, 1882-03-29

for instance nominaDy selling 5 gallons,
with the understanding that only the
half is paid for, while Of course the seller
keeps the other half till calledfor. and rum
will even be given on credit. He thought
that the restriction was inadviSable also
from the point that it would affect the
income OF other taxpayers, and in a short
time after that enactment all the rum
licenses would cease, causing some loss to
the Rumfund. His intention is, therefore,
at 2nd discussion of the Draf5 to bring in
an amendment to fix the restriction at a
barrel, and he hoped that the Committee
would consider the matter over and agree
to that. AS regards the fines, he should
nave liked to have seen them liked at
higher rates than those now existing and
adopted by the Majority and at the
2nd discussion he would also in this res
pect Introduce an amendment.
LIST Member for FrederikSted (Br0unJ
said it would be seen thathe disagreed with
the Majority III , points. SIS to the quantity
which planters and manufacturers are to
be allowed to sell, namely ) gallons and
as to the extent of the fines. The min0ri
ty report explains his motives and views
in these respects. He Would beg to add,
that it is very obvious that when the
Government made 4 law in 1915 for Rum
Shop-Keeping, for which privilege a Ger
tain tax was imposed. it was the intention
of Government also to limit the sale Of Rum
by Planters on estates it was but natural
and necessary that planters could not be left
to sell that article dd {i5itqm in the c0un-
try, to any extent and without any limit,
while the law prescribed fines for every
body else found selling without a license
or a burgher brief; it is not to be supposed
+ho+ tho GOynpDDnput. could hpY~A n vAl
one part of the community when engaged
in a certain business, and not the other
part Of the community although carrying
on the same trade.SuppoSe moreover, the
case of another individual than a planter
establishing a GiStllIcry in town, buying
the skjmmings and making rum tnat
man is a manufactures. but could or should
he be at liberty to sell his Rum mdiscrimi-
nately ? lie believed that it was ree0g-
nized as an ~indiSputable right held by the
parties paying the Rumtax to obtain,
and the b0unden duty OF Government to
give, protection against entertainments.
1t is then all-imPortant to find out, if
planters really are limited in the sale of
rum, or not. Lawyers differ in opinion
in this respect. But let us now come to
somo definite conclusion as to W.cther it
be a right they possess, or a privilege to
to be allowed them. Planters never were
aware of that right, until now. And when
now that right all at once is admitted,
aud at the same time it is said that the
planters must still not sell less than 5
gallons, is it reasonable to suppose that
they will be bound by that limit No
they will not they will sell below that
mark, and people will Of course flock to
buy, the rum being stronger; and well
might the planters sell for less price, as
they have this advantage above the
licensehOlderS, that they have no St0re-rent
nor servant or clerk to pay, nor p0rterage
nor license and tax to meet, nor do they
live directly from tie returns Of the rum
sales. AT the same time the fines are so
low, that if the parties be found out at all,
they can pay the fines with impunity. If
planters are by law to be allowed to sell
as low as ) Gallons rum, there will be no
control if today, when planters know
and feel that they are not at liberty to sell
rum, they still sell broad cast, what will
they not do when the sale is tolerated and
such a limit given I? The honorable 3rd
Member for Frederiksted Country District
{Junghans) has already alluded to the
abuses and e~vasionS that will be practiSed.
The consequence must be that the license
holders will be ruined. 1t seemed to him
that if the sale of rum on estates is an
evil, the only means to prevent it is to
make the purchasing of the article on the
estates as difficult as possible; as origi-
nally proposed, planters should be limit
ed to 100 gallons, or else the sale of rum
to others than merchants and retailers in
&Auo cho17]1 In oD+1oo1-1 Dn,I1Is4ol L.. h.