The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-04-17

State ticket this year, for this is not the
GubernRtOflal yeaf, but rather because Of
the new and disturbing issues that have
arisen, growing out OF tie passage Of the
Pond bill and the "sunduy closing law"
We have briefly explained both Of these
laws lately in the INTELLioENCEH, and need
only now repeat that the former provides
for tax on every place in Ohio where
liquor is sold, and the latter provides for
closing all such places on Sunday Both
laws arc in effect the same that prevail
in almost every State in the
Union, alike in Republicans and Demo.
cratic States. Indeed we know Of no
State where they do not prevail. We
might say that they constitute the common
law Of the land. The popularity in. Ohio
results from the existence Of clause in
her State constitution, dating back thirty
years ago, prohibiting license for the sale
Of liquor. Because Of this clause the BUSH
ness has been carried on without license
and without the payment Of tax. Not
only this, but 1t has been carried on seven
days in tho week, instead OF six days, in
the large cities, and thus has enjoyed what
as come to beregarded as sort OF prCScrip-
tive immunity from tho restrictions and
Limitations that control other busincss.
The people Of Ohio, without distinction
Of party, have long felt that it was desir-
bic to do one Of two things, enforce the
Constitutional clause or else derive revenue
from the sale Of liquor. Public sentiment
called for one or the other. OF course the
temperance people called for legislation
to carry into effect the Constitutional
clause, but neither political panty has ever
allied itself with the temperance party.
Hence the latter party has had candidates
Of Its own in the field, but has never polled
alarge Independent vote. Year after year
has passed, leaving the Constitution us it
stood, and yet no step was taken to secure
revenue fromthe sale OF liquor. Meanwhile
the necessities Of debt pressed upon the
cities for revenue, especially on Cincinnati,
where the burden Of taxation is especially
felt, and finally the Pond bill, providing
Tor tux Of $500 on all places where liquor
is sold in cities Of over 10000 in
habitants, and $500 and Sl5O in
the towns and villages, was passed.
Cincinnati has 5000 Of these places
and the whole State $4,000. The bill is
expected to give that city relief to the ex-
tent Of 100000 to 100000 annual reve-
nue., just US u lax Of $500 and $3.50 pro-
duces here in Wheeling some SCI 900 to
$4,000 annually.
This is the Pond law, about which so
much has been heard. It is simply a tax
measure-"a tariff for revenue only"-al-
though the objection is made that it oper-
ates to cut down the Mum5er Of places
where liquor is cold. II is claimed that it
will cut down the number oue-llalt in Gin
cinaati, leaving say 1900 that can pay the
tax, or ono place to every 200 inhabitants,
and Of course conccnt nting the business in
their hands and making it more profitable
to them.
The Sunday closing BILL" passed on
Friday last, provides thar the sale of
liquor shall be restricted to six days in the
week. In other words, all places where it
is sold shall be closed on Sunday. This is
practically the law ill over the and. There
is therefore nothing new OF peculiar about
it, except that it is new and peculiar in
Ohio. 1t is in no respect new Or peculiar
to the country.
The Democrats arc Inclined TO make
party capital out Of this action Of the leg
stature in Ohio. That is, some OF them
are. Others, like our neighbor Of the Steu-
benville Gazette, are doubtful Of the propri-
ETY. Of attempting to do so. The former arc
endeavoring to impress upon the Germans
the idea that these two laws arc mea-
sures Of hostility towards them. ofcoursc
all such party tricksters know that the Re.
publican party is not hostile to the Germans
never hus been and never intends to be.
The matter Of taxing and restricting the
sale Of liquor is, not u question OF national.
ity. The bulk OF the liquor OF This coun-
try is consumed by the natives. The coun-
try does not divide upon lines OF thut sort.
1tso, then those Democratic States that have
enacted Pond law aud Sunday
closing law" are open to this same charge OF
hostility. But, as we said, this is not a
question Of nationality. 1t is question
Of regulating and controlling business.
Much as the Democrats OF Ohio are dis
posed to make capital out Of the Pond law
aud the Sunday law, yet when the can.
Sass opens we will see some interesting
lodging and squirting among them. When
the party holds its state convention it will
not make IN issue for the repeal OF either
law. Make note OF that. 1t will not denv
that the priaciple OF taxation involved in
the Pond law is sound. Neither will it
arraign or denounce the Sunday closing
law. Make u note of this prediction also.
1t will talk in general terms about sump.
tuary laws, and make filings Of that sort
ut the Republicans, but when its ora.
tors come to be Intercepted on
the stump or in the press as to
what they really mean, they will no! ex.
plain in Ineligible language. II asked
whether the tax laws aud the Sunday clos.
ing laws Of West Virginia, Maryland,
New Jersey aud New York are sumptuary
laws, and, If so, whether they were enacted
by Democrats, they will feel like taking
to the woods The attempt, therefore, to
make party capital out OF the recent enact.
ments at Columbus will fall very flat before
the Ohio canvass is well under way. The
party will not propose 10 repeal either lov,