New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-27
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.,h,nv Feb. 26-The Raines Liquor Tax bill
I,r dif1culty 1t was inspected for several hours
n .aav al a secret conference of the Repuph-
80 senators and then laid on the table
~ another microscopic examination tomorrow
.sht This does not indicate that Mr Platts
.sers that IL should be passed this week VIII be
obeyed.
c.rafor Ellsworth nnocently exploded the gun
4 ovder which has been gathering under the Dill.
\ us distributed letters this morning informing
,,e Republican Senators that caucus would be
held on the Raines bill as soon as the Senate
.,ouId adjourn later in the day. 1t was reported
that iust before the Senate met Mr.. Ellsworth
,scsved word from Thomas c. Platt by telephone
RON, New-York that the Raines bill must be
hurried through and politicians took this 70 be
an indication that Mr. Plat was getting anxious
:, sooure the numerous Offices which will prac-
.,,al,y be in his gift when the bill becomes law
Mr. Ellsworth 500. learned however that
sood many Of the Republican Senators would re-
frse 10 attend a. caucus on the bill. Senator
payey. Of New-York and the three RepuDhcah
Senator's from Erie County. Lamy. Seibert ana
George \. Davis all said that they would not
attend caucus on the bill in It's present shape
believing 1t TO be injurious to the interests OF ther
.,stituents Onposition 10 the bill had been ex
.Oo,sd from, these Senator'S but Mr. Ellsworth
soon learned that one of the most influential Re-
nublicuns In the Senate Mr. Parsons. of Roches-
ter who ordinarily attends a caucus with as
much 10y as he eats his breakfast, had strong OBJ
tections T. d caucus on the Raines bill. 1hen II
was remembered that Frederick Cook. the mead
0, one OF the largest breweries In Rochester hau
bssn here Yesterday Mr. Parsons suggested TO
~ie-h@ hot TOR
conference" on the Raines bill and not a caucus.
In that case Mr. Parsons said. he thought the
attendance would be larger. Senator Ellsworth
&c q man of remarkable caution and not averse TO
,akine adyice He recognized danger signal in
Mr. Parsons's talk and at once, as II were, whis-
fled down brakes by announcing that the meeting
NJ the Republican Senators would be only a CON
ference" The difference between conference
and a caucus Is that in the former you may say
what you please and vote as you please and not
be bound afterward IN the Legislature. whereas
IN the case Of a caucus you submit your Will 10
that Of the majority.
THE MEN WHO THREATEN.
The conference was held in the big room CT
the Senate Finance Committee Tie Senators
went into the room at 1:30. sent for sandwiches
at go and did not emerge from the room until
e:0 In the mean time they hai gone over the
Rsines BILL section By section and had put for
ward objections to il in such number that Sen
ator Raines must have felt that he had made a
large number Of errors Senator Malby was
elected chairman and Senator Stewart secre-
tary. There were also present nators BaI!ah'
\ tine Brown Chahoon. Daley. Charles Davis.
George A. Davis Ellsworth, Ford, Harrison, Hlg-
bic Higgins Hun phrey. Johnson. Krum Lamy'
Mulln, Nussbaum Page, Parsons, PaNey Raines'
Sebert, Sheppard Stranahan, Tibbits Wlen1an.
h!te, Wilcox and Wray. There was one Re-
pdbcan absentee Senator Lexow. who was un-
derstood to be brain-weary in consequence Of his
Greater New-York report Senator Coggeshall
was left out He shed no tears over his failure
70 receive an invitation. declaring that he could
hardly attend even conference on the Raines
bill as he was opposed to it. His ground OF
objection is that it imposes too high tax on
the rural hotel-keeper.
The conference had scarcely been called to or
der when Senator George A. Davis. OF Erie, said
he wished 1t TO be understood that II the gather
ing was a caucus he should at once leave the
room. If it conference. where objections
to the bill could be stated. he would gladly re-
main. Senator Ellsworth assured Senator Davis
that the meeting was merely conference.
1t was then decided that the bill should be
read section by section. objection made to
almost every section Tht objections came from
Senator's Bracket. George A. Davis. Ford. Har-
rison, Lamy. Parsons. Pavey. Sebert. Sheppard
Wleman, White and Wray. There are twelve
Republican Senators out Of thrtyhve who see
great objections 10 passing the bill
DEMANDS OF CITY MEMBERS
The city Republicans. led by Parsons Of
Rochester, strenuousy objected TO that feature
OF the bill which declares that one-half OF the
money collected shall go into the State Treasury.
They demanded that the cities should have at
least two-hirds Of the proceeds Of the liquor
Senator Parsons represents part OF the city Of
Rochester. In that city are situated some Of the
largest beer breweries in the United States. and
y nearly all Of them are in Mr. Parsonss district.
He vehemently attacked the bill. declaring that it
Disseminated against ale and beer and in favor
Of hard" drinks. The distillers. he said were
believed to be behind the Raines bill In Penn
tylvania there had beeh large increase in the
amount of whiskey sold. This was in consequence
N the discrimination against the sale OF beer
end ale. MIR. Parsons argued that far lighter
State tax ought 20 be imposed on the sellers Of
beer and ale. which he considered Temperance"
drinks
Senator Bracket. Of Saratoga. TO every ones
\ surprise. also assailed the bill Saratoga. he
v declared, had a big summer population. Some
= visitors TO the big. expensive hotels and
! others 10 the small hotels. There ought to be a
difference in the rate Of taxation Of the smaller
hotels and the big hotels. In New-York City
also the Fifth Avenue Hotel could pay tax
/ Which ought not to be required Of the smaller
hotels
II Senator White, Of Syracuse, seconded Senator
IA PARSONS In his demand that lower tax shoud
NJ De imposed upon the dealers in ale and beer
4 than upon those who sold whiskey and brandy
Senator Sheppard Offered some objections on
tne part OF the wine dealers.
Senator Raines. Of course, defended his meas
ure, and made long speech dilating upon the
II siory which would come upon the Legislature
II should pass the measure.
III The Senator'S found, after q long talk that
mey could not come tC an agreement on the
proposed amendments to the bill. and II was
welded TO adjourn the conference until to-mor-
ww night. when the consid eration OF the meas
IRE will be resumed.
- FIVE MILLIONS FOR THE STATE.
II ENATOR RAINES ESTIMATES MONEY ADJ