The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-11-21
THE MOFFETT REGISTER IN THIS
CITY.
What Our sal0On-Keepers Think of this
Mode of Paying the state Debt.

Mode of Paying the state Debt.
There has been not little talk over the intro
ducton Of that novel means OF reducing State
debt, the Moffstt register, and since the press OF
our city have Endorsed the plan this talk has in
creased remarkably. What would be the effect
on the ruby-nosed old gent who gets his drinks
on 'tick" when this system is adopted, and what
would the FOUNDERS" do in case this innovation
was declared to be the law Of the land, it is now
impossible to say; but one thing is we'll assured.
and that Is, they now do not take to it kindly.
Another class, and that is one composed almost
entirely of those who, either from the usages OF
our present social civilization or from the custom
so prevalent here of treating those with whom
they are thrown in business contact, also object
for the reason, as they give it, they do not care
to pay the State debt when the capitalists, who
take their one drink day only, and that on the
sly, would not share equally with them the bur-
den Of this tax. To those who have not had Co.
cssion to look into the question: this Moffstt reg
lister has produced.
MORE OF A STIR
than would have first have been believed. In
order to get at the 'hard pan" lying at the bot.
tom of the matter, and to give to the public the
ject reporter Of the DEMOCRAT yesterday called
upon several of our best known saloon keepers
that he might learn their views upon the subject.
The first one visited was
MAJOR JOE A. WALKER,
the popular proprietor of the Crescent Hall.
Reporter the object of my visit may
surprise you little, but when I tell it to you
trust you are as fully posted on the subject as
Of
terest. What dropped in for was to learn your
opinion of the Eofstts register and proposed its
Introduction here.
Major W.-What! THAT Virginia aff4irl 1t
to stand the drawback of such thing, 1t would
be the cause Of
CLOSING Us ALL UP.
Rep.-Why so, Major?
Msior W.-Simply because if it was adopted
here we would necess .rily have to increase the
cents as q medium, the price would then be
twenty cents for q drink, which very few would
pay and more would be unable to pay.
Rep.-They seem to have taken kindly to it in
Major What may be, but the business there
is essentially different from what it is heroes
sentially so.
Rep.-snppose, Major, that this register was
adopted and the proceeds from it were to 20
towards the building Of the New Orleans Pacific
Railroad, how would that do?
Major W.T. wouldn't do at all, for in the
first place don't believe it would be legal, and
in the second il railroads can't be built without
this sort of tax they ought not to be built at ALL
II CAPITALISTS who have large sums Of money don't
see fit to push the work the poor fellow who
TAKES HIS DRINK
ought not to be forced to build it. There is no
class more willing to further the interests of the
New Orleans Pacific Railroad than the proprie-
tors of our saloons. They all want it, for they
believe it would be of great benefit to our city. I
will help it, and indeed, think all the rest would,
but when you make the matter compulsory then,
as is natural with all men, we kick. have no
doubt but what the saloon proprietors of this city
will do all in their power to push this road and
subscribe literally. but
IF CONFUSION Is TRIED
the courts will be applied to. What is the reason
they single out dealers in whisky in this thing?
Rep.-I cannot speak by the card, but believe
it is because whisky is luxury, and taxes on
Major Whats go, but is the drink man
takes any more of luxury than the broadcloth
he wears, the jewelry and silk dresses his wife
wears2 Why not put it on cigars and hundred
other things as we'll? They are all luxuries.
Rep.-Then you are Of the opinion, Major, that
it will not work down here?
Major W.-Decidedly. fought off the Sauvi-
net civil rights suit for five years alone in the
courts, and I'll fight this. It would, in fact, close
us all up. There are several things to be taken
into consideration here that
DO NOT OPERATE ELSEWHERE.
For instance, ct our bars let poor man come
in his shirt sleeves and throw down his fifteen