New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-15
fIFAL TO THE RAINES BILL.
A MEASURE PREPARED BY NETWORK
REFORMERS
1T PROVIDES FOR LOCAL OPTION BY TOWNS AND
ASSEMBLY DISTRICTS AND FOR LICENSE
FEES 500 HIGHER THAN


Albany. Feb. Ex-senator Ford. Of New-Yoik City
has received 4 general excise and local option BILL
which embraces the views expressed BY the rep
rcse2;atNes OF the NeW-Iork Cha nber OF Com
rorce and the Excise Reform Association Of New
York al the committee hearings on tn Ralnes bill
He Viii introduce the bib. n Mociay night. The
objects OF TIE proposed act are as fellows:
First-To take the saloon out Of politics By abol
ishng al Exc.sa Commissioners and 10y substitute,
ing In place e eac1 board single collector Of ex-
else. purely administrative officer. exercising no
Discretionary power.
second-To establish local option in the fullest
sense o. the term by permitting the voters OF each
town and Of each Assembly district of each city TO
determine whether any liquor license shall be
granted and. If So to determine what kind Of Il
cense may be granted for the sale Of liquors on
premises in such town or Assembly district.
Th.rd-To reduce era lually the number Of saloons
by raising the license fees and by establishing rea-
sonab.e restrictions
Fourth-To secure the enforcement OF the excise
law by making the owners % buildings occupied by
saloons jointly liable with the Licensees for VIOLA
tons OF the act giving the criminal courts power 70
punish all such violations by requiring pubic Officers
TO enforce the law and by enabling any citizen %
institute proceedings where public officers neglect
refuse TO 90
In speaking OF the bill the chairman o. the Cham
Der OF Commerce Committee and the representatives
of the EX Use Reform Association. say;
The local option provisions Of the act have been
taken literally possible from the RalHe' Liquor
Tax bill. the only material change being The suos'-
tuition OF the Assembly district ~ place Il the ward
This change has been made for the reason that
the ward a. political division is rapidly becoming
obsolete and that the Assembly district : the iivi-
sion usually referred to in the Election Nv and is
best known 10 the people
High license has proved 70 be the most effective
means yet devised Of reducing the number Of saloons
and Of he 80 pr,7.av Of he
The proposed rates OF license follows. Saloon.
including hotels with bar Tor the sale ~ al classes
Of liquors IN cities ot the first class $1,000 the second
class. 500. third class $500 all other places. $500
The rates IN three classes-resta urants AM hotels
where there IS bar frrmented liquor for saloons
where only fermentel liquor is sold and In clubs with
out bars-are the same-S-0J. 500 $500 and $40 The
store license will be $40 500 0r cities u the second
ana inra c9TS ana 80 Tsssts 'ense s-o N
cars carrying 500 passengers 500 from 20 20
each rai!r6ad cir or other Ike public Conveyance.
$50 This bin fixes the maximum and minimum
The presen; Ia recognizes a distinction between
spiFiiuous liquors ana ale ana Deer, Pug ."s
phraseCl1Gy by which the distinction j. made = too
loose 10 be effective Il proper that there should
be a distinction between hard liquors which are
highly intoxicating. and those which are OF a very
mn bs re eS i,a Se r,y b.Heen .es Guors and
fermented liquors. This distinction = absolutely
exact and easily susceptible of proof by chemical
Two new kinds Of license created by this
act-club ard restaurant licenses. Under the pres
ent law clubs pay no license fees. however exten-
sive their sales Restaurants where there - ~ nar
and a. which liquors sold only with meals
should in our Judgment. te class-d W4th hotels 1aN
Ing no bar ard provision has been made accord
ingly
lat!on % the statute and declare he same - 10
nlsdemeanor punishable ~ criminal OH ne an.
Section 81 specifies when and IA ~hat cases con-
vcr.on shall forfeit the license. For al l'na4tl"s
recovered under the act th- owner IS made jointly
liable with his tenant the -crNse"
section - provides that any 4.censee may az any
time surrender his llc rse and shall ther~upon re-
ce!ve back from the Comm. ssoner % ENc.se pro
portlonate share OF tn Zee paid FOR ne license
This il 70 prevent the 'ranst and sale ana resale
OF licenses carr. 81 on.
The bill provides that all excise moneys shall 90 20
the municipality in which they are collected The
Raines plan turn half OF the money over 20 the
Sfa'e