The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1953-02-19
To The People of Garrett County

For weeks past, those interested in securing
referendum to egalize the sale of whiskey in Garrett
County have remained silent while The Republican
newspaper has actively opposed the propositions and
apparently deliberately attempted to mslead the clt-
zens and voters of this county.
Those interested in the referendum intend to con
duct their activities in open manner and will oppose
any attempt to twist facts figures in effort to
confuse or misead the public.
Several weeks ago, The Republican accused petit
ton sgners of conducting an underc0ver" campaign
There nothing secret about petition. 1t is perhaps
the most public of all expressions of opinion and of
the strongest American institutions.
In the issue of January o. it was stated that
whiskey sold by Garrett County operated dspensary
system would special county tax, and for this
reason bill introduced into the Legislature would
with disapprova by the State and Alcoholic Bev-
erage Control Board This is not true No special county
tax has been contemplated. The profit accruing to the
county would be from the purchase at wholesale Of
bottled goods, and their resale at retail However,
Identifying sticker not tax stamp, should be attached
to each bottle sold in Garrett County to discourage the
bringing in of bottled goods from other states
counties
Those interested in this movement at the present
time are asking only for referendum of the voters,
twenty-five per cent Of the voters of the county in
terested county taxpayers have indicated an interest
IN this movement, which should be more than enough
to guarantee its acceptance by members of the LegS-
lature.
The attempt in the February II issue of The Re
publican to give the impression that a referendum
would cost the county more than $4,000" will not
stand up under scrutiny Accurate costs Of the 1885
referendum which egaized the sale of beer not
available and would offer little basis for comparison
with present costs But the cost of the 1852 election is
revealing. In that year, total Of $12,662.52
pended by the county. This covered two registration
days, revision day and primary and general election
which involved the printing OF three sets OF ballots and
accompanying advertising costs for both elections The
cost Of special election should be more than
half the figure quoted by The Republican.
The February u issue of The Republican also i'm
plies that certain individuals interested in attach
ing beer clause to the referendum for legazaton of
Whiskey This carries weight 1t is not the intention
of proponents of legal sale to eopardze the countys
portant part of the countys fiscal set-up be OBJ
served from the following figures.
Next year, according to the levy Of the County
Commissioners, the county will receive from taxation
real estate the of $5lO69568 Revenue from
the sale of beer last year amounted to 578354 and in
addition $6,6660O received from alcoholic beVer
age licenses for total income of $64501.44. Simple
arithmetic will prove that this represents II percent
of the revenue derived from real estate taxes, which
means proportion on $500 tax rate of "a cents.
The argument that beer taxes have not decreased
the county tax rate as promised simply do not bear
out the facts. Obviously if this revenue not raised
from beer taxes the amount so raised would have to
be added to the real estate tax carry out necessary
county functions, and today would increase the real
estate tax by just that amount
Those backing the referendum have not gone into
the matter without considerable thought and research
Most are sincerely and unselfshy interested in the
progress of the county and believe legalization Of
Whiskey is necessary.
AS an example of the system in operation figures
from Kent County Maryland interesting. During
the past fiscal year the five retail liquor operated
by this county had gross sales Of $5196O183 Store eX
penses $50 798.43 and administration costs
amounted to $9,690S1 leaving net profit after ALL
OTHER expenses of $82,5 14.53.
1t should be borne in mind that Kent County has
only slightly more than $4,000 population compared
with Garrett COunty's than 21,000 However,
Whiskey sold there only by the bottle through
county stores and received through re-
tail licenses the sale of Whiskey to license holders
In Garrett County, because of its appeal a summer
resort it is important that on-sae licenses to those
who qualify be granted, as this would serve to
stimulate this summer tourist business and would
bring additional revenue to the county and its
muntes, well as stimulating business conditions and
encouraging additional capital investment, such a
first class resort-type hotel Deep Greek Lake. This
Of course would result in great increase in the
Der of persons visiting this during the
well improving business generally Judging from
Kent Comty's figures, it is safe to that Gar
rett County would receive minimum of 100000
nually from the bill proposed to the Legislators.
1t is not our intention force anything upon the
people Of Garrett County. Neither is it our intention to
permit misleading statements and nfounded figures to
90 mchalenged. AS d newspaper, The Republican
should appreciate this position
JOSEPH HINEBAUGH
FLOYD b. LEIGHTON
RUSSELL l.. SMITH