The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-09-13
4irl,moul llspatth.
ru,1RspaY SEPTEMBER 10. 1877.
a Few Practical Ideas.

coholic liquors, which is q cents per drink.
This makes the drink which has ruled at
ten cents cost t,celre ard hdJ cents.
The first day OF the introduction OF the re-
gisters the liquor-sellers raised the price OF
drink to fifteen cents. Thus the retailers
seize the opportunity OF imposing the
States y cents tax to increase their gam
For the drink another q cents. OF course
this is an excessive charge, and can only DC
designed to irritate the consumer by OPP
pressing him uniustly. But even at JJteen
cents q drink that is no more for drink
than was paid for years because Of the Fed
eral LIQUOR tax, and certainly the citizens
Of Virginia should be ~ willing to pay that
by reason OF the tax imposed by their mo-
Their State Virginia as to pay it to the Fede-
raj Government. Were it not so it would
be DOOR evidence OF the loyalty Of the Fir-
~inian: it would be scandal to his fame
for public devotion.
But. we repeat, this = cents to The retailer
would be simply so much more to his proht.
Where is the necessity forit: Small change
IS abundant. The charge OF thirteen cents
for the drink could be always arrived at
easily. FarthngS are abundant; they would
be received at the counter as fast AZ they
would be given ont in change, and whether
they were or not they are IN plenty, ana
never would be wanting. Thirteen cents
for the single drink would give the retailer
half q cent more OF profit than he received
before. For two drinks q quarter would pay
for the drinks at ten cents each, and also pay
thc State tax at 25 cents il drink. Where,
then, is the inconvenience OF collecting the
tax: Loss. there is none; on the contrary,
the retailer would make half Il cent on
every drink costing thirteen cents.
The retailers Of lager have reduced the
amount OF beer in their glass one tenth,
and therefore they lose nothing. So in no
particular does the retailer lose anything,
while in one case he makes half cent
should he sell drinks at thirteen cents each.
while ii the price per drink continues at ~
teen cents he will make two and half cents
more on every glass than he did before the
register was introduced.
Now. then. where's the hitch, and what
the matter that the tax may not 90 on
smoothly and regularly upon the plan OF
the register?
One great advantage that Will be secured
TO the retailer under this system OF taxation
il that it puts an end to all credit at the bar,
and that is Il sort Of custom which all bar
keepers are anxious to avoid.
We all know that the taN-gathcrcr Is an
unwelcome visitor; but all know equally
rs well that his visits are inevitable. We
also know that to sustain the government,
which gives lis peace and order and pro-
tects our property and our lives, Is the
highest of all earthly duties. When the
State prescribes the tax, fixes the amount.
and the time Of payment, it Is the duty OF
the citizen to pay it. Every man Is through
the representative law-making power par
ticipant in making the laws, and he but re-
sists the enactments Tie had Il share in pass
Ing when he resiSts any Of the laws Of his
State. It is Of course the right OF all men
to raise the question Of the constitutionality
of a law, but should that question be de-
cided in fayo- OF the law, it only remains
for the citizen to obey it.
We are sure these are the opinions Of
every good citizen. We doubt not that the
liquor tax will be quietly and successfully
carried out until the law-makmg body is
again in session. when all citizens imagining
themselves aggrieved by it may present their
complaints for consideration. But should
the result OF the operations Of the law indi-
cate that by its continuance the troubles
growing out OF a deficiency of revenue here
tofore to meet the public obligations may
be hereafter avoided, it will hardly be re-
pealed.
Taxation is disagreeable, and when sub
mitted to gracefully by the citizen it is all
the more honorable to him because it is dis
agreeable. 1t is all the better proof OF his
public devotion and elevated sense OF his
public duty The AIoFFETT register is
hardly more disagreeable than any other
guide for taxation. 1t is as lawful as any,
and the citizen is as much obliged to respect
it as any other process by which tax for the
support of government is collected.
Coming directly to the practical matter OF
the price Of drinks, which is connected
with the tax on drinks, we should fhlnk
that liquor and beer must be produced at
less cost than they were eight years ago.
There can be no reason for adding TO the
cost Of the drink more than the State tax.
But this is a matter that will regulate itself:
If the liouor-sellers charge too much, as
suredly there will come forward some re-
tailers to underseu them; and the moment
one does, the combination falls, and drinks
80 down at every bar. What we should like
to see is that all persons, retailers and con-
sumers, shall fairly act, and in no manner
endeayor to produce dissatisfaction by need
less measures. Give the law fair trial.
There are the Legislature and the courts,
where doors are ever open to appeals for
Justice. But there is also our noble mother
Virginia, who must always command our
love and our fidelity. To her we should
give every effort, every hope OF our hearts,
and our pledge through life should faith
fully be that to her shall come no harm, no
dishonor, that we can protect her from.
# tt
Personal G0vERNMEST.-Pennsyly is
OoneraIly looEed 11nnn "a deoraj3a5 State