The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-15
The Special Agents.


is\somewhat short. much valuable ammu-
niSion has been wasted in vague denuncia-
lions OF those new provisions Of the Liquor
Tax law which establish the force of /" special
agents" These " special agents." It is said,
are to form the cogs Of q vast political ma
chine to overawe the retail liquor dealers,
their employees and patrons. and to ex-
tort from them on election day such proofs
of partisan allegiance to the Republicans
as will prevent them from supporting
any Democratic candidates. These "spe-
cial agents" have even been denounced as
a probable menace to Democratic sue
cess in New York, and as officers intrusted
with power which violate the fundamental
conditions Of political Independence. This
view of the case has become and Is becoming
very general, but, as the practical working
Of the new Liquor Tax law will show, it is
entirely erroneous.
The duties of the Especial agents." - de-
fined by section 10 Of the Liquor Tax law,
are to investigate all matters relating ITO
the collection Of liquor taxes and penalties
under this act" They may enter any place
where liquors are sold at any time when the
same is open. and they may examine any
liquor tax certificate granted or purporting
to rave been granted in pursuance Of law.
These powers are not very extensive. Any
orderly person may enter a public
saloon when 1t is open. and there
are usually no barriers or encum-
ORANGES placed by the proprietor to prevent
such entrance. The Especial agents" may
do the same; and, moreover, they are per-
mitted to examine any liquor tax certificate.
Under the provisions OF the Raines law this
Is not an unusual privilege, since another
section of the statute ~(section 2l) declares
that each retail liquor man shall display
his tax certificate at all times in a
conspicuous place 80 that all per-
sons visiting such place may readily
see the same" and it is specifically pro-
vided that wherever possible the certificate
shall be displayed on "a window facing the
entrance, so that 1t may be readily seen
from the street" So far as concerns the ex-
animation of liquor tax receipts, the special
agents." therefore, can do what any other
pedestrian can do, and, practically, no more.
OF course it is the duty of such a special
agent" to see that the date borne on
the face Of the certificate makes it still
In force, but anybody else can see
MS much. II a especial agent" finds
any violation OF law, it Is made his
duty under section z Of the Raines act to
Immediately notify the District Attorney Of
the county In which the violation occurs.
This duty, however. is shared by the special
agents in common with every county Treas
urer, Sheriff, deputy sheriff, police officer,
or constable" In other words, a " special
~~o-t ~ an, a. 80 N tha roItoa . 10 shat l..
make a complaint. Section ~ of the new
law further declares that the Especial
agents" may, in the performance Of their
duties, enter upon any premises where the
traffic In liquors is carried on or liquors are
exposed for sale. at any time when such
premises are open"
RAINEs appears to have been apprehen-
sive that the Especial agents." who are to
receive 81, 200 a year for their services, and
to be liable for a penalty Of 5000 for each
violation OF duty or neglect Of duty, would
break into saloons at such time as the sa-
looms were closed, stimulated to such a ri
otous and disorderly act either by a pro-
found sense OF official duty or by AN I'M
quenchable thirst for strong drink or
matted beverages, and accordingly they are
twice directed otherwise. The special
agents" can enter the saloons only when
they are open. They can make reports To the
District Attorney, as other officials can, II
they find the law to be violated. Such are
the limitations Of their powers, and If any
ingenious individual can find in these
powers any authority TO build up a vast
political machine" TO terrorize the saloon
keepers and to deprive them OF their ''po-
litical independence" he Is entitled to some
praise for his discovery, for there is nothing
in the Raine Liquor Tax law TO warrant
such a conclusion.
The source and inspiration of Republican
plans and policy nowadays are TO be found
usually among the statesmen OF the south
ern tier. and the Times Of Olean gives the
facts OF the case with considerable clearness
from their point Of view, when It says that
the national Government imposes an inter
nal revenue tax upon whiskey, tobacco,
cigars, aud playing cards, and employs a
commissioner with deputies and agents
to collect 1t, yet no n charges or