New-York tribune., 1896-01-31
To AMEND THE RAINES BILL.
THE PROPOSITION OF THE CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE.

IT'S SPEAKERS HEARD IN AIBANf-ThEi
TO THE STATE TAKING HALF THE LloooN
rAx-suGGEsrIoNs FOR THE PROTECTION
OF PROPERTY OWNERS AND NEIGH
BORs ALLEGED DEFECTS
OF THE KAINEs MEASURE
POINTED OUT
ALBANY. Ian. 30 (SpeciaD.-The hearing to-uaS
on the Raines Liquor Tax bill, given o9 ''
Committee on Taxation Of the Senate anu 'i'S
Excise Committee of the Assembly was OF uiu'
ual interest and was attended by many prom.
nent persons Among those present were oe'h
Low. president OF Columbia College; Char'es
Stewart Smith president Of the Chamber u
Commerce Of New-York; j. Harsen hhoaue',
John Jay Chapman and Thomas a. FUTON .,
the Excise Reform Association OF Ne"-ioiN' "'''
Amasa J. Parker jr of Albany
Alderman Fred Menge. of Buffalo. hrst ai-
peared and presented resolutions OF the puo
Aldermen and Councmen against the Ha'he'
bill Frank Illig. formerly Police Commissioner
of Buffalo, spoke in opposition to the ha'"e'
BILL saying that Its becoming law wouid "oiN
detriment to Buffalo. The law would DE VIZ
lated So far as Mr. Illig knew, the law was
obeyed now.
CHARLES s. SMITHS SPEECH.
Charles Stewart Smith, chairman OF the Ci'i-
zens' Committee appointed by the president Vi
the Chamber Of Commerce to consider 'he eN
else and liquor question relating to the CITY
Of New York, said:
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Committee:
The committee appointed by the Chamber OF ooin hn
merce have availed themselves OF every possiDe
source OF Information regarding the practcrs& & o1
European nations and the various states Oh - our OH'
the merits OF the excise question and the liquor s
trafic In far as relates to the cry yyet, S suGy
York They have given prolonged ana careiul s.ue
to pTOGe% n. Eas.. Ea Reform
mttee Of NewYork who FOR number OF y yeaps sbs
past have devoted much time and thought 10 ,sg
before yD1a asy dSy IN the Of
NewYork who have been ana are ulseC' or sale Of
sssHis sssies in'fFf:isS ante tn ths qu08s
We do not assume that can instruct our ,hr
proper legislation for their own localities but we we
think may say without presumPtloh ,na1 t o,,r ou
careful study Of the subject warrant US IN the the
hope and belief that our views VIII reeve nS ,nS
that our wishes will prevail With you sehue,e'e",
who make laws. unless they should Sonio. rinSi
with those eternal principles OF justice ana "S"'
which should be the foundation OF an law. .
wnen we entered apon the work intrusea "a 10 70 ss
our duty prepare an excise BILL ana aitcr hluCn
delberacn we prepared such eli Win , tme Nl,T v%
Senator Raines introduced his bill we ieit thHt u
would be more courteous TO you r ana rH .h5pd
make an cifort TO nave the Ralne. BIZ amended IN
such psrteu@rs as II seemed to Us Ssiece ~ m
Withhold for the present the bill 10 when We ha'e
referred and shall ask your cons.derauon 9t t'G
following amendments 10 the Raies bill. 20 when
shall call your attention by reading brei memo
randum other me noers 81 or comni','" VIII soo
and amcnimonts to which We shall ask your re-
spectiu attention.
anime the bill prepared by our committee BY way oi
suggestion. We VIII be able within very r." GAYS
Whether or not It should be thought best 20 offer
the TO the Legislature may then be determined
THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. PLAN.
The memora ndum submitted by Mr. Smith was
In part as follows:
Gentlemen: The policy q the Ra.nos I,quor Tx
ern.rg the sale Of aIuor which shall work auto
mliicaliy. thus taking the liquor trado out q
chnery Of the collection Of the TAX under the su-
pervslon OF the state authorities We submit tha
cut and Is TO accomplish desirable changes three
points must be Insisted upon. .,..,,.
Second That the restrictive features Incident to
any proper excise law shall not be ii saGTnc'd. m
Thrd-That ne system adopted sh"" 10 ''p'
W. believe iha; The Ra'nes BIZ falls IN re-
spects 10 fnl these !rn, ortant requirements In
other material respects A.so. We mink thai me ae
,l' OF the bill are sosCep,el,s Of improysn,,nt
l. The bill proposes that one-half the revenue
S,ate treasury Exrcricnce hhs shown that II the
fee. whether tax or license be raised as contem-
will be largely incr"ased-i'crhaps ioub"1 Ihr
city which now raises about $4,000 year for
rates produce from ',.""co 70 S,cooco. Tialf
3 OIL ~ ths b,nd "a" 'S s has been ,Rrown npon the
cons utional power Of the Legislature To take IN the
form OF tax FOR Sat purposes What !, could ,I not
ancen, franchise of the city of New- York what
cves force there may - n th, arsament. i is ccr.
.hu. Of Y Wy
consent that Onc-hai of tax lad upon business
c,niuctod wholly In the city sha! De diverted To-
S,a,. puroscs unless credit therefor be given ihc
city IN the apporuonmcnt Of State taxes d"e from
2 Tho Raincs bill makes no distinction be-
tween distilled and fermentcd liquors. VIZ. b'tw"en
ned chemical d.tinc,ion which divides liquors which
arc highly DANCE 'u7 I.." tlDs" "i "A i.Hcn Ai''I
law. and In a lluor TAX law I; Is absolutely essen
ial as furnishing the only exact basis for taxa
3 The classification Of cities made By 'he
Ranes act Is arbitrary unnecessary and In viola
ton % the classification adopted by the state CON
stiiuilon. which latter classification was esp" ,lil
ly designed basis FOR taxation and should be
followed IN all lecislniion.
4 The Ralncs 0nl provides no protection Whatever
TO property adjacent - premises In which liduor Is
sold or sought 10 De Sold nor does II contain any pro
hiht.on which VIII prey 'n the occupants OF houses
Of ill-famc etc. from Obtaining certificates; we SUP
NIT that the owners o; adjacent properly shou,I
have opportunity 10 object aad that they should
be protected against offensive nclghbors.
3 The taxes imposed by the Raines bill are not
sufficiently high, measured by the rate OF icens"
fees established in other states. The experience
OF Massach use'ts, Nebraska and other States mas
demonstrated that saloons In large cities can afford
to pay annual charge OF 1900 or more and pro-
portiOnatcly In smaller places and that lower rates
do no. operate restriction upon the lowest ana
most dangerous class Of saloons. But there seems
to DE no good reason why pharmacists dolng leslt
mate business and supplying actual need should
be charged more than the present rate The bilI
does expressly apply To clubs and fails TO MAKE
any discrimination between sales OF liquor over N
bar and sales In restaurants with meals. Eestaur
ants and clubs should form class by themselves.
and saloons for the sale Of fermentcd liquors only
should form "A separate class paying lower rate.
G. The bill provides that the tax as well "a penal
ties for violations shall become Hens on the prop
erty OF the certificate holders. and that the same
shall be enforced by means % SALE upon execu-
tlon made by the Controller or County Treasurer
There is no occasion for making the tax Hen. Tor
the certificate should not be issued un the tax has
been paid. ,
Z With regard to the enforcement OF penalties
under the Ralnes bill. the bill. in Section "a. CON
| temnates two Glasses OF cases: First-Xiola Ions