New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-06

, March THE Raines Liquor Tax bill,
.,,ng an army of political workers and pay
.haro with the money Of the State, was sub
..o,od IN debate on its merits before the Senate
. aay although IL cannot be said that the
SENATORS who are opposing the measure or even
.,ose who favor it have had sufficient time to
examine II thoroughly. measure submitted
n the Senate in its final form only on Tuesday
~ this week and in the possession of few people
outside of Albany cannot be said to have been
critically examined
Senator Raines intended. despite the fact that
the people of the State are practically ignorant
of the terms of his BILL to have it passed by the
Senate tomorrow, but Senator Cantor Tor
tunately made discovery which prevented the
execution Of this snap" programme. He pointed
out TO the Committee on Rules that the Con-
stitutional Convention of 1894 had put into the
Constitution a provision that no bill should be
passed by the Legislature unless IT should have
been in its final form the desks Of the men,
bers for at least three calendar legislative days.
He also showed the Committee on Rules the
Legislative law of 1892. which defined a legisla-
tive calendar day to be from midnight to mid
night
The Constitutional Convention. he added,
must have been acquainted with this law when
ton The bill was submitted on Tuesday. The
twenty-four hours ended last night therefore,
were the first day of record for the bill AT
midnight tonight the second day will end ana
the third record day will extend to midnight on
Friday. You cannot. under the Constitution.
act on the Raines bill before Saturday..
Senator Ranes saw that Senator Cantor was
right. and decided to postpone final action on
his bill until next Tuesday. He persisted. now
ever. In having debate on the bill to-day and
the Senate gave up the day and large part of
the night to the consideration of the measure.
SENATOR RAINEs's SPEECH.
1t cannot be said that the supporters OF the
bill rendered it any more acceptable by what
they said in its favor to-day. Senator Raines
delivered carefully prepared speech in its
favor II had a stroke of humor in it, when he
argued that the cities. which will pay so per
cent of the liquor tax imposed by the bill,
ought to be thankful that the State robbed them
of only one-third OF the money they Will collect
Mr. Raines held that the excise boards ought
TO be abolished. replied TO newspaper criticisms
Of the bill, and defended the imposition OF
large tax on the sale Of ale and beer on the
ground that to make difference between the
tax on spirituous and that on malt liquors
~. be an invitation to evade the law. Part
or. Rainess speech follows
One of the constitutional objections raised is re-
garding the tax being $500 IN New-IorE and less IN
other places A bill which was drawn in the Execu-
tive Chamber when Senator Hill was Governor pro-
vided that a person wishing TO engage in the ousi-
ness of taking afidavits and acknowledging as a
notary public must pay TAX IN the city OF New
York OF So while in Ontario County ne must pa!
but 81 50. Governor Hill approved that act. ou'
when 1t came to the vedder Liquor Tax bill. drawn
linz he
bill ne vetoed IT, certain If this bill is passed
II viii never be disturbed on this ground
The claim that the bill cannot be enforced anu
that the American sunday has passed away is ao'
surd and the operation OF this Dill wiz aee t'e
fact Again. this measure Is attacked because IL
does not permit the opening Of saloon on SUNDAY
least provide for local option on Somaa 20 poW
erful under the fostering care OF Democratic egis-
s ass ,S na demands degS for Of SUNDAY
as their traffic is concerned and they point US 70
peoples Endorsement of that demand When those
gentlemen control the Legislature ana Governor
they will have the power 10 abolish the Sabbath 10
sbrogate that day of rest as well as the Saturday
half holiday. not here TO argue the proposition
that in the interests of religion the saloon on
SUNDAY should not be permitted 1t is not necessary
for me do that but declare that In the interests
Which the wisdom Of the Law gver Of the Universe
has placed in moral law should not be DESTROYED IN
the interest traffic which demoraliZes and de-
stroys.
makes mistake What they do want is the i'm
partial and universal enforcement OF the law so
that he who would wish TO obey the law shall not
have his customers accommodated by those who
Il is charged against this bill that it is criminal to
reduce the number of p aces which some phanthro-
man" Let hope that this great crime may be in
q measure atoned for by the Increased happiness
PROFITS OF THE sALOONKEEPER.
This bill Is Aercely opposed because it is Claimed
the tax is high. Is the tax too high? We
would put the receipts for beer alone $780, 900
1t is not high / believe 1t is 32O.cOoCoo low.
The sO00OO barrels Of beer manufactured in New
York last year cost the dealer at high estimate,
tSs O0O Out of the difference Of sll7 10000 comes
Will pay tax under this Dill. averaging the cost
Of running these PAGES at 1880 eacn. amounting
for taxes under this bill. amounting to %o,26S2n.
and you have this state OF the account: Received
Ss Teis s ,ot cost ose' Of oCcs
to State and locality, slO2s5.2oo, total cost Of run
Ming $l37. CO., leaving net proht on beer alone
sas1s a 90 an Now yesiss is is o G Fortune
to pay the sixty special agents who will look alter
and Is o p nAP Ss
who support the poor mans club can besn 70
see where the poor man comes IN a, ana wny me
rights and facilities Of the poor man to spend his
money ior beer 50 that he shall have all days for
The Republican platform is Pledged to the en-;
labor and morality. The Legislature will heed
that mandate. and by this act 1t will give addi-
tiona aids TO the Police Commissioners OF New
York and all other authorities to be used In their
contest with the enemies Of law and order And
] say 10 you that | believe that contest Will be
extended TO every locality in the State until neither
discretion nor favoritism nor brides but the law
shall regulate and govern this business as IL does
all others.
The Democratic party has told the people that 1t
was not intended TO pass the bLl-tnat ~ was
simply scheme Of the man whom they designate
Is Boss P.att 10 compel contributions 10 the
Republican campaign funds II begins to dawn
upon them that there may have been slight m s.
take somewhere. and that Thomas C. Platt Is not
the man they took him for To-day every Repub-
lican In the State and every Democrat too. knows.
and has no doubt about 1t either, that Whatever
leader may have. It Is used for the passage OF this
performed will carry with II more OF benefcent
results TO the party TO which he belongs and 20 the