Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-09-18

There were obtained for Richmond 300 alco-
hoc registers and 200 malt. There were too
macy malt aud too few alcoholic registers, and
quite number had to be changed IRON! mat 10
alcoholic before the entire CITY was supplied.
Tic opposition to the register On the part OF
the liquor dealers can scarcely be salt! to have
abstcd much, though there is f!T less eTu;nb-
ling heard nOw than two or three days age.
Some few dealers say that they d. n1t d! or to
the register, but The great majority. when "p.
preached on the subject, express their !ntacon-
ism 10 decided terms, and declare that they
would prefer to pay doubl: the lax assessed IL
the way OF !lccrs:.
The sma deaIeGs-lho<e who =3!! f;G cent
drinks formerly bat who no@ charge eight
ccuts-statc that the Increased price, which
vas necessary, has greatly depressed their ku>l-
ness, This is the testimony OF ucariy al OF that
class; ouly {. few arc willing to adult Iii they
think SOY that their business will soon Icsu.1c
is old status. In tie ncighhorhnoL OF lbc mar
kcs considerable Number CG bar rooms have
put the price Of alcoholic drinks back to ten
cents, AMI have July recovered the trade W:i2h
temporarily abandoned them. More lager Beer
is sold than formerly, and several dealers who
at first gave nutc, that they would discontinue
the sale of malt liquor have in consequences re-
considered their determination.
The first class saloons, too, complain that
business is unusually dull with them. Consun.
ers do not seem to object much to the pcw ard
smaller glasses 10 which lager is sold, but have
a distaste, if not fer spirituous liquors, for the
additional price the >! cents per glass nccaSs!-
tates.
The register has not yet had full and lair
trial, because sufficient time has not been given
to ascertain if the increased prices will pcrma-
nenty keep off drinkers The popular impress
sion has always been that those addicted to the
use Of liquors will purchase at any cost.
The belief is that most Of the dealers are act
ing honestly aud fairly by the State in the use
Of the register. The saloons of good rcputc arc
kept by men Of business reputation. They
have no disposition TO cvadc the requirements
OF the law, however obnoxious 1t may be 10
them. La the small groggerics patronizcd by
low characters it is already loreseen there will
be trouble in securing q far registering Of the
liquor sold.
There has been difference in practice here
as 10 liquor sold on credit. Some dealers have
felt it their duty 10 register the liquor when
delivered; others, however, have conteGded
that they were required to register it only
when it was pail for. The Auditor Of Public
Accounts was asked yesterday his construction
of the law Cd this point. tic referred to sec.
ton 5th and read: ut shall be the duty Of
the retail dealer Immediately on the sale OF
every half pint, fraction, or multiple thereof,
Of ardent spirits, wines, malt liquors, or any
mixture thereof, in the presence Of the l7ur
chaser or person to 1chom II Is deltrercd, to
turn the crank" &c. 1T shall 10 like manner
be The duty of the bar.room keeper Immediately
upon the sale Of each driok Of w!ne ardent
spirits, NAL. liquors. or any mixture thereof, 10
the presence OF MepurchaStr or person to achons
1t IS dellrcrcl. to turn the crank, &c. The
Auditor was, therefore, of the opinion that the
tax should be registered whca the liquor Is
del'ceytd, whether by the driuk or measure.
Dealers complao that great lCjus;lce Is done
them By the State not supplying the c3uoty Of
Hcnrco with registers. at present the deal
ers lust outside the city licl,s are able to un-
der:ell city dealers becaus, they arc not yet re
uuired to pay the Nloffett tax. The Auditor
acknowledges the force Of the complaint, and
Yesterday stated tina! he would write to Dir.
johnson, the contractor, to prepare registers,
so that they could be placed in Hcprico at 40
early day. Ga Wednesday Mr.. johnson will
send here registers sufficient to supply Pctcri-
burg, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Manchester.
In supplying the cities before the counties the
State officers arc merely carrying out the law,
not exercising preference OF their OVID.
Ihs honest Dealers those who sell by the drink
4, we'll ns those who sell by tie measure begin
TO complain of evasion ofthe law, by which t. ey