THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC AND TAXES.
By Editor
Sensitive as property owners as a rule are to undue taxation, it is surprising that, ere this there has not been a general rebellion against the enormous, needless taxation imposed by the liquor traffic upon the property of the whole country. If the liquor traffic is to go on, some system of direct taxation should be devised whereby the capital employed in it for the sake of gain should be made to bear its legitimate proportion of the burdens which accrue from strong drink. When that is done the liquor traffic will cease to be profitable, and capital will withdraw from it. It is profitable now to a small oligarchy of liquor makers and venders, because the crime, pauperism, and the general injury for which it is responsible the property of the whole community is taxed to pay for. The revenue tax and paltry license fee constitute but the merest fraction of the amount which liquor dealers ought to be compelled to pay while their "business" is tolerated and protected by the State.