The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-04-06
A NOVEL LIQUOR LAW.

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A NOVEL LIQUOR LAW.
The various methods being adopted for
the restraint of the sale of intoxicating liq-
uors, in different states, is curious study.
In many states, the prohibition law is in
full force, but still fails to accomplish all
the friends of temperance desire. The IL
cense system, is in vogue perhaps in large
majority of the states, and this fails even
to satisfy either the state or the friends of
license. That there should be some re-
straining power against indiscriminate deal
ings in the sale of liquors, none deny, even
the most inveterate rumseller, for he even
asks to be protected from 'poachers" in
the traffic. 1t has been left for the ancient
old commonwealth of Virginia to present
to sthe world the most novel method of
raising revenue direct from the seller and
the drinker of spurious and malt liquors.
This bill has occupied the grave consdera-
tion of the law makers of the "Old Domin-
ion" for several weeks, which has resulted
in perfecting the "Moffat or Bell Punch
law" which il it does not restrain the sale,
will at least bring large revenue to the
treasury of the state. This is the first time
in history, where state has undertaken to
raise revenue from the consumption of liq-
uors and is an innovation upon the old sys-
TEN of taxation. Should its operation
prove successful other states may initiate
the example of Virginia.
This is the theory of the law. All mon
ey realized is voluntary contribution to
the state treasury. There is no compulsion
except tho foroo or habit, or frrc5iotaDfo
appetite upon person to take drink of
whisky or beer or to buy for consumption
large quantity of either. If an individu-
al takes drink at bar or buysa measured
quantity of liquor he, at the same time, in
settling therefor, pays voluntary tax. to
the state, which tax is practically collected
by the bar keeper or liquor seller.
The letter of the law is that the bar
keeper shall have the privilege of selling
drinks, pay appetite license tax and in ad-
dition thereto tax of two and half cents
on each drink of wine or alcoholic liquor
or mixture thereof, and half cent upon
each drink of malt liquor sold by him, on
any drink he may take himself, or give
without pay to another there is no tax.
Whilst the individual is thus nominally
charged with tax per drink he is actually
only responsible for its collection and the
payment to the revenue officers of the
state.
The registering apparatus, or bell-punch,
is the same as is used by street car conduc-
tors in the cities, is mechanical device to
enable him to keep record of taxes COL
lected.
The only temperance feature we see in
the bill is to compel the dealer to raise the
price of his liquors to save himself from
lose, which will possibly have the effect to
lessen the demand for alcoholic drinks and
to corresponding extent increase the de-
msnd for beer. The specific license lax
payable semi annually, one-half to be real.
lied from the register, may induce the null
tpllcatlon OF bar-rooms and grog shops,
which will dispense liquid poison to their
customers. The anti-temperance feature
OF this law is a tax of half cent on drink
OF malt liquor. The law puts no tax on
brewers, but the effect of requiring the
seller to pay tax on each drink of beer
sold will almost suppress the sale of beer in
small towns and villages where the sales
are so limited that the keeping of a seps-
rate register will incur large expense.
In the discussion of the details of the
bill in the legislature there was great d.
versity of opinion as to the amount of
revenue to be realized from this source.
one calculation is that there are over 225,-
200 male adults in the state, and consider
ing that many of them take several drinks
daily at public bars, and that the temper
ance organizations are Offset by the float
ing population, it was assumed that 200,-
600 drinks were sold every day in Virginia
on which the tax would be annually ST.
100000. This 10 Independent of the Tax
on beer and liquor sold by retailers, which
it is estimated will realize $500, 900 more.
Another calculation is that under no cir
cumstanceS will more than 800, 900 of net
revenue be paid into the state treasury.
We have given the main features of this
novel law, whose operation will be looked
upon with interest everywhere, and If euc-
cesstul may prove in license granting states
to be a valuable thing and bring to the
treasury large revenue. E..I