The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-09-30
HOW TO RELIEVE REAL ESTATE,
TRADE AND INDUSTRY.


TRADE AND INDUSTRY.
The fight that the sa1oon-keepers Of Virginia
ina ugurated against the Moffett Register
appears to have altogether died away; and
these. once the bitterest enemies of this new
tax, now welcome 1t as q great benefit and
relief.
About three weeks ago, the register after
overcoming its enemies was placed In oil the
saloons Of Richmond and most Of the other
Virginia cities. 1t Is now firmly establish
ed institution, and working away zealously
TO free Virginia from the mighty burden of
It's State debt The register is small box
like instrument, somewhat like gas meter.
BY the provisions of the Moffett Register
law, 1t must be kept in every bar-room, at
tached to the counter; whenever q drink is
called for, the bar-keeper must turn the
crank Of the register under heavy penal
ty; little bell inside then rings and
gives notice TO the public that the barkeepef
has performed his duty; ct the same time the
hand ON the dial plate Of the instrument
moves forward one point, thereby scoring
one drink. At the end Of the month an agent
oil the State visits each bar-room, takes down
the number Of drinks sold, as shown by the face
Of the register and presents, in the name Of the
State, O bill against the saloon Of two and o
half cents for each drink.
The original tax proposed by Dr. Moffett
was one cent for each drink, but this was in
creased to two and half cents at the partic-
ular request of the liquor men themselves.
It was the intention and spirit of the law that
this extra tax should come out Of the pockets
of the drinkers and not out Of those Of the
saloon keepers. This tax Of one cent per
drink would necessitate charge Of eleven
cents for drinks-drinks were then only ten
cents In Virginia. This was an awkward
price and would, the barkeepers declare, in
fallibly drift back to ten cents, when the
spirit of the law--the non-taxation of the
saloons be defeated. By increasing
tie tax to two and q half cents the price Of
drinks could be easily fixed at two for q
quarter. This was accordingly done.
The many advantages of the Moffett Regis
ter have become only fully apparent since the
law went in force. The saloon keepersare now
it's most ardent advocates, as their taxes are
really lighter, and the old system OF dead
head, free and credit drinking, the ruin of so
many saloons, is altogether done away with.
The revenue derived from the tax has proved
much larger than its fondest advocate ever
dreamed of. The original figures were $780,
900; when the tax was increased to ~ cents,
this was increased to 100000; but now, If
the first few weeks experience be any test the
money collected each year, thanks to the lit
tie register, will not be less than 100000.
DR.. Moffett, If all the Virginia papers say
be true has indeed made O valuable discov-
ery-that Of the cheapest most economical
and least oppressive Of taxes. No tax collec-
tors at five per cent are needed, no tax seiz-
ures and sales. The little register makes out
the tax bills ITSELF and all that is needed are
few boys to run around and collect the States
share of the drinks In ready money.
Every day that the system is in opera
ton the people Of Virginia seem more
pleased with it. Not only the people of
Virginia but those Of other States. The
Chicago Tribune announces that, If after
few months it finds that the register
works as satisfactorily as it is now working,
it will agitate and demand similar law for
Illinois. Other papers and other States pro-
mise to follow. Now then, 1t strikes us that
Louisiana should promptly follow in the foot
steps of Virginia in this matter. million
dollars Of revenue year which such law
would easily raise in this State would great
ly relieve real estate, business and industry
from the heavy burdens 1t has now to bear,
and would in fine, benefit the State in thou
sand ways. In few months by the time the
Legislature meets, Virginia will have fully
tested this law, and shown it's advantages.
If it proves successful as we believe 1t will,
a similar law should be enacted in this State.
If the Legislature will give US this law and
at the same time reduce our expenses as we
are promised, it will be such relief to the
State that there Is no reason why Louisiana,
It's planters, farmers and merchants should
not recover at once from that financial de-
preston that long years of Radical misrule
have brought on them. Such tax must be of
benefit to every interest and business in the
State, and we have no doubt that all, farmer,
merchant and mechanic, will favor it's prompt
passage by the Legislature as a necessary
relief for our impoverished State. Let us
have the Moffet Register and a million dollars
more Of revenue each year
In the meantime we shall endeavor to OBJ
tain copy of the Virginia law and lay it be-
fore our people.
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