New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-29

CITY MEMBERS DICTATED TERMS.
frRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRlBUNE]
Albany Feb 2S-The Raines Liquor Tax BILL
the great patronage scheme Of Thomas c. Platt'
at an early hour this morning. under the per-
sona supervision Of his son. Frank II. Platt.
who had come TO Albany for that purpose, was
labelled party measure by the Republican SEN
ators who had been considering II. Good labels
the dis;illers say Indispensable If one
wishes 10 sell poor whiskey. The Repuohcah
partys grand name. in this instance, is TO be
used 10 advance a bill the sole purpose OF when
IS to supply a large number Of politicians with
Offices.
The bill now Will probably pass the Senate
The word probably" is used because some
amendments were made TO the bill last night
which may not be viewed favorably after lul-
Their consideration. II was ridiculous, Tor IN
stance. t. put in amendment providing that
tie towns of Westchester County recently added
TO New-York should for the purposes Of the act.
still be considered rural and the liquor-dealers
in them be required pay only comparatively
small tax. The bill contains enough discrepan-
cies already in the amount Of the tax TO be
levied on different cities to make II Of doubtful
cors,i.utionality. Is it constitutional to tax the
Nouor-dealers in one part Of New-York City $500
and those in another part 800?
RURAL SENATORS GIVE IN.
The conference. which became a caucus. Of
the Republican Senator's last night was stormy
from the time when they assembled at O'clock
until they parted at o'clock this morning
Four hours spent in jangling debate before
any sort OF an understanding could be reached
between the city Republicans and the rural
members. The city only consented to go
into a caucus under agreement that the pro-
portion which the State to receive Of the
h. from
third When. after the caucus had been agreed
upon this compact seemed to have been re-
pudiated. nine of the city Republicans prepared
to leave the This action caused the rural
Republicans to surrender at once.
The motion to transform the conference into
q caucus adopted by vote OF IL 10 ii.
The eleven men who were opposed TO caucus
action were Senators Bracket. Brush Burns
Ford Harrison, Lamy. Parsons Sheppard VIC
man. White and Wray
Senators Seibert and G. A. Davis OF Buf-
falo refrained from voting. Under no circum-
stances will they vote for the BILL as their con-
stituents do not approve Of 1t, and no amend
ments TO 1t will satisfy them
Senator Brackets motion that the State
should have only one-third OF the tax and the
cities and towns collecting It two-thirds was
adopted by a vote of 10 TO IA. The fifteen SEN
ators who voted for the motion were Bracket
Nussbaum Parsons. Sheppard. Stranahan. VIE
man White Wilcox and Wray. Those who voted
against il were Balantine. Brown. Chanoon
Daley. Ellsworth, Higbie. Humphrey, Johnson
Krum. Lexow. Malby Page. Ranes and Stewart
BURNS WINS HIS POINT
Senator Burns Of Yonkers. then moved that
the towns of East Chester and Pelham. recently
annexed TO New-York. should be considered as
rural" and that saloons in them should be ex-
cepted from the tax on saloons in 1rstclass cities
This motion adopted by vote OF 70 10 o.
When Senator Cantor, the Democratic leader
heard Of this action Of the caucus he said: The
boundaries OF the old towns Of Yorkville ana
Harlem in New-York City. are pretty well known,
and do not see why the liquor-dealers In them
should pay any higher rates than those In East
Chester or Pelham. l shall offer an amendment
es soon as the Raines bill comes up In the Senate
nrovtdinR that in Harlem and Yorkvle the
rquor-deaers shall pay only village tax the
same as In East Chester and Pelham
Senator Parsons, of Rochester, presented an
amendment 10 the bill providing for separate
ale wine and beer license for grocers at low
price but 1t was defeated by vote OF 20 10 -
The votes in favor Of the proposition being cast
nv himself and Senators Harrison, Lamy and
White Senator Lamy moved that the grocerS
should be permitted to maintain 9ars rms ,hs nj.
votes being cast by Senators Lamy Parsons
Harrison. White. Ford and Nussbaum.
Thought he would like TO try his hand at amend
ing the bill He moved that the tax on liquor
dealers in cities between 5000 ano 2ooUy3 IN popu
was defeated by vote OF % to 3. White. Parsons
and Harrison being in the affirmative.
Senator Nussbaum. OF Albany who Is club
man moved that clubs be permitted to sell liquor
TO their members on sunday. This amendment
was rejected by a vote Of 25 TO 2, Nussbalm and
Malby being the two
COUNTY TREASURES FEES CUT DOWN
Senator Higgins made motion. which "as
carried reducing the percentage OF the tax TO be
retained by County Treasurers for collecting IT,
County Treasures in counties containing cities
OF the second class TO receive only per cent
OF the tax those serving in counties containing
cities Of the third class 2 per cent. and those
living in counties containing only towns per
cent.
Senator Walter l. Brown. Of Otsego County
distressed nearly every one present by making
motion that the salary Of the Excise Commis-
sioner and those OF his three deputies each be re-
duced 81 900 yearly. This proposition. 1t is need
less TO say was defeated, the vote standing -
10 G.
A motion made by Senator Brush to reduce the
amount OF the tax druggists was lost by
vote OF IS to 9. Senator Krum moved that the
tax on country hotels be reduced from 800 to you
This motion was lost by vote OF 20 to ..
The amendments suggested by the Committee
on Taxation, cancelling all licenses on June oo
1896 were adopted by the caucus.
Senator Ellsworth in the early hours OF the
morning destroyed all tranquility OF spirit among
the city members by moving to reconsider the
vote by which 1t was decided that the State
should have only one-third OF the tax. This
motion was lost 10 to l6. Mr. Ellsworth then
made a motion. which was carried. that no
amendments to the bill be offered on the floor OF
the Senate. This means that the Republican
Senators intend to stand by the bill as 1t is and
vote against any amendments which may be Of
Tered by the Democrats
Senator Brush offered motion that there be
special beer license at one-half the rate for ordi-
nary saloons This motion was defeated by vote