The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-12-25
THE MOFFETT LIQUOR Law

Auditor of that State bear strong
testimony to the wisdom and policy
of the Moffett liquor law as nj ans
of relieving the burden of taxation
on the property and securing reve
nue. to conduct the government, pay
the debts and support the credit of
the State.
Virginia is largely in arrears, and
has been sorely beset by her credi-
tors and greatly harassed by the i'm
putation of repudiating spirit, and
by the consciousness of the inability
and unwillingness of her people to
bear an increase of taxation on real
and personal estate. This rate of
taxation is only five mills, but her
chief officers declare that they can
stand no greater burden, and yet they
STOUT all idea Of reputation as a
stigma which the proud Old Domin-
ion would never allow to attach to
her escutcheon.
How then to avoid this imputation
without increasing her taxation upon
real and personal property, is the
problem presented to her Governor
and Auditor, for. the solution of
which these officials have 70 other
recommendations but reduction of
the expenses of the government and
the enforcement Of the Moflett regis
tralion liquor law. They look to
the product of this tax as ample to
supply any deficiency in the revenue;
that it will render unnecessary any
increase of the taxation on real and
personal estate, and will supply a
fund to pay the interest on the bonds
and thereby restore the credit of the
State.
The Auditor, after stating the
many obstacles in the way of law
suits, injunctions and other delays
in putting the system in operation,
says: judging Of the future by the
partial returns of the last few weeks,
| feel safe in expressing the opinion
that half million dollars of revenue
derived from it will fall rather below
than exceed the amount that fair
years work will yield. l have rea-
son to believe that an effort will be
made to repeal this act. I trust it
will not succeed. Revenue must be
had from some quarter, or the State
becomes bankrupt. Shall it be rails
ed from an increased rate of the tax
lon property? This can hardly be
expected, nor, indeed, do l think it
necessary. Shall it be from tax
on oysters? Something, it is true,
might be raised from this subject,
but this, in my opinion, is unneces
sary if we can obtain the revenue by
tax on the consumption of liquor.
This has been the great objective
point Of successive general Assem-
blies, and Of all persons who. have
carefully considered the financial
condition Of the State This has now
been accomplished. The Motfett re
gister has solved the difficulty. Let
US give it a fair trial for one year.
If it succeed, well; if not, then modi-
| fy or repeal it. I feel well assured
that if the question were submitted
to vote of the people whether reve-
nue. shall be raised by a tax on prop
erty or tax on the consumption oil
liquor, the preponderauce of votes in
favor of the latter plan would be a,
least ten to one. Ihope the act vii
T. r.. g. .
not be repealed. ! propose to make
special unication to the Gen
eral Assembly during the present
month Of the success of the expert
ment as far as it has been tried, ant
to explain how the law, is carried out
and enforced, the forms and the
mode of registration, and how thu
reports are made and the taxes col
lected." = New Orleans Democrat
TvEW DOZEN OLD RYE sEvEr
a YEARS OLD. PRICE $3.50 PEI
| BOTTLE. FOR SALE BY
HENRY ST. JoHl
Administration of the Criminal Law
Under the instructions of th
judges Of the several courts of thi
parish, acting at the suggestion G
the Attorney General, the wheel Q
box from which the jury is draw