Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1915-04-14

inasmuch as we had deficits for two
succeeding years before prohibition
came into effect. what shall the liquor
people say. and their friends say, in
their efforts to create the impression
that the deficit in West Virginia ex-
lists solely today because she is a pro-
bibition state. There are reasons for
the deficit that the state faces today.
We shall not refer to all of them. but
to some OF them. For the fiscal year
beginning July 1. 1913 the state board
OF public works laid the state levy at
one cent. Such levy was too low to
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 1.
1913, the state board of public works
laid the state levy at six cents. al
though 1t had the authority to lay It as
high as ten. A six-cent levy was not
sufhcient. Notwithstanding the state
was collecting revenue from the liquor
business. An audit of the states af.
fairs. made pursuant to the public ac-
counting act. and filed the 3lst of De-
cemDer, 1914, disclosed the condition
or the states affairs and the deficits
ieIerred to and the approximate
dehcit that the state will face June
30th next.
Knew the Effect.
The people of the state knew when
they voted to ratify the prohibition
amendment, that thew were voting
away the revenue from the 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 ad-
Vancement of the state came the nat
ural Increase in state expenditures
Tor 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,
out 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.
Suspension of Payments.
The state auditor and the STATE
treasurer nave suspended payments
out OF the general revenues of the
state for the reason that there are no
funds. This is hailed with acclaim by
the liquor people. l have already in.
c1cated some of the causes leading I'M
to this Let us go further. TIE legis.
lature, at the session of 1918. did not
know there would be a deficit of $3.50,
OOO.OO for the fiscal year ending June
81, 1913, and consequently made no
provision therefor. The legislature OF
1915 was informed of the financial
condition of the state by the audit and
examination heretofore referred to
ana In addition thereto. by the several
messages of the governor, including a
resolution of the board of public
works Yet the legislature. with such
information, made no provision To
take care Of the deficit existing and
that will exist June Both next. The
legislature having failed to make pro-
vision for the existing conditions. Il
Is very doubtful whether the state mas
authority to borrow money when suf.
fcient revenues have not been pro-
vided to repay the loans. While il is
true revenue measures to take care OF
the present condition. If enacted at
the last session of the legislature
might not have brought in immediate
revenue, yet If such measures had
been enacted, the state could borrow
III anticipation of such revenue.
Regardless of suspension of nav.
Ments, the work of enforcing the pro.
hibitory laws will go on.
Liquor Revenue Not the Solution.
This state need not suffer for nee.
essary revenue. She mas resources
that Will give her ample revenue for
all 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
terest The state is a great store
house OF natural wealth; she has
great resources and her possibilities
are almost without limit
Let us demonstrate concretelv that
a fiscal body which puts its trust i'm
the liquor business for revenue leans
upon broken reed. Ohio recently
rejected prohibition. Mark these fig.
ures: For every dollar Of revenue col.
lected in some of the larger cities I'm
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 a prohibition amend
ment and $4,000 against The city
has 500 saloons and an annual income
therefrom Of S42s. 10000. And vet the
city has a bonded Indebtedness Of
SCI 600 600 and a rnnnicina1 1n,,.. ~