The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-04-11
THE MoFFETT Liquor LAW,

Inc people OF This city ana state
will find themselves interested in the
account of the working of the Moi
felt liquor law in Virginia, printed
in another part of the "Sun." 1t
will be seen that it lifts $500, 900
yearly tax from the shoulders of the
producing classes and lays it upon
men who usually slip through life
without taxation. The authors of
the law claim that it practically
solves the temperance question.
Strange as it may seem, the liquor
seller processes himself overjoyed
with it, for he raises the price of his
drinks and gets more than the tax
from his customers.
The law taxes each alcoholic drink
p cents, and each glass of ale, beer,
or porter half a cent. A specific Ii
cense to sell is also required. The
tax is collected through the use of a
bell register, similar to the one used
in some of our street cars. The pen
atty for a willful failure to register
is Imprisonment not less than one
month and more than twelve. Off
cials who make false returns can be
sent to the pe%nitentiary for not less
than one mol more than three years.
The authorities say that the law is
fairly enforced, and claim that it will
save Virginia from bankruptcy.
The effect of such q law strictly
applied in this city would be surpris-
ing. The president of the Wine and
Spirit Traders society says that $780,
GOO, 900 are spent in u city bar
rooms in a year. There are 5000 liq-
uor saloons, averaging, so he thinks
500 per day, or 100000 for the lot.
Deduct the fifty-two Sundays, and
we have a grand aggregate of
$50, 000, 900. Add what is sold on
Sunday in violation of the law and
the figures will easily reach $50, 000,-
600. This sum, at 10 cents a glass,
would cover 600, 600, 900 drinks. But
we estimate the proportion oil malt
liquors as three to one, and as lager
beer and ale in a large majority of
saloons is but five cents a glass we
are safe in putting the number of
drinks sold yearly in this city at L.
zoe, 000, 900. Say that 800, 000, 900
of these are alcoholic and 100000
600 malt; the Moffett law would re
turn 81, 500 900 taxes for the former
and 81, 200,0 for the latter, an ag-
gregate of $12, 900, 900 q year.
So that, if the figures given by the
president Of the wine and spirit
traders society are anywhere near
correct, the holders Of real estate
would decrease their taxes $4,000
600 yearly, more than one-third,
making a difference of 40 per cent.
This would more than pay the inter
est on the city debt. 1t ought to re-
ducc rents and have a perceptible eff
feet upon the price of the necessa-
ries of life.
These figures are worthy the atten-
ton of the legislature. Ii they rla-
ly intend to pass an excise law, let
them pass one that will reduce tax.
es to the utmost and give general
satisfaction to the people. The Moi.
felt law went through the Virgins
legislature after a hot fight. 1t was
made an issue in the last election,
Its opponents were completely over
thrown, and did not return enough
members to call the ayes and noes
on a motion to repeal. The louisa
ma Senate has passed the measure
and it is now before the Legislatures
of Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland. ant
Pennsylvania. Chicago and Cincin
natl are aroused and the patterson
Press and other journals are agita
ting the question in New Jersey
From such a law it would seem tina
New York might reap very decided
benefits. If so, the question certain
ly deserves the most careful consid
eration.-N. Y. sam,