The morning call., 1895-02-15

troduced in the Senate to-day by Senator
! Seymour relating to the liquor license
| question. One of these is somewhat like
Senator Berts bill 246, and the other re-
sembles Senator Mahoney's bill, recently
introduced as substitute for his uniform
license bill. Both of these bills have been
referred to the Judiciary Committee and
are OF such a nature that they are sure to
open up the whole license question in all
its bearings.
Senator Bert's bill undertook by an
amendment to section % of the county
government act, article XXVH, relating
to the powers of Supervisors to license for
purpose OF regulation and revenue of all
| kinds of business, the new feature being
that s'such license tax shall be based
upon fair and equitable distribution of
the public burdens upon all classes of busi-
ness and with due regard for the volume
OF business transacted, without unequal or
arbitrary discrimination against any kind
or class" With the exception of this pro-
vision the existing law was not changed.
Senator Seymour's bill is identical with
Senator Bert's. with the following excep
tions: After the word "license tax" IN the
above proviso he inserts the words, "Ex-
cepting in the case of saloons and other
places where spirituous, vinous, malt or
other intoxicating beverages are disposed
OF for consumption on the premises, or
where the same are sold or disposed of to
consumers" And at the end of the article
relating to license taxes he adds the fol-
lowing: "The sale of pure wines and malt
liquors, by any hotel, restaurant, or board
1ng-house keeper, to be consumed only
by guests, seated at table at regular meals,
where no such liquors are sold or disposed
OF, except together. with and as a part of
such regular meals, shall not be sufficient
cause to enforce against any such
party or parties saloon license tax
In addition to the regular license tax on
hotels, restaurants and boarding-houses,
and the Board of Supervisors shall clearly
define by ordinance the distinction be-
tween such places of business as aforesaid
and saloons and other places subject to
special discriminating tax license for the
sale or disposal of such liquors for con-
sumption on the premises 1t is, however,
provided further that Boards of Supervisors
may in their discretion levy special license
taxes upon all persons dealing in and sell
ing rectiied and compounded spirits
which have not been distilled in the State
of California, which special licenses may
! be fixed in amount equal to the license tax
imposed for saloons or other places where
liquors are sold at retail for consumption
on the premises such license tax to be in
addition to the regular license tax for such
liquor business.
Senator Mahoney's substitute for the
uniform license bill first introduced pro-
vides for a maximum of $500 year and
also against double taxation through
county and municipal licenses. Senator
Seymour's bill copies all that was con-
tanned in Senator Mahoney's bill excepting
that the maximum is fixed at $500 year,
and there are added several new sections,
one of which exempts from the saloon
license hotels, restaurants and boarding
houses which furnish with regular meals
only wines and malt liquors, and do not
conduct any saloons. He also provides
that Boards of Supervisors, city and
county, city and town governments shall
provide for limitation of the number of
licenses that may be granted for the sales
of wines and liquors in saloons or other
places for consumption on the premises in
an established ratio per capita of popula-
ton, based on votes cast at general elec-
tions ordered by the State, which limita-
ton shall be determined and declared from
time to time as the public interest may
require.
Section provides that no person
shall be licensed to sell or dispose of
spirituous liquors at retail to be consumed
on the premises who is a rectifier of dis
titled spirits or deals in or has in his
possession on the premises, orin connection
with the business of the premises, any of
the products of any rectiher or COM
FOUNDER recognized as such by the officers
of the United States internal revenue. All
spirituous liquors, whether domestic or
foreign, sold or disposed of by such per-
sons in such place of business, shall be
brought upon the premises where such
retail business is conducted, in original
packages, and in the case of domestic
products, shall be only what are known as
double stamp straight" goods, not less
than three years old.
Senator Orr introduced bill relative to
the State Library and the powers and
duties of its board of trustees. The salary
of the deputy librarian is fixed at $500 a
year. The board is authorized to appoint
librarian, to sell or exchange duplicate
copies of books, to present to the State
Board of Examiners all accounts to be
paid from the State Library from funds be-
longing to the library fund, which ac-
counts shall be paid by the Treasurer only
on warrants of the State Controller, which
accounts have been approved by the
Board of Examiners.
A bill by Senator Fay contemplates
restricting the power of judges in con-
tempt cases. 1t is identical with that in
troduced in the Assembly and it is under
stood was introduced at the request of
Horace Philbrook, who was recently dis
barred by the Supreme Court.
Senator Arms sent up bill to the secre-
tary's desk which makes it a misdemeanor
to overload, overdriye or to beat a horse or
deprive it of food and drink. 1t is also
made a misdemeanor to keep or use live
pigeons, fowls or other birds for the pur-
pose of target or to be shot.