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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (May 22, 1908)
SPECIAL INTERESTING FACTS AND FiRES A Statement of Wat Proliibltlon Will Mean to Pendleton Will Wipe Out a PajToll of $83,000 Annually and Reduce the City's Income 60 Pet Cent Will Cause 30 Store Rooms and 40 or 60 Dwellings Co Be Va cated and Put 800 People Out of Business and Employment Would Decrease Our Population and Cause Additional Competition ln'all lines of Dustnow, and Take Awajr $271,000 from Local Channels. It Is the avowed object of the pro hibitionists to wipe out the liquor business of Pendleton and Umatilla county at the June election. We be Hove but few people, even the liquor men themselves, have a very clear conception of what that means, and we doubt If many of the business men and taxpayers realize what propor tion of Pendleton's financial life would be affected by prohibition. For the purpose of giving exact facts and figures pertaining to the liquor business of Pendleton, a com plete census has been taken of the saloons of this city of the number of .people employed and the number de pending upon the liquor business for a living, and the amount of money the liquor people spend In the city each year. These figures have been given us by proprietors at our request and we have every reason to believe they are correct. In fact we know they are correct, or else we would not publish them. We find 26 licensed saloons and one brewery In the city, 26S people re ceive a living, 98 of whom are em ployes at an average of about $71 per month There are 51 families; IS "of these families live In their own homes, and 36 In rented houses. By this we see about 3 per cent of our population are directly dependent up on the liquor business for a livelihood. The actual cost of the necessities of these 2G3 people, for a year, figuring at 130 per month each, would amount to $94,680. But let us give you the figures In tabular form, so they may be more comprehensive, KM. United States Senator Stands for the Roosevet Policies, Statement No. 1 and the popular election of United States Senators. He believes in the wisdom of the people in selecting their public servants and unequivo cally advocates an amendment to the consti tution of the United States providing for the election of United States Senators by the people. Mr. Cake advocates liberal appropriations for rivers and harbors, stands for the development of the irri gation possibilities of the what and is a western man in sentiment and sympathy. He is Alive to Needs of Oregon and if selected by the people as their candi date will join the majority party in bringing to Oregon the strength and influence which the virile young state merits in the halls of congress. iiiainiMiiM wteniwiM.ii iiii hi.i.im These figures Include items of the local expenditures of the 27 institu tions, and do not Include the whole sale accounts, or the money spent out of tho city. Rent (28 store rooms)..... $32, 208-00 Licenses, city .' 23,400.00 Licenses, .government . .i. . 1,046.00 Salaries of 98 employes ... 82,980.00 Rent (dwelling houses)... 6,510.00 Taxes (state, county and city) 1.794.00 Estimated cost of living ex pense of 263 people at $30 per month each......... 94,680.00 Incidental expenses, includ ing light, fuel. Insurance, donations, laundry, advertis ing, etc 28,673.00 Total amount $271,190.00 Tho abolition of the liquor business In Pendleton would mean that about thirty store rooms would be left va cant, that about 300 people, Including 40 or 50 families, would be forced to leave the city or go Into some other business. What business could they go Into here? We know that nearly all lines of mercantile business are as numerous as the population of the city anr the inevitable law of competi tion And cause and effect will permit. Competition In all retail lines Is ai ready heavy and that during the last year a few firms quit buslnes, includ ing two grocery stores, a meat market, a tailor shop, a printing office, two furniture stores and a bakery. At the present time onexf our large depart ment stores and a muslo store are (contemplating to quit business in the CAKE Republican Candidate r-""7f " ) POL near or Immediate future. It is un reasonable to suppose or presume that these people, if forced out of em ployment and business' by prohibition, could go into any other lines of busi ness : or . find employment here. . By leaving the city they will greatly re duce the business of all lines. Pendleton Is proud of 'the reputa tion of having the best regulated sa loons of any town in the state. We all know that you cannot compel peo ple from drinking liquor by abolish ing the saloons. They who want It will continue to get it and drink it. We believe in the saloons, and think the majority of the better, thinking people and especially the business men believe in the saloon of the right sort. That there has been too great a quan tity of liquor consumed for the men tal and moral welfare of the country we know. The total abolition of the saloon and the prohibiting of the sale of liquors will not stop drinking. The cost cuts no figure with the thirsty. They who desire It will have it. The only sane and civilised way to settle the saloon and liquor question Is to settle It in the same way that all great ' debatable questions should be settled by arbitration and compromise. Keep the saloon because it is something that modern society wants and Is willing to support -Eradicate the obnoxious saloon by stringent laws and license, and thus make the sa loon business one not to be ashamed of, for then none but men of moral Worth and reputation could run a sa loon. Then the saloon proprietor could be as he should be, but as many are not now, a business man among business men, all working cooperative ly for the betterment and upbuilding of the community in which they are and should be a part. Such regula tion is within the power of the city government, nd such regulation would be gladly received by the better class of men now In the liquor busi ness. Will Reduce Cky's Income. ' Prohibition will reduce the city's income over $26,000 annually. The Official records of the city recorder's office, for last year, show the follow ing receipts and disbursements: Current yearly expenses. . .$34,422.43 for ITICAl EBITIi Receipts. From taxes 13,127.23 From liquor licenses 26,416.87 From fines and miscellan eous items 10,626.80 Total receipts ..V....... $48,070.90 The city at the present time has a bonded' Indebtedness of $295,000 bearing Interest at 6 per cent. The taxable valuation of Pendle ton's property Is $6,844,346 and the city taxes are two and one-half mills, the city's current expenses at $35,000 a year, and her bonded debt of $295,000 at 5 per cent, the city must raise the big sum of about $1,300,000 Or $65,000 annually for all purposes. To raise this sum by direct taxation alone would necessitate a levy of one per cent annually for 20 years. The new state of Oklahoma which was admitted to the union last year as a prohibition state, has recently gone "wet" and the state Itself is opening saloons in every town and city in the state. They are called state dispensaries." It was, of course, another case where prohibi tion did not prohibit people from get ting and drinking liquor, so the state has taken the matter In hand, and now not only Insltss that oly pure liquors shall be used In Oklahoma, but the state and municipalities will receive a Just revenue from the traf fic. Again It Is shown that prohibi tion Is a failure wherever it has been train. Central Committee. Vote for the Increased appropriation for the University of Oregon. Don't brand Oregon as a "mossback" state. Vote "yes" on election day. The bill has been endorsed by all the Oregon Commercial clubs, teachers assocla lons, the State Federation of Labor and the Taxpayers' league of Port land. Consul-General James W. Ragsdale of Tientsin, reports that a large horse breeding and training place has been established at Kalgan, chiefly for the supply of horses for the Chinese ar my, and It Is estimated that at least 20,000 good animals should be avail able every year. The manager Is a Chinese who has been studying horse breeding in Japan. Hi. 1.1 ELLIS Republican Candidate for Reelection to Congress For 25 years a resident of Eastern Oregon and knows its every need. His past services in congress and his wide famil iarity with the urgent needs of the district espec-, ially fit him to serve the people well in Washington ' . Congressman Ellis stands for liberal ap propriations for river and harbor improve ment and is enthusiastic in his support of the open river movement in the inland empire, by which freight rates from the farm to the sea may be reduced. He is in close touch with every section of the state and is in position to secure legislation for his state and is the logical man for the position. He is the people's candidate, for congress as was shown by his especially large vote in the primaries. Vote for; Congressman Ellis An Eastern Oregon Nan PHELPS ENFORCES TILE LAW. Fearless District Attorney Is Candi date for Reelection. After four years In the office of dis trict attorney for Umatilla and Mor row counties, Gilbert W. Phelps comes before the people as the regular re publican nominee for an endorsement of his policies arid a second term. Mr. Phelps needs no introduction to the people of Umatilla and Mor row counties, for those who do not know him personally know him offi cially. When elected Mr. Phelps said he would enforce the laws and the people know very well that he has kept his word, for the laws upon the statute books have been enforced. If in the enforcement of these laws Mr. Phelps has trampled upon the toes of some people and thereby in curred their enmity, it Is a tribute to his qualities as an official for If the people do not want the laws they should be repealed, but so long as they remain upon the statute books It Is his duty to enforce them. The success of criminal prosecu tions In both counties has been uni formly flattering. Mr. Phelps has not filled the dockets with petty and un certain cases, but has always thor oughly investigated the charges and has brought prosecution only in those cases where the law had been clearly violated and where violated and where there was every reason to believe that the prosecution would be successful. In all other cases he has either in duced pleas of guilty or dismissed the charge, thereby saving the taxpayers large sums of money for petty prose cutions which could never amount to anything more than acquittals. He has conducted the office of dis trict attorney fairly and Impartially, recognizing neither friend nor enemy, but giving to all that equality which the law presumes. For those reasons, and for many others, Mr. Phelps is en titled to the support of the republicans at the June election. "BOB" BROWN FOR ASSESSOR. Popular Deputy Clerk Seeks Import ant Office. Robert T. Brown, the republican nominee for county assessor, is espe- ON : 1 ... Vb ,:, i 1 j dally well qualified to fill the office he seeks. For four years he was a deputy in the county assessor's office, and for nearly four years has been first deputy in the office of county clerk. Throughout his public career, Mr. Brown has made a host of friends by his courfeous and obliging manner. In the primary election he received the entire vote of his party and his success in the election is already as sured. Mr. Brown's friends are not asking the voters to support him through any motive of sympathy, but because through his long service as a deputy he has become eminently fitted to fill the position and now deserves this recognition at the hands of the peo ple. Above everything" else, the assessor's office requires a man upon whom no shadow of suspfclon has ever come. Mr. Brown has lived in Umatilla county for over SO years and if famil iar with property values in every por tion of the county, and all who know him will agree that there is not a more careful, painstaking and con scientious official at the court house than "Bob" Brown. Mr. Brown pledges equal and im partial assesments of all property. -. - ' v 1 t ! ! !
