The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-07-20
State Auditor Would Give
Them Entire Amount Re-
ceived From Saloon
Permits.
RESIDENTS OF COUNTRY
DISTRICTS PROTESTING
Donahey's Statement Is In
Direct Conflict With Find
ings Made BY Commission
Appointed BY Governor Cox
and Reporting to Him.

Columbus. Ohio, July 1s.-As here
tofore pointed out in these columns.
the saloon cities Of Ohio are IN dire
financial straits. When the prohibit
ton amendment was up last fall the
opponents Of prohibition argued that
the revenues from licenses were nee
essarv to help pay municipal ex-
penses. But the fact is, oomparing
wet municipalities with dry ones, the
financiall~ than the dry ones. and
are constantly appealing to the State
10 give some sort of aid
Announcement IL made that IN his
annual report State Auditor Dona-
hey will recommend legislation to
cut the state off from receiving any
liquor license revenue, and turn all
of the $1,000 license fee back to the
local communities in which saloons
continue to be tolerated.
Under the law as It now La each
saloon pays the annual Akin tax Of
ST. 900 Half of this goes to the mu-
ntcipality In which the saloon liz To-
Gated, two-ttirds Of the balance to the
county and three-fifths to the State.
Mr.. Dona-hey recommends that the
States share amounting to more
than a million and a half dollars an
nually be given to the local commu.
nifty.
Can't Bnck It Up.
Mr.. Donahey makes the broad as
lsertion. which he Will have difficulty
In backing up. that the State has no
right to accept any portion Of thSe
$1,000 tax because "a saloon tx Is
10 cover the expenses OF regulating
the traffic, furnish police prot
and 70 meet as far as possible tho
maintenance Of those who become
police charges as q result Of trtoL-
eating liquors" Mr.. Donahey wants
to know why the State should rob
these communities that need every
cent of this saloon tax
Mr.. Donaheys statement that the
tax !e levied TO cover the expenses
of regulating the traffic furnish po-
hoe protection, and in limited way
TO meet the maintenance Of those
who beeome public charges because
of the traffic, is in itself an argument
against HIS recommendation. The
evils OF the traffic which the Aiken tax
| Is designed In q small way to meet
are not confined TO the town or coun-
~ IN which the saloon 10 located.
Here m Ohio we have a number OF
public institutions built and MAIN
tanned By the taxpayers Of the State.
and no small per cent of the main
| tenance Of these institutions is due
to the care given the unfortunate
victims OF the liquor traffic The
| taxpayer IN the dry town OF county
pays his full share of the rnainten-
ance of these institutions and the
care of these unfortunates. saloon
continuity does not build a wall
Iabout itself IN order to protect those
livtn~ within. The saloon evil
reaches clear across the State and
touches the pooasetbook of every tax
payer. be he resident Of wet or dry
territory.
In Conflict With Findings.
Mr.. Donahey's recommendation fe
| in direct conflict with the findings of
q State commission appointed by
Governor Cox and reporting to him
early in January Of last year This
special commisst on was appointed IN
pursuance Of an act OF the Legtsla-
ture and tie business was to irves-
tfgate as 70 the condition OF finances
Of municipalities. The law grew out
Of q meeting in Columbus In Janu.
airy, 1914. OF the Ohio Munioi pal
League, In which resolutions were
adopted, asking such change in the
law as wouid result In moro revenue
! for the cities and towns Of the state.
/ One OF the suggestions or recommen-
dations of this Ohio Municipal
! League was the turning over TO the
municipalttr Of more, II not all. OF
the Aiken tax
The gentlemen appointed on this
snecial commission of invedtigation
were well qualified for the work, as
they were mon VINO were students
OF municipal affairs and experts in
that hns. The chairman Of the COM