The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1878-04-04
The sEonst L.onorLaw.

The people o. this city and State viii find
themselves interested in the account of the
working OF the MofFett Liquor law in Nir-
ginia, printed in another part of the Sun.
1t will be seen that it lifts 100000 yearly
tax from the shoulders of the producing
Glasses 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
1t may seem, the liquor seller Processes him
sell ov,rjoyed 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 two and
one-halt Cents, ard each glass of ale. beer.
or porter III Il nj. 4 specific license to
sell IL also required. The tax is collected
through the Use OF a bell register similar 10
the one used in some OF our street ears.
The penalty for a wiiful failure to register
Is Imprisonment not less than one month
and not more than twelve. Officials who
make false returns can be sent to. the peni-
tertiary Tor not less than one nor mere than
three years. The authorities say that the
law Is fairly enforced, and claim THAI !;
WIll save Virginia from bankruptcy.
The effect Of sIch law strictly applied
in this city would be Surprising The Pr.si-
dent Of the Wine and Spirit Trader Soeie-
/ y says that SG0000,000 are spent in our
| city barroOms in year. There are 5000
( liquor saloons, averaging, so he links, $50
per day, or $150,000 for the lot Deduct
the htty-two Sundays, and we have a grand
! aggregate OF &50,CO0,0)G. Add what is sold
on Sunday in violation CT the law and the
/ figures viii easily reach S60,0O0.O00 This
sum, At 10 cents a glass, would cover 500
/ 100000 drinks. But we estimate the pro-
/ portion OF malt liquors rs three TO one. and
! Us lager beer and ale in large majority CT
saloons Is but five cents a glass, we are safe
I in putting the number Of drinks sold yearly
/ in this city at 1000, 000,00O. Say that 300,-
100000 OF these are alcoholic and 100000, 900
/ malt the Mo1fetj law would return = ,59o,-
Geo taxes for the former and $4,000 for
/ the latter, an aggregation Of @l2,CUG,0C0 a
/ year.
So that, If The figures given by the Presi-
dent OF tie Wine ana Spirit Traders s5ocic-
I ty are anywhere Gedr correct, the holders 81
real estate would decrease their taxes SI2,-
100000 yearly. more than Ong-th.rd, IA i,:II-.
! IA difference OF 20 per cent. This would
more than pay the Interest en- tie city deb;.
1t ought to reduce reu-s and have perez Pt-
ible effect upon the price q the nectssarles
Of life.
These figures are worthy the attention OF
the Legislature. II they really intend 10
/ pass an excise law, let them pass one thar
/ wilI reduce taxes 10 The utmost and give
general satisfaction to the people The
MoG.tt law went through the Virginia
Legislature after a hot fight. 1t was made
an issue in the last election. is opponents
we're completely overthrown, and dig not
return enough members to.call the ayes and
noes on motion to repeal. The louisiana
/ Senate has passed the measure, and it Is now
/ before the Legislatures Of Iowa, Kentucky,
Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Chicago ana
! ba Patterson
Press and other journals are agitating the
/ question in New jersey. From such law
/ it would seem that New York might reap
very decided benefits. If so, the question
certainly deserves the most careful. consid-
/ eration.-New York san.