New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-03-27
TIMING THE DEMOCRACY.

| TIMING THE DEMOCR1CE
It was queer that two such topics should be
started in the Assembly on the same day as
| the maintenance of the prisons by convict Ia
Dor and the regulation of the tax on sales
of liquor by the bell punch. For, though
| touching the subject little indirectly, the
| question raised in both cases is whether and
| how much the Democratic party shall be spe-
cially taxed to carry on the Government. The
proposition of Mr.. Brooks Is to lay special tax
| on that large and influential class of Demo-
cratic workers engaged in the retail liquor
| trade. The other question, raised by Mr..
| Pur,ly, is whether or not the customers of
these dealers shall be compelled to cain their
| living after they have reached their destlna-
ton mt Sing Sing or Auburn. Objection
was made to the employment OF con-
Wet labor in the prisons, tor the rea-
son that it enters into competition
with the skilled labor of honest work.
ingmcn. To this Mr.. Alvord replied that
it would he punishment, cruel and unusual
TO condemn even criminals to lives of enforced
idcness; that leaving out of consideration
the question of profit to the State, 1t was an
act of mercy to give the convIcts employment.
Doubtless it has occurred to other gentlemen
who have reflected upon this subject that
10 man-cxcept he be n Tammany Democrat
has the right to live without labor,
in the sweat of other mems faces, and that
the prime fact to be considered is that every
man, whether he be convict or honest citizen,
ought at least to earn his own living. 1t is
one of the problems of social science whether
tho State should relieve a criminal of
IL. Ill Tn tntli
punishment upon him, and so protect
honest labor from his competition, or
should make this natural duty. to avoid
which, in nine cases out of ten, he has
committed crime, a part of the punishment.
We do nOt.propOsc now to enter upon dis
cussion of that phase of the question. AS a
matter of fact, we presume it will be held rs
good Democratic doctrine thatTammany Dem
Ocrats in the service Of the State, whether at
the City Hall in this city, or at Sing Sing or
Auburn are by custom and prescription en-
titled to be subsistcd mt the public expense,
without being called upon for any personal
service in return.
As to the bell punch, there may, perhaps, be
question. That proposition cOntemplates the
levying of a tax, likewise confined almost en-
it would work in our present political system
would DO radical - almost revolutionary.
Take this city for instance: here, under
the rule of Tammany Hall for these
many years, the governing classes have been
the untaxed. One of Mr.. BrOokss preamblcs
asserts that I" it is just and equitable that the
consumption of alcoholic and other liquors
"should contribute largely and directly to the
support of the Government" Heretofore, as
everybody knows, the lquOr-dealers and con-
sumcrs have contributed the Government for
other people to support; have furnished
officials to consume the taxes which
other people paid. The new plan proposes
to give them the opportunity of paying some
thing toward the cost of Government them
selves. Something, did we say7 At the rate
prop0sed-"2l2 cents upon each alcoholic
drink, and l2 cent upon each glass of ale,
"beer, or porter'-they would pay pretty
nearly the whole cost of Government We
are not so sure but that the plan is q good
one. 1t seems at first blush to have
unusual merit. Coming from Demo-
cratic member Mr. Brooks, it at least
indicates willingness to put part of the
burden of taxation upon what are called in
Tammany Hall tho democratic Masses"
Among them, or more properly, perhaps,
among the demagOgues who lead them, there
has been always great jealousy and distrust of
any movement that looked to limiting
suffrage to the actual taxpayers. They
said it would disfranchise tho bulk of the
Democratic party. The introduction of the
bell punch and the establishment of the pro-
posed system of taxation would change all
this Who could say then, at Democratic
State Convention or primary, that this is not
the party of taxpayers; that these noble dele
gates are not directly supporting, by pecu-
| mary contributions, tho government which
they run1 The continuous jingle Of the bell.
keeping time in sort Of Runic rhyme with
the blinking of bottle and glass, would refute
the charge and vindicate the party.
What comfort there would be, too, in the