Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1875-05-05
The Liquor Tax EiII.

ZION OF TIE LltoF Iainc II o.
: opinion is not as good a measur
as that which had been original
passed by the House. 1t is 10 b
b regretted that, when the bill ",
returned 10 the House from III
Senate, the time fixed FOR adjourn
ment was so near at hand as &
present the alternative 10 the form
or Of concuring in the Senat,
amendments or OF suffering III,
bill to fan 70 the ground. Tha'
this was the case was the faul'
Of the House in dallyiug for sucl
long time over the question, in.
stead Of taking hold Of tin Q prac-
teal way at the start. 1t is a
shame that matter Of so great i'm
portance should have been left in
such a pTecarious state as it was.
Il ought not 70 have been delayed
so long that the views Of the two
( Houses could not be harmonized
without one being forced from
positions taken after thorough
discussion and mature deliberation.
We speak Of this because the
practice Of leaving any importan,
measure TO be finally passed upon
in the closing hours Of the session
is bad one. Il would be prefer
able for the Legislature to remain a
week longer in session rather than
be forced to pass bin Of weighty
importance under the pressure Of
a necessity occasioned BY the lack
Of time at It's disposal.
We confess TO some fesr that the
measure which has received the
legislative sanction which will in
all probability be approved by the
Governor will to some extent de-
feat the purpose for which it is
designed. The principal object in
levying a tax upon the sale Of
liquors is 10 bring the traffic under
the cognizance and control Of the
law. Prohibitory enactments prov
Cd worse than useless, because they /
were not sustained by public senti- I
ment, and could not and would not I
be enforced. An excessively high .
-ax-one which many dealers will
avoid paying in every possible way
can be productive Of no good.
It is perhaps true that the infrac-
ions of tax law will be more
'eadily reached than were viola
ions Of an absolute prohibitory
aw yet, if this tax is placed too
Ugh, the temptation to invade pay
lent will be strong. While there
nay not be the same open con- ,
empt Of the law that has been
Inhibited during the years in /,
'hich the State has had prohibi- :
Dry laws upon the statute books,
here may be great deal Of un- '
erhanded liquor selling, and :
forts 10 enforce the law may be !
pposed by all the cunning and :
rtiflce which can be devised. 1t d
ill do no good if ia small places !
re effect Of levyiDg a tax Of $50 .
to close the front door of saloons !
My TO open the back entrance. b
n that case there is no danger !
lat the regulation will be more t
ominal than real, and that many :
will be no better off O
nan under the old law. '
1t is possible that experience c
i'll demonstrate that the tax is {
one to high for any locality, and 6
iat il will therefore be OF service b
Of only as a means of producing :
,venue, but of completely closing n
le doors of low doggeries. Liquor :,
sling will be engaged in, no mat n
II what the law Of the State may ?
3, just as long as there is any de- h
and for liquor. This is the fact a
hich must be faced, and any law Il
bich fails to fully recognize it c
ust be to q greater or less extent v
failure. =
We hope on the whole for good :
suits from the new law. 1t is,
, say the least, n great improve
ent upon the old. Its trial for i
Ie next two years can scarcely do +
'rious harm; and from the know :
dge which shall be obtained from I I
5 practical operations, the next i
legislature will be in a better posi- <
on than has any previous Legis- %
turo to grapple with the liquor r
iestion in all its bearings. 2,
The Season. a
Prom the Lumberman's Gasette. y