New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-04-17

complete control OF the DefnOCrats, noe So 'h"o"
with the expectation of aiding the cause OF tenn
perance rs for the purpose of Furnishing the he
publicans because they refused to adopt more
extreme measures. In other words, the lem
perance advocates are expected to turn tneH
cause over to the mercy OF Its worst enemies
rather than accept measure which, IN It's least
effective form. is a direct step toward restrain
ing and limiting the evils OF intemperance.
We do not believe the majority of the Temper
ance party will be so shorts lighted as to adopt
so suicidal n course.
The Pond bill, which has created all this
commo.ion, is simply rather novel application
of the license system. II provides that every
person engaged in traffic in intoxicating
liquors shall pay yearly tax into the county
treasury, graded according to the size OF the
community in which the traffic is carried on.
All places of business not within cities or vii
lagos or within II mile of any are taxed 500;
all those in or within mile of villages or cities
of less than 1000 inhabitants are raxed $50;
in cities or villages of less than 10000 inhabi-
tants, 5000 over 10000 inhabitants, $50;
in all frst-cass cities, $500. All dealers are
obliged to give bonds of 81 900, with two sure
ties, for The faithful performance of all the re-
0uirements Of the act, and in case OF default IN
payment of tax they will be liable for double
the amount of the default with costs of prosocu-
ton. Every person engaged in the liquor
traffic in defiance of the law will be subject to
fine not exceeding 1000 nor less than 800,
and TO imprisonment not exceeding one year
nor less than thirty days. In addition to these
provisions, all wholesale dealers who sell
liquors to persons selling in violation of the re-
Guircments CT the act are made liable to line
not exceeding 81, 900 nor less than 5000, and
to imprisonment not exceeding one year nor
less than thirty days.
1t will be seen that these restrictions are very
rigorous They not only tax the retail dealers,
but they make the wholesale dealers and
brewers responsible indirectly for all violations
of the law. The immediate effect OF the bill
will be to close up the small grOggeries which
cluster in great numbers about all the larger
cities 1t is estimated that there are 2 900 OF
them in Cincinnati alone, all of which Will be
closed by the law. This is certainly step In
the interest of temperance, for 1t at once re-
stricts enormously the sale of intoxicants. The
brewers make common cause with the dealers
in dcnoancing the BILL In Cleveland they held
"a meeting, soon after the passage of the bill,
and raised 50. 900 to be used in obstructing the
operations of the act, and in contcsting 1t IN
court on the ground of uncOnstitutionali'y
The bitter warfare they are waging against 1t
ought to be sufficient to show the Temperance
people that it is undoubtedly an effective meas
ure against unrestricted liquor selling, If moth
ing else, and as such an important step forward
The Democrats hailed the passage Of the act
as a piece of good fortune for their party, and
the spring elections, which were held few
days later, showed that they were right III their
| calculations Cincinnati and several other
cities went against the Republicans, chiefly be-
cause the entire liquor interest, German and all
other, voted with the Democrats. Still the Re
publicans are not disposed to be alarmed.
| They think the working of the act will be
shown to be beneficial, and that the bitterness Of
| feeling against it will not last. They are con-
fdent also that their firm stand in favor of
| decided policy on the liquor question will bring
them friends from all quarters, and in this they
are undoubtedly right. party which perpetu-
ally lodges all perplexing questions never sue
ceeds in gaining the confidence or respect OF
the people.