New-York tribune., 1896-11-25
RAINES SAYS SO AGAIN.
HE REPEATS HIS CHARGE CONCERNING
EXCISE VIOLATIONS.
THE WAY HE KNOWS IS THAT THERE ARE so
MANY MORE FEDERAL THAN STATE LICENSES
ISSUED-NAMEs EASY TO GET.


HE DECLARES
Albany. Nov. Ex-senator John Raines. OF
Canandagua. chairman Of the Special Excise
Investigating Committee Of the State Senate.
gave out a carefully prepared typewriter
statement tonight in explanation of this morn
ng's published paragraph which quotes him as
saying: There are between 1000 and oOOW
places within radius OF ten miles Of the New
York City Hall that are selling liquor without
a state license in violation OF the State Liquor
Tax law presumably under police or some
other protection "
In his statement given to the press tonight
Mr.. Raines says: Until the figures show to the
contrary l shall hold to my conviction that the
number of places selling liquor illegally within
ten miles of the New-York City Hall. not in
Guiding clubs. saloons or fake hotels. Is some
where in the ncighborhood OF 1000. and that
most of these places the owners OF which
canrot. without committing perjury, secure
quor-tax receipt. Whether they have any po-
lice protection or not or whether they simply
sell in violation of all law and without the
knowledge of the police is a question that may
be more fully determined hereafter"
1t will be noticed that the statement made by
Mr.. Rainos tonight is stronger than the one
published in this mornings papers in that he
places within ten miles OF the New-York City
Hall selling liquor Illegally mot including clubs
saloons or fake hotels" He numbers the lat
ter violations in the thousands also What Sen
ator Raines said to- night follows in full:
The investigation which have conducted during
tho summer has developed remarkable fact
ha whe rNn,d E n 3 Sy rti the nd States Cow
crnmen in the State of New York. but little more
than 1900 were issued by boards OF excise IN the
STATE OF New York thus proving tnat, nOtWltn-
standing the low license fees In previous years,
about eight thousand people. who paid tax to the
Government for the privilege Of retailing liquors,
did not take out a license under local authorities.
accounted for by clubs The balance would most
likely he those who could not obtain a license from
throw away their money when they obtained a
Government .iceI.sc. and II they carried on the
authorities they violating law; notwithstand,
ing the vigilance OF the police authorities In an
within ten miles OF the city Hall Of New-York.
The above is In reference 20 the state OF affairs
for the present year show that some twentyseven
thousand tax certificates have been granted. but
there is question in my mind that the number
OF places persons who had paid the retail tax to
the United States Government during the present
year. and have failed 10 obtain liquor certif-
under the Raines law. Is at least as great. II
rot greater than last year. and believe that fully
man. cases exist now as last year where the
parties had paid the Government tax and avoided
payment OF the state tax.
Tn. clubs would account for more OF this number
this year than they would last. but undoubtedly
there still exists many thousands OF cases where
the business In which the parties are engaged is
such ,hn, they could obtain a liquor-tax certih.
cate under the present law without committing per-
jury. hut who yet have paid the United states Coz
eminent tax. and are taking their chances of being
prosecuted. and II Is more than likely tina: very
any o: these parties protected from arrest ard
punishment through the connivarce OF officers OF
the law
The question raised by this state OF facts Is:
Who are tho parties that pay the United States
Government tax and yet do not pay the State tax?
II II perfectly feasible for the local authorities Of
amy municipality TO ascertain beyond question
who these parties are comparscn Of the re-
ports Of the United States Government with those
OF IN. Ex"sa Department of this State will give the
uame and locality OF each individual and propose
they
The police authorities Of New-York can ascertain
The same thing II they choose to do so. and until
tho figures show TO the contrary shall hold 10
my CONVICTION that the number Of place. selling
liquor Illegally within ten niles Of the New York
c.ty Han. not including club saloons fake
hotels is somewhere in the neiehborh,od OF 4cr,.
OF which cannot without committing perjury Sc
cure liquor-tax receip.. Whether they have any
sell in violation OF all law and without the knowi-
edSe Of the police is question that may be more
word to COMMISSIONS Roosevelt and his
disposed TO give ihc % commissoner credit for ha M
best of intentions and for very much good work
n or @ ns scos"ze %. nh hc ct ,h, o name y
and serious obstacles exist which have yet to be
fake hotels and fake clubs yet to be dealt with.
which. so long MS they exist will be a source Of
there is disposition to Ignore complaints for vio-
latlons of this law But Notwithstanding all this
and all Mr.. Roosevelt has done. there Is ample
field yet open for his explorations. The statistics
lead with Irresistible force to the conclusion that
out side OF fake hotels all Of which have paid the
tax ana hold certificates: outside of clubs fake
otherwise. there are thousands who now. under
the old Excise law pay the United States Govern
ment and secretly sell without having obtained
"a state tax certificate
| have 10 doubt that attention has beer
called TO this feature. Mr.. Roosevelt will cndeavor
TO locate these parties. Very the special com
mittce will be able TO assist him by giving him
the names and location OF these parties wit hin his
Jurisdiction. and he must not be astonished IT, I'm
splte Of his own efforts and the vigilance OF the
police force he finds that very many OF these
rartics are those who could not obtain tax GER
ii0catcs under the law by Of the Illegal bust
ness in which they are engaged.
Mr. Roosevelt alludes to Raines hotels and
Raines clubs. Upon investigation. he will find that
tho provisions Of the present law as to hotels and
selling To guests with meals and in their rooms
are The same as under the previous Excise law
while the club evasions exist. not through any pro-
Visions of the Ranes law. but through the decision
of a court which. with all due rcsDect to judicial
authority. ! believe will be yet declared to be un-
sound
REPLYING TO MR.. RAINES