Daily Republican., 1879-02-12

The Gazette" in its article on. THE
license frauds" is in error when it re-
fers to the Federal Government granting
licenses for the sale OF liquor. 1t is a
government tax the same as the cigar
business is taxed. No person can car
ry on the cigar business without pay
ing the special tax, provided by the
government, and neither can any per-
son engage in the sale of liquor with
out pay ing the special tax provided by
the government. The acknowledgement OF
the government is simply receipt for
10 much money paid, which shows that
the person carrying on the sale OF ar
dent spirits, is doing 1t in legal man
ner, so far as the Federal Government
is concerned. This however does not
give any person right to violate the
Stat. Law, and any person engaging in
the sale of liquo- without having got a
regular States license, in the regular
way, cannot be shielded behind the tax
receipt OF the Federal Government. The
reason that nearly all who sell liquor
nav the government tax is BECAUSE the
government officers look after them and
make them do it. The L. 5. officers
instead Of encouraging and shielding
those who violate the United States
Revenue laws prosecute them. No doubt
what Mr.. Mealey says about the rela-
tive number who pay United States
tax for selling liquor and those licensed
l.y the State is true. We do not know
whether it is Mr.. Mealeys or the "Ga-
zette's" error in calling the receipt
which the government gives for United
States tax, a license, but tor the sake
of convenience ". will call them both
licenses, and then we will give Mr.,
M-alpy's calculation and as he is one
of our most prominent liquer dealers,
his figures are entitled to credence. He
saws the government has licensed 25s
in this city ami "a outside the city,
making a total of 2l2 in the county,
while the number selling liquor under
license from the Court Is Il in the
city and outside the city 80, making a
total of JOG in the county. There are
various reasons for the vast difference in
these numbers aud shows very conclu.
siv-ly that there are 206 persons engaged
in selling liquor in the county who the
government collects tax from, but who
pay not one cent to the State. Did they
but take out State license the State
would have had so, 800 more rev, nue.
from New Castle county alone. We
might as we'll say here that one reason
why the State law is not enforced Is be.
cause the law itself is miserable farce,
with no adequate punishment provided
for those who violate it. The idea OF
picking ont one man here and there
amongst hundreds OF other, certified to
by a dozen or two dozen of men, as pos.
sessng the right kind Of moral char
acter TO engage in the sale OF liquor,
while hundreds of better men are re-
fused license, no matter what recon.
mendations they may have, is so ride
ulous that it only meets with merited
contempt, and people who engage in
the sale of liquor without taking
. out State license, think that
it is no harm to violate such a law
To such an extent is the contempt for
the law shown that during the recent
city election campaign, the rendezvous
: Of the dominant party in one of the
wards was in the Second story of all I'M
licensed saloon, and the proprietor Of
the saloon was afterwards appointed
upon the police force. Another person
who kept an unlicensed saloon served
as special policeman on the Brandy
| wine all last Summer. We only refer to
: these instances not to find fault with
E the men who kept the saloons, but to
show that public opinion sustained
e them in what they did, so universal
= was the detestation Of the present State
8 license law.
IF the State must have license law,
it is hoped the Legislature will pass
, QUE that will be understood and easily
3 enforced, but with sufficient bonds and
c guarantees to protect the public from
1 the evils which result from the traffic
: This we see is provided for in bill
: Tow pending before the Lcgislature,r re-
$ curing every person who takes ont @
=. State license to enter into bond with
Il approved security in specified amount
to become responsible for all damages
which may result from the sale ofliquol
! upon such promises. This it seems tt
; us is right and proper, as it makes 3
: law that has no distinction in persons
I and avoids the miserable senseless re
e quircment Ct having dozen or two o
5 men to be qualified to the good mora
d attachments of an apple ant for licens'
e to sell liquor.
! Board Of Education.