New Britain herald., 1930-08-06
IDAHO TOWN TAXES ITS B0O7LEGGERS
Officials Jailed for COrruption-
 Wives Seek Their Jobs
BY PHILIP J. S1NNOTT (NEA Service Writer)


 (NEA Service Writer)
 Wallace, Idaho, Aug. 6.-Idaho's rum rebellion" in which numerous public officials and others were con- victed in federal court recently is ended, but Idaho's rum referen- dunn is on the way.
 The wives of two officials who were found guilty of collecting money from bootleggers-not for the city treasury - were in- the city treasury-have been in- duced by civic organizations of Wal lace and Kellogg 10 run as candi- dates for the offices their husbands held.
 And then, as an aftermath of fe strangest case of corruption" in the history of prohibition. Mrs. w. H. Herrick. wife of the former county assessor, and Mrs. R. F.. Weninger, wife of the former sheriff. became candidates seeking "vindica- tion."
 "Graft" Went to City
 But it isn't the ordinary "vindi- cation" for while Sheriff Waninger and Assessor Herrick admitted they took considerable sums from liquor sellers, they did not profit personally one cent. Instead, they turned the money into the public treasury, to be spent on fire and police depart ment budgets and on good roads and ! bridge building activities.
 These men are martyrs 10 the cause Of what we call human lib- erty personal rights and self gov arnmont,' declares A. P Hutton, of Kellogg, who suggested the candi- dacies. He predicted that the voters Of Shoshone county will rise up and give the women an over whelming vote in the coming cleo ton.
 If We were conducting our civic affairs improperly, they could have told us and we would have correct ed things said another resident, voicing the general sentiment What we object to is this sen tencing Of city officials 10 federal prison because they tried to convert 10 public good the liquor and gam bling activities they couldn't olimi- nate
 Made Bootleggcrs Pay
 Wallace's story is not much diff ferent from that Of many other towns that see b0otleggers making hugh pro1ts-and the city getting nothing in return. The same thing happened over al Muilan. neigh boring north Idaho town, where two score Of men were convicted recent ly of conspiring 10 collect from saloons, the money supporting the town and paying the city police force.
 In each case, the government showed, police officials saw 70 1t that money was paid into the treas ury.
 Wallace's corporate limits do not cover much territory. Outside these limits are big mining properties, employing over 5000 men, The hills encircling the town are covered with dense young timber IL is just oO years ago since a disastrous forest fire swept down these hill- sides int the town.
 The Wallace fire department, therefore, is maintained al q stand ard that provides not only protec- ton 10 the community, hut for the mining properties and against possible forest fire recurrence. There are other expenses in connec- ton with the 5000 miners-nany Of them transients-that must be borne by the taxpayers within the small area Of the incorporation.
 saloons Yielded s3O,O0O Yearly
 Before Idaho went dry. saloons contributed 10 Wailame approxi- mately s3o, 00n a year in license fees, There was strict enforcement for g while, but the war saw the camp stunned by the experienced miners. until some Of the mines nearly were forced 10 close. Then came federal prohibition, and the mining communities passed to the government the job Of enforcement,
 As usual in any big center Of transient workers, the liquor trade grew The city officials found themselves unable 10 cope with it. But here they saw q chance for gain-for their city, not themselves.
 These people pay no revenue whatsoever into the public treasur- as, yet they have the benefit Of po- lice fire department and the bridges and culverts we must build" vas the thought.
 Over at Mulian. the matter was handled boldly through city li- cense ordinance In Wallace. how ever, there was no ordinance But money was paid by the saloon and resort keepers to the city officials, and by these placed in the city treasury Culverts and bridges were built fire department expan- sion was provided for, and-say Wallace residents-the cost was spread q little more equitably.
 This spring. however. federal op- eratives swooped down upon Wal la''' -N''L III o oHOil tIlIIt. IItIt were more than 40 indictments, charging conspiracy 10 violate the prohibition law.
 Officials Are Convicted
 w. H. Herrick. eX-mayor Of Wal lace, and for 18 years assessor of Shoshone county, vas indicted. So was Mayor Herman J. Rossi, and 
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