Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-06-08
THE STATE LIQUOR TAX.
HON TO ENFORCE COLLECTIONS
The DUTY OF Orncers and Others 20
Regard TO PrOsec cutiOns The La~
on Drugged Whisky.

Having heard the County Treasurer some
What severely criticised tor not more prompt
ly collecting the State liquor taNes, and
having frequently heard the assertion that
the law was Inefficient, ia that Il did not
designate tie officer whose duty Il Il 10 sec
that the taK is promptly paid, a reporter on
Saturday searched the books IA order that
he might las the facts ia regard 10 the mat
ter before the readers of IHE InKGRAN,
believing that al good eitizeus-honest "a
loon keepers a. well a. ProhibiuOnists-
should be Interested IA seeing that the law l.
enforced.
Ia the trst plac5 II was found that the tax
Is due and pay able on or before the trst
Monday IA May of each year. The County
Treasurer II not required 10 demand n, but
every dealer Is required 10 tlle-on or before
that day-a sworn statement giving the
name OF the dealer. location of the saloon
and the nature OF the business, whether
wholesale or retail, and whether dealer IA
spirituous and Intoxicating or malt brewed
and fermented liquors The law provides
that each day upon which dealer does bus-
mess after the first Monday in May, without
having filed such statement and paid his tax
shall be considered "a new separate and dis
tinct violation of the law" IL Will be seen
from this that people who wish 10 break up
the business of a saloon keeper by persistent
prosecutions, can, III most cases find ample
grounds for their complaints without en-
ploying spies 10 watch the back doors on
Sunday or after hours.
Ia regard 10 the enforcement of c0llec-
tions, Sections ,2e7, Howelfs statutes, reads
as follows. ''It shall be the duty of the
supervisors or other officers, whose duty II
II TO make assessments, IN townships, wards.
villages or cities, to report III writing 10 the
County Treasurer, within the first i've days
of each and every month, the names and
residence of every person within the town
ship, ward, village or city violating this act.
Section ,2oY of the same statute re IDS: 1T
shall be the duty of every county treasurer,
sheriff, deputy sheriff, police officer or other
person having notice or k1aoUtedge Of any
violation of the provision of this act. TO i'm
mediately notify the prosecuting attorney of
the county thereof, and II shall be the duty
of such prosecuting attorney fOrthtoiM TO
prosecute every person violating the pro
visions of this act, and for each and ecery
violation thereof.
Section ,29l provides that any officer.
whose duty II Is 10 see that the provision of
the act are faithfully enforced and neglects
or refuses to perform such duty, shall be
liable to a penalty of 500 for each and
every offense." From this II appears that
| there Is ample provisions for the enforce
ment OF the collections. and also PROVISIONS
| for the punishment of sherIffs. deputies.
| supervisors, police officers, prosecuting at
| torneys, county treasurers or ''other person.
who fail TO DO their duty Ia the matter.
Another provision which may be of inter
| est To people who are continually clamOring
| for pure whisky is found IN section 2aO,
which forbids the aduteration of any kind
! of liquors either III the manufacture, prepar-
alton or rectifying. and IN section 226l which
reads: III shall be the duty of every person
! or persons engaged in the manufacture and
sale of malt, spirituous or alcoholic liquors
| or in rectifying or preparing the same IN
| any way, To brand ON each barrel, cask or
| other vessel containing the same, the names
| of the person. company or firm manufactur-
| ing, rectifying or preparing the same and
/ also these words: Pure and without drugs
4 or poison" The next section forbids the
| selling of liquors from ''any barrel, cask or
vessel" not so marked and the next says that
the finding of any barrel, cask or other yes
| sci containing drugged or poisoned liquor.
in the possession of a dealer, shall be prima
/ face evidence that he has violated the pro
visions of the act.