The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-01-20


for liquor sellers regarded the business as Oft
en- as dishonorable as others debut he
thought the lnebriate Asylum law was unjust
and unnecessary; it would in the end impose
new burden ON the State, and therefore he
would vote for the repeating bill.
Senator Wilkinson was not quite prepared to
act Oh this subject, and would move to post
pone further consideration OF the pending bill
to Tuesday next.
Senator Murray opposed delay, remarking
upon the proceedings about being taken for
delinquent taxes under the law Of the reports
read by the Senator from Olmsted he said they
were from men, living upon the project, whose
necessity 1t was to make as good showing as
possible. He ventured to say, though there
were five hundred inebriates in the State need
ing treatment in such an institution, that the
proposed establishment in the gentleman's
town would not have as many patients as it
would have officers and employees living on
this tax. It is not the way to make men tenn
perate; he would rather give all the money to
such man as Bishop Ireland, who would res
cue more men from intemperance than would
be reclaimed by inebriate asyloms if we had
one in every county. Senator Capser present
ed a petition from his (Stearns) county, asking
repeal OF the law, which he said was signed by
leading temperance men, including numerous
churchmen of the various denominations
The amount demanded from his county und r
this law was now SIG 900. He believed the
proposed asylum would in few years become
a burden upon the State.
Senator Stacy thought the movement for re-
peal came from the liquor dealers who refused
to pay the tax under the law of 1873 Oh the
ground that the law was unconstitutional, but
who now, that the Supreme Court has decided
against them, protest that the obi. ct of the tax
is not worthy one. He thought we had good
evidence to the cOntrary-that the Object is a
good one.
Senator Robbins thought the saloon keepers
were not the ones responsible for the result of
their business, but the State which authorized
their traffic. After making their business le-
gal, he did not believe in making them the
geese for eyerybody's plucking, or holding
them bound to assume a responsibility which
belongs to the State.
Senator Armstrong thought the relations of
the State and liquor dealers should be always
well defined by law. Referring to the Senate.
Journal of last year he found that Senators Nc
Govern, Murray and others voted for the loca-
ton at Rochester OF the asy um, thereby com.
uniting themselves to a fair trial OF the expert
nent. MIR. Armstrong was among those vot-
| ing i'll the negatlve.] And recently this Senate
united with the Governor IN completing the
law by confirming his appointment OF the
board oftrustees II the law Is repealed what
has been collected must, In equity, be returned
to those who paid it. A certain percentage of
those who use intoxicating liquors by their Ell
frcts are swept into our poor houses, insane
asylums and prisons. This special tax, no
great hardshipupon saloon keepers, will go to
create fund to save the people from future
taxation Ii the experiment should be fall
ure the investment would not be lost, for the
State would need another asylum and another
prison within few years.
Messrs. Murray and McGovern explained
their votes OF last year as applying only to the
location.
Senator Daniels said the inebrate asylums OF
New York and other States We're supported
from revenue derived from excise laws. He
compared this law with the statute levyine
fines on sowing noxious weeds and said tn.
tax upon liquor selling were of the same ma
ture. The inebriate asylum would not stand In
the way Of temperance. If the income tor it,
support from liquor sellers should cease by the
prohibition Of liquor selling, nothing more
could or would be asked for the institution
Senator Wilkinson felt more convinced
there was more in this question than had beer
brought out, and felt its decision should b.
postponed. He called attention to the decara.
i N IN the 'yaseca petition that the licensin.
liquor sellers to furnish inmates for the asylum
was feature shocking to their moral sense.
Senator Murray opposed further delay.
Senator Butler defended the lnebriate asylum
law. The petitions here did not affect him
They came from men no were de e-mined up
on rule or ruln-if they could not have an at
ing. Bot he would like more time for con
side. alton. He had no consideration for tn
men who Were still refusing to pay their tax
, they are not law-abiding citizens. If they ha,
paid their taxesten dollars year--under thi
r law promptly, he thought there would have
been no complaint here to-day.
Senator Murray wanted to know how the
, We're to sc, men into their Inebriate asylum.
t Senator Daniels said the asylum project wa
started in the interests OF humanity; its detail
I woult have to be perfected. Other like asylum
received most of their inmates from those VIII
, came voluntarily: but there were laws in tn
/ ether States for sending persons to the asylum
: whose condition required it. There were mel
!; from this States at this time voluntarily in tn
aSylums VI other States He had been tol
since he came here by one man of worth tha
. he wanted the asylum for his own sake
: Senator Lienau conceded that the inebrla:
: asylum law would stand until repealed. Re
/, terri,g to Mr.. Murray,s remarks he added tha
y those who Were lobbying here against repes
: We're those who expected to share the fun
= from this tax. Referring to the statement
n quot d from the Medical Association he won
: dered why the doctors do not cure their ow
: inehriety: there are many Of them drunkard:
II On the same theory which supports the tax III
: bankers should be especially taxed because ii
# love of money takes men to the State prise
e aud the preachers because religious excitemeI
II sometimes sends men to the insane asylum
- Why ar- not the saloon keepers stopped frol
If selling 10 men in danger; the law Is sufheien
l. all that is lacking is that some one should tai
n enough interest III such men to enforce Il
i law.
l. Finally the yeas and NAYS were taken on
st motion to make the repeating hill furth.
special order for Thursday next at o'clocl
" which motion prevailed, yeas 10. nays II.
" Upon this decision the galleries and lobbie
i which had been eoowded all the morning We
II quickly cleared.
Il