Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-03-26
TO FIGHT TO THE END
New York Liquor Men Will Con-
test Raines Law In the Courts.
ASSISTANCE FROM OTHER STATES
Little Benefit, However, May BE Hoped for
by the Smaller Dealers, Many Of
Whom VIII Soon BE Forced
Out of Business.

New York, March 24.-Although the
Raines liquor tax measure is now law
the strongest fight, it is claimed, is get
to be made by the brewers and sale IN
keepers throughout the state assisted
by funds from people interested in the
liquor traffic in neighboring states
against its enforcement The fight,
of course, must now be carried on in
the courts, but nothing can be done
until after the officials have begun to
enforce the law. AS proceedings OF
this kind are tedious and slow in action
the smaller saloonkeepers, whom the
law is intended to wipe out, cannot
hope to benefit from any favorable de-
cision to the liquor interests in the pro-
posed proceedings as their places will
be gone and many of them forced into
other occupations before final decision
of the courts is secured.
Grounds of the Contests.
Samuel Untermyer of the law firm Of
Guggenheimer, Untermyer & Marshall
said; 1--WE have been retained by the
State Brewers and Masters associa-
tion and will proceed to fight the
Raines law on the ground Of unconsti-
tutionality. AS soon as the law goes
into effect we will get up test case to
carry the matter before the courts.
There are a number of points on which
we propose to fight the law. We will
contend that this is a tax in violation of
section 81, article Of the constitution,
which provides that no state money
shall be devoted tolocal purposes with
out two-thirds vote of both houses of
the legislature. We will argue that
the money collected is state money and
comes under this head. We Will also
contend that the law is not a state
law, but collection of local laws and
that it should have been sent to the To-
cal mayors for approval. Again, we
will fight it on the want of uniformity
in the tax and also because the twenty
third and twenty-fourth wards are
differently legislated for"
Gov. Morton's Views on the Law.
Albany, March 24.-Gov. Morton in
approving the Raines liquor tax bill
filed long memorandum explaining
his action. The statement opens with
review of the excise question in its
present status and points out the bene-
fits which it is expected will be derived
from the enactment of the law. He
does not suggest any supplemental leg
islation as was looked for and in this
respect disappoints the expectations Of
large number OF persons, especially
Germans, who thought that although
the governor would sign the bill, he
would recommend that second excise
bill should be passed which would pro-
vide for an ale and beer license at a
reduced rate of taxation.
"An Experiment Worth Trying"
The governor is sanguine of the
effect which the bill will produce He
terms it IAN experiment. but lone
worth trying" and he believes if its
provisions be carried out by "com-
petent and faithful officers" the result
will be such that 'our people will not
be likely to wish to return to the sys-
tenn Of local supervision. He does not
believe that the bill will reduce intem-
perance to any great extent, but that
in large cities it will lessen the number
of saloons. He does not agree with
those who call the bill high license"
measure. The memorandum is thought
to be one of the most important docu-
ments that has issued from the execu-
tive chamber since Gov Flower signed
the Buffalo police bill in 1898.