The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-03-01
THE MOTrETr REGISTER BILL,

This bill WINS under discussion yestcrda,
| In tho House. Judge voorhieA and Mr.. Hunt
ington made able aud convincing arguments
agninst IL, but the toat votes showed an over.
| wbelnng majority ID favor Of tho bill. which
10, IN It's present shape, perhaps the most
arbitrary measure that was ever introduced
III tho Legislature Of FREQ people.
| W. understand thai The first section of this
| bill, as framed and presented by the Judiciary
Committee was adopted by vote Of 70 to H.
| Upon referring to that section We find that.
after specifying The different kind of licenses
that shall be- esaeted from persons proposing
| to sell winrs ardent spirits. malt liquors OF
| any mixture thereof, cithor MT Wholesale or
| retail IL provides Ms follows
"Ahy person violating tho provisions Of
| this section shnll be deemed guilty OF u mis-
| defneanUf, aud shall be fined not less thnn
twenty dollars nor more thnn five hundred
aollnra, and be imprisoned not more than
| twelve months. ut theascretiono Of the COURT
This outrageous provision speakH for
itself Not only ays liquor dealers 10 be
subjected to d tax which Ia many cases
will amount to d prohibition upon tho sx-
ercise Of their calling, but they are % be
treated as common criminals IT, under the
stress OF hard times they happen to be unable
To pay this exoTbitHnt and discriminating tax
We suppose 1t Is useless for u.s. In the face of
the overwhelming majority of the advocates
Of the bill IN the Legislature, to attempt to
stay its progress, but we cannot allow IL to
pass without an earnest protest and warning
on our part. o
Our position In reference to this matter has
been stated before. Last SUMNER when we
we're receiving thtomost glowing accounts of
tho benitieent results derived from the Moffett
register law In Virginia. we were inclined TO
believe that n similar law would work
we'll in this State. But later informa-
ton In regard to its operation IN
Virginia. and other considerations --manly
that Of The absolute necessity Of maintaining
the aseendency of the Democratic party IN
Louisiana. for the protection not only Of the
liberties Of the people but equally of the
credit Of the State, have induced rs to recon-
slider our suggestion Of last summer and to
dlsapproye Of the measure as tending to dis
rupt the Democratic party, and to injure and
degrade a calling which is entitled to az fair d
treatment as any other
Tho other day we gave at length our rea-
sons for antagonizing the bill now pending In
the Legislature, and we now warn the Demo-
cratic members of that body that hy voting
for IL they will strike deadly blow at their
party. The question for them to consider ID
whether tho interests Of mere spectators In
the consolidated bonds Of this State are para
mount In Importance to those involved In the
ascendency OF the Democratic party.
The passage of this bill is not necessary for
the maintenance of the credit of the State
That credit will be more strengthened by
wise and economical government than by OPP
pressing and discriminating against one class
Of people. Present taxation Is quite sufficient
to meet the interest on the State debt without
resorting to such rigorous and unjust meas
ures We fear that those who vote for this
bill will be classed as the friends OF the specu-
lator rather than Of the people