Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-04-26
A UNIFORM TAX.
The House Fixes the Figure at 5000
and Passes the Bill.
Legislative sum mary.


curtains and distractions can interfere
with "a view Of the bar as well during bust
ness as when the place is closed.
Dlr Wells offered AN amendment To make
the tax 800. He said that To place the tg-
ures above that sum would encourage illicit
saloons, doggeries and persistent violations
of the law. He questioned whether courts
and officers would exercise the proper vigi.
lance 10 suppress such places II the tax We're
placed AT 5000, because when laws RESTRAIN
beyond the clear point of safety violation
was inevitable.
| Mr. Hinkson OF Sanilac seconded the
amendment in the conviction that 500 was
too much for his county; $500 even could
not be collected there. Va Urous Mckay,
with the grit ness OF "A race nourished up
on ''mountain due usquebaugh of the
genuine peat liayor, took timerous Hikson
TO task DO the people OF Sdnliac submit
10 such domination Refuse q pay tax OF
5000 He wondered O3 GERS Were tolerated
that thus neglected their sworn duties.
There was no trouble in Fuse la. tue adj
joining county, ana lac believed that 1870
was the right hguie, and was bound II
would lie collected in Sanilac, even II Al
special set OF officers and state constables
were necessary, at which remark there was
applause.
Mr.. Waite OF Menomuee took the OPP
portunity To say that there must he de
feet among the people Of SanilGc that was
not creditable TO them. He denounced the
saloons and the decentralization caused by
them, dellv erng ~ temperance lecture
Without touching upon the sober express
sion OF reasonable views which are proper in
! legislative assemblies, he went on 10 say
that such rates should be affixed as would
prohibit the traffic, and favored $500 as
about the least figure allowable.
Mr.. Conner said that he concurred in all
that had been said regarding the detrment
to society done by saloons, but it is one
telng To have purp Sc IN view and an
other thing 10 attain II by legislation. The
/ bill increased the tax on whisky 500 aud
on beer 500. The result would be, he
thought, to increase largely intemperance
IN Michigan TIE proht upon splrituous
liquors Is very much greater than upon
malt liquors TO obtain the increased
profit, the sa { Of spirits would be encour-
! aged and the mlider beverages discouraged,
n proceeding that ought not TO have the
! support OF the .ate. lie thought 500 q
better figure than $500.
/ Mr.. Diekemau made strong sueech
against any Cancellation being shown u
sa.oonkeepers. They were not worthy Of
confidence. The history OF legislation in
! Michigan shows they cannot be trustee.
! They take advantage OF well designed dis
examinations aud cheat the ate and the
public; AS when, in the interests of mild
/ beverages like lager beer, they pay the
lower rate only TO sell the stronger drink.
. When he tax was 500 on beer and 500 OF
whisky, II was said 10y tho &c people fear
fnl OF the effect on the saloonkeepers, "Oh,
/ don't raise the tax, IL is Just about right as
! II is" When the tax WAS made $500 On
J beer and 500 on whisky is heard again the
same refrain, 80, don't raise IL, II il Just
about right as il il. - Next session when
ii comes TO an increase TO 500 the talk
then will be, "Oh, 500 is enough, ii is just
about right as il is !" He favored placing
the tax now at 500, because the object Of
the law and the purpose OF the people be
hind it was 10 diminish and, if possible,
eradicate the saloon. The law Of lss1 had
had the eject OF clC sing out So saloons or
about y per cent Of the number which had
paid the tax unQer the law of 1885. He felt
as one who had voted f.r the increase in
/ 1881 that he hal been engaged in good
work. and that which remained for this
! legislature would be another 20 d step.
! hopefully reducing as large "a percentage Of
/ the saloons as the law PISSED by the pre-
ceding legislature. One excellent feature
OF the bill Is that which MAKES the posses
sion Of United States license receipt
prima facie evidence of the business car
ried on. The list Of those who obtained
/ liquor licenses could always be verified at
/ the United States revenue Offices, and IL
was as certain as could be that no one
would undertake 10 sell in Michigan with
cut paying the tax, even il il were estab
lished at $500.
Mr.. Hawley proposed to make the tax
uniform at $500 on everything beer,
whisky. brewers, sistillers, wholesale men
aud retailers. The motion was lost Mr..
Waite favored scooter retail liquor dealers.
Mr.. Judd said IL would be as we'll 10 look
after the practical workings Of tae law as
/ 10 set out with the theory that the only
thing necessary was 10 Tx the tax hign
enough, ana the law would be enforced
without the necessity of complaints and
trials and the hazard of juries and luke
warm officials, If the tax were placed ut
500; and greatly feared the result il it
al "a n "a lflfU
Mr.. Mckay said that in 1875 the TAX was
/ fixed at $3.50 on whisky and ! D on beer;
! in 1871 ii was made $3.50 on whisky and go
on beer. In 1879 TO er courage beer sellers
and discourage whisky sellers the tax was
| increased on the former To $500 and on tie
latter TO $50. The next legislature, in 1851,
! felt called upon TO take different course
it discouraged beer by tax of $500 aga MT
$500 for wnisky; in 1851 the tax was in
creased to $500 on beer aud $500 on beer
Mr.. Mckay thought 5000 uniform tax little
enough.
A vote was taken on the $500 tax lost,
yeas, 20; nays, -, Oh division; on the
$500 the vote stood, yeas, 81; nays, AZ.
The house has passed the bill repeating
the mortgage reporting law.
Representative Pealer's (of 81. Joseph
Joint resolution submitting TO vote OF the
people in November. ls!O, the question OF
INC NpuSilluibu ny tCNluR
the right of voting, has passed the house,
having Just the requisite number OF votes
and not a single one over. The changes are
TO require a residence OF thirty days in
stead Of ten, as now, in the township or
ward; six months, instead Of three, as now,
ia the state, and in the case of naturalized
citizens, residence for five years, or the
possession of full papers of citizenship.
The house committee on fisheries has
struck out of the fish bill all reference 10
whtehsh. The committee has fixed the
size of mesh in seines and gill nets at ~
inches. The SIN Hest marketable white
sh hereafter shall be ~ pounds. The
minimum weight and the size OF the mesh
are in conflict, and nets can be made any
size
The house has passed bills authorizing
the establishment of manual training
school at Jackson; including wells ana
cisterns as structures on which mechan =
liens may be placed; and increasing the
maximum penalty for kidnapping 10 i'm
prisoDment for life The house also piss
cd Representative Aleshires resolution 10
submit TO the people in November, 1,gO, a
for a constitutional ,pnyppf inn