Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1915-04-20
Blues Speach at ClaIkshuIg

IS
Blues Speach at CldkshuTg.
CONTINUED from Forth pageo
nquor pusness as IN any year nAt
the state collected such revenue. Now
inasmuch as we had deficits for two
succeeding years before prohibition
came into effect, what shall the liquor
PEOPLE say, and their friends say, N
their efforts to create the impression
that the deficit in West Virginia ex-
lists solely today because she is pro-
hibition state. There are reasons LOT
the deficit that the state faces today.
We shall not refer to all Of them, Dut
to some of them For the fiscal year
beginning July l, 1913, the state board
of public works laid the state levy at
one cent Such levy was too low 10
meet the demands that came upon the
state in that fiscal year, notwitlstand-
ing the state was collecting revenue
from the liquor business. However, 1t
Is to be remembered that the great
Kanawha Valley strike entailed in the
state an unexpected expenditure OF
over 100000 during that fiscal year.
For the fiscal year beginning July l,
1918, the state board of public works
laid the state levy at six cents, all
though 1t had the authority to lay it as
high as ten. A six-cent levy was not
sufficient, Notwithstanding the state
was collecting revenue from the liquor
business. An audit Of the states ar
fairs, made pursuant to the public ac-
counting act. and filed the 31st of De-
cember, 1914, disclosed the condition
of the states affairs and the deficits
referred to and the approximate
deficit that the state will face June
S0th next.
Knew the Effect.
The people of the state knew, when
they voted to ratify the prohibition
amendment. that they were voting
away the revenue from tne liquor bust
ness. 1t is an insult to their intelli-
gence to suggest turning again to the
liquor business for revenue. They also
knew that with the growth and adj
yancement of the state came the nat
ural increase in state expenditures
for education, protection to the work
ing man and those dependent upon
him, and aid to those stricken by dis
ease as affecting, not only themselves,
but the public as well. And the peo-
pie, when they voted upon prohibition
expected the Legislature to make nee
essary provision to meet the changed
conditions.
Liquor Revenue Not the Solution.
This state need not suffer for nee.
assary revenue. She mas resources
shat will give her ample revenue for
an of her legitimate needs when the
legislature will enact the necessary
revenue measures. The enactment of
such measures will not impose any
unfair or unnecessary or heavy bur-
den upon any person or upon any in.
tsrest. The state is a great store
house Of natural wealth; she has
great resources, and her possibilities
are almost without limit.
Let US demonstrate concretely that
fiscal body which puts its trust in
the liquor business for revenue leans
upon a broken reed. Ohio recently
rejected prohibition. Mark these fig
ures: For every dollar of revenue col.
lected in some of the larger cities in
the state of Ohio. 40 cents thereof
goes to sinking funds and to pay in
terest on bonded Indebtedness Take
the city of Cincinnati-that recently,
on face Of returns, gave 1900 votes
for ratification Of prohibition amend
ment and $4,000 against The city
has 500 saloons and an annual income
therefrom of $42S,000.00 And yet the
city has a bonded Indebtedness of
S154 ON each 800 of valuation. Take
the city of Cleveland, that recently
gave $4,000 votes for prohibition and
II 900 votes against. the city has
1921 saloons, with an income of $685.
900 therefrom, and yet the city has a
bonded Indebtedness of $4,000 900.
Take the city of Greater New York.
with over $4,000 saloons, and a bonded
Indebtedness of $1,367 ,4S2 10000, with
an annual interest charge thereon Of
$42, 600, and with tax rates of $1.77
tc $3.50 on the hundred in the re-
spective borougns of the city. The
city pays $17,000,000 a year to main
tain her police department; required
In part, to protect the city against the
vice made and created In its $4,000
saloons Has it ever occurred to you
that the city of New York spends In
interest charges alone is times as
much money every year as the state
Of West Virginia appropriates out of
ner general revenue to maintain her
government and institutions and over
100000 contributed to her local pub
lie schools? Did it ever occur to you
that the city of New York, to main
tain her police department, spends
nearly seven times as much annually
rs the state of West Virginia appro-
PIRATES for the foregoing purposes?
Take the city Of Chicago, with 1852
saloons and revenue therefrom of
T,152,000. In 1915 the budget pre-
sented to the city council, for it's
action. to maintain the police depart
ment, was s9,0OO,O00 In addition to
this, the United Charities of Chicago
made an estimate of the amount ex-
pended in the city for the care de-
fectives and dependents, not ii ,lud-
Ing the criminal class, collected from
private agencies only, amounting to
T,416,000. The Cook county infrmary,
built year before last, has over $500
samates, and they are finding it nee.
essary to put cots in the corridors to
Aslp take care of the overflow. The
oeunty jail is crowded to the point Of
aAdecency and already there is a