The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-03-22
The Monett Liquor Inv.

Tho people of this city and state will find
themselves Interested in the account Of
the working Of the MoFrErr Liquor law
IN Virginia, printed in another part Of
TIE Sun 1t will be seen that il
lifts SG)OoOO yearly tax from the shout
doris Of the producing classes aud lays it
upon mon who usually slip through life
without taxation. The authors oi the Inv
claim that II practically solves the temper
ancc question. Strange rs it may seem. the
liquor seller Processes himself ovcrioycd
with it, for he raises the price OF his drinks
and gets more than the tax from his Gus
toners.
The law taxes each alcoholic drink y cents.
and each glass Of ale, beer. or porter half
cont. Aspcciic license to sell isal-o required.
The tax is collected through the uer of bell
register. similar to the one used in some of
our street ears. The penalty for u wiliul
failure to register il imprisonment not
les, than one month and not moro than
twelve. officials who make false returns
can hc sent to the pcnitnntiary for not
less than ono nor more than thrco years
The authorities say that the law il fairly en-
forced. and claim that it will save Virginia
from bankruptcy.
The effect OF such law strictly applied
In this city would bc surprising. The prcsi-
dent Of the Wine and Spirit Traders So
cictv SAVE, that SG00O00on are spent in our
city blrfuunis in n year. There are 5000
Liquor saloons. averaging, 80 he thinks. $50
per day. or $4,000 for the lot. Deduct
the iity-two sundays. AMI we have n grand
aggregate of S5O,0S0.O00. Add what 4. sold
on Sunday in violation oi the law. and the
figures will easily reach SG1.0m.O'o. This
sum. AZ 10 cents a glass. would cover 6lo.-
C1t0oo drinks. Eut We estimate the pro-
portion ol malt liquors a~ three 10 one. and
as lager beer and ale in a large majority of
saloons is but five cents II glass, wa are safe
in putting the number Of drinks sold yearly
in this city at l.2O0OOo,OOO. Say that 3d.
100000 of these are alcoholic and gW.N'o. 0oJ
malt; the MoFTErr law would return
s7.5Oo.OOo taxes for the former and Si.j)0.OOO
for the latter, an aggregate Of Sl2,0oo,OOD
n year.
So that. If the figures given by the Prcsi-
dent of the Wine and Spirit Traders Socie-
ty are anywhere near correct. the holders
Of real estate would decrease their taxes
Sl2,OO0.o00 yearly. more than one-third.
nakinga difference of 40 per cent. This
would more than pay the interest on the
city debt. II ought to reduce rents and
have pcrccptible effect upon the price of
the neccssarics OF life
These figures are worthy the attention of
the Legislature. If they really intend to
pass an excise law, let them pass one
that will reduce taxes to the utmost and give
general satisfaction to the people. Tho
MorFETr law went through the Virginia
Legislature after hot fight IT was made
an issue in the last election. It, opponents
We're completely overthrown. and did not
return enough members to call the ayes and
noes on motion To repeal. The Louisiana
Senate has passed the measure. and 1t j. now
before the Legislatures of Iowa. Kentucky,
Naryland, and Pennsylvania Chicago and
Cincinnati are aroused. aud the IdtcrSop
Press and other journals are agitating the
question IN New Jersey. From such law
i, would SOON that New York might reap
,'cv Gr'dcd benefits. II So. the question
r'aiuir do.rrN"S tho most careful cou,i j.
t.Ati1a.