New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-17
RAINEs LIQUOR TAN MEASURE.
rx SENATOR MILLER TALKS OF THE BIIIl-PRo-
POSED AMENDMENTS.

EX SENATOR MILLER TALKS OF THE BiI.i~PRO-
POSED AMENDMENTS.
Albany. Feb l6 (SpeciaD -Thomas c. Plat
said here yesterday that the Ranes Liquor Tax
bill was perfect In its final form and that In
his opinion IT would soon he passed by the legs-
lature. Mr.. Plat also .eemed to think that IL
would be necessary, In contemplating the In
tense opposition the bin has met with. to have
a caucus held upon II by the Republican Assem-
blvmen and Senators 1t was announced to-day
that the caucus OF the Republican Senator's ana OK
the Assembymen upon the Ra!ncs Liquor Tax
bill would be held on February rs.
II will no. be held until then. because the
measure must be reprinted. having been amend
ed in so many respects. and therefore 1t cannot
come before either brarch or the Legislature
until next week.
Ex-senator Warner Miller. While here on Fri
day said he greatly desired TO the measure
IN n complete form TO examine II critically. 1
hone" said he that the state tax Is suf'i-
GENTLY high 10 be Of a high-cense character. II
is immaterial to me what form OF bill is passed
II II has the chief virtue - high license meas
ure that Of greatly reducing the number OF
saloons The Ohio DOW law. from which Senator
Raines obtained his model has the defect OF not
being a high-license measure. ONO, as the re-
suit has the third largest number Of saloons OF
any state in the Union. The Dow law also has
the dement, Of permitting all kinds OF saloons
Cincinnati, ! am told. has many saloons OF an
abominable character But do not mean To
condemn the Raines bill In advance Of Its pro-
sentation TO the Legislature. | shall not pass
any Judgment upon 1t until can inspect II care
fully"
what States do you think have the best
excise lawsY'
Those Of Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.'
answered Mr. Miller. land that OF Pennsyl-
vania IL especially good, since the courts give
Judgment as to whether a man shall have IL
cense or not have IT, Great Is thus exer
cised by the State 10 prevent dvekeepers or
men OF disreputsble character obtaining IL
cense to sell liquor. l anticipate Mr. Raines
NAV have a bout with the lawyers as to the
corsti,u,iooality OF having a different tax in
cities and the objection may be made TO MS
bill that II does not impose a uniform tax But.
as | said before ! do not wish TO declare my
opinion o. his bill until II Is once more pre-
sented to the Legislature and We nave II III
complete form 1900
that the Rainea bill may encounter some RepuD-
lican opposition. although that Is matter about
which no prediction can be positively made
until the measure IL once more made public
with oil It's amendments. The latest amendment
made TO the bill was disclosed tonight. IL Is
Of an interesting character. Under the bill as
originally introduced. the Controllers Of New
York Brooklyn and Buffalo received percent
age on the collection OF the tax. According to
the ANTICIPATED payments OF the kaines liquor
tax in New-York City. Controller Fitchs official
income would be increased to $4,000. 1t has
been determined thai this Is too large sum
TO give over to "a Tammany official. The Con-
trolle-s Of Brooklyn and Buffalo also, II has
been decided shall not have any addition made
to their salaries by the Raines bill The bill
will contain provision that the State Excise
Commission shall appoint three agents to col
lect the State liquor tax In the cities OF Brook
lyn Buffalo and NewYork. The State will es-
tablish State Liquor Bureau In the cities
named, and there the Stale tax will be paid
Senator Raines gave out tonight the following
interesting estimate to the amount OF money
the cities Of Buffalo Syracuse and Elmira would
obtain under the Ranes liquOr-tax law and the
amount the State would receive:
Buffalo Syracuse Elmra.
Receipts from licenses during .o, 49,, .s $500
/
Receipts licenses
under Ranes bin. 1s27s5o ai37SO iO7. 400
Saloons reduced 40 per cent,
receipts would be. .......... 1870 iss2oo @44o
Amount city and State would
each get.................... 3gs.ss5 s4l2b 81 900
Gain for city . by RaineI bll 751% 1922 isSsS
Number OF places estimated
under Raines bill. 1851 41S ls5
Speaker Fish said tonight that he was very