The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-26

The "Raines bili," that has received
the signature OF Governor MORTON, and
has been endorsed by first decision as
to its constitutionality, is to 60 into
effect on May 1.
Under this new law New York Is to try
the experimnet of direct State control OF
the liquor business everywhere in the
State. For this control State commits
sioner OF excise Is to be appointed and
the administrative machinery that will
be set up under the direction will COM
prise deputy, secretary and financial
clerk at the headquarters, special deputies
in each county containing city OF the
"Hrst-class, and sixty special and con-
fidential agents, with such clerical force
as may be necessary at the head Office and
in the several county offices.
The Raines legislation provides for
licenses, or "tax" in the nomenclature
of the new law, graded as to amount ac-
cording to the population OF the locality
where the business is carried on-from a
tax of $500 for a retail license in city OF
1,5O0, 600 and over, down to 800 in viii
lagos of a population under 1900. Phar-
mscist's "taxes" and STAKES" for dealers
in liquor not to be drunk on the premises
are also provided for by similar grad
ing according to population. One-third
of the taxes, fines, and penalties, less the
amount allowed for collecting them, is
to be paid by the deputies ana the county
treasurer to the State Treasurer, and the
remaining two-thirds goes to the cities
or towns IN which the traffic was carried
on.
While cities are not allowed to determ-
inc by ballot whether trafficking in liquor
shall be carried on within their limits, To-
cal option is accorded to towns and In so
differentiated form that the towns may
vote biennially on the four separate prop
ositions of allowing the selling of liquor
to be drunk on the premises; not TO be
drunk there; by pharmacist on a doc
tors prescription; or by a hotel keeper.
Already, 1t is proposed to amend this fea-
ture to permit residents in cities to have
local option. No liquor is TO be dispensed
on Sundays; before a. M, on Mondays;
or between and o'clock on any morn
ing.
Ii is expected that whereas the new law
will result In considerable cutting down
OF the number of saloons in large cities,
that the increased license tax will make
UP for loss OF revenue therefrom and that
furthermore the provisions and penalties
OF the law will exercise better restraint
on the traffic. In signing the bill. Cover
nor MORTON, admitting that State con-
troll was an experiment, hoped for favor
able results. "1his BILL" he wrote,
"changes the entire scheme; abolishes all
local boards having jurisdiction to issue
licenses for the sale Of liquor, and places
the whole subject under State supervi-
sion. Whether this 10 wise or not expert.
ence can only demonstrate, but 1t Is an
experiment worth trying, and believe
that IL the design OF this bill is fairly
worked out by competent and feithful
O ficers, IL win produce result SO bene-
fetal that our people W Ill not be likely
to wish to resume the system of local
with which we are so famil-
lar, and which In many respects Is so
In thus taking control,
he adds: "The State is amply justified
by the consideration that the effects OF
the use OF Intoxicating liquors are not
local, but are widespread and far-reach-
ing, and that the State itself is SUBJ
jected to large expenses in the creation
and maintenance of institutions for the
case OF uufortunates who suffer directly
or indirectly from the effects OF the use
Of intoxicating liquors. Probably the
most sanguine advocates Of the present
measure do not hope that ell the evils
of intcmperance will be removed BY it,
but think that 1t may reasonably be
expected that the number of places where
liquors may be purchased
will be considerably reduced"