry counties in the State
one In which there is only one Wet
city, three with two wet cities and
one with four wet cities. All the other
counties are wet