The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-13
The RaineS Bill.

The Raines Bill.
An interesting liquor law is before the
people of New York state in what is
known as the Raines bill. 1t has passed
the senate and received the sanction of
the majority caucus in the house. 1t
therefore will doubtless reach the gov
ernor, who, it is said, will sign it,
The bill. as summarized by the Troy
Times. fixes tax rate as follows on
every hotel, saloon, restaurant and club
where liquor is sold: Eight hundred
dollars in cities with q population of
100000 or more (New York;; $3.50 in
cities of less than 100000 and more
than 500, 600 CBrooklyn: $500 in cities of
less than 100000 and more than 10000;
$3.50 in cities or villages of less than So
900 and more than 10000; $500 in cities
or villages of less than 10000 and more
than 5000 500 in villages of less than
5000 and more than 1000, and 500 in all
other places.
No person or corporation conducting
a dry goods, grocery OF drug business is
permitted TO sell liquors to be drunk
on the premises. unless such traiiic rs
carried ON in a place not communicat-
ing with the other store. Certificates
are issued for selling liquor in quantities
less than five gallons, not TO be drunk
on the premises. The charges for TINS
class are $500 in cities exceeding 100000
in population $400 i'm cities between
500 900 and 1,50O, 900; $500 in cities be-
tween so 600 and 10000; $500 in cities or
villages between 10000 and $4,000: 500
in cities or villages between 5000 and
10000; $75 in villages between 1,000 and
5000, and $50 in all other places. Drug
gists who sell liquors upon the prescrip-
ton of a physician are to be taxed 800
in New York: $40 in Brooklyn; $50 in
cities of less than 800, 900 ana more than
$4,000 population; $50 in cities of less
than $4,000 and more than 10000: $40 in
cities or villages OF less than 10000 and
more than 5000; $l5 in villages of less
than 5000 and more than 1000, and so
in all other places. All steamboats, and
railway ears on which liquor is sold
must pay tax of $500.
Each receiver of a certificate must
tax, and i'm no case less than $500. There
are strict provisions against Sunday
liquor selling, except with meals at no.
tells. Clubs are placed in the same
class with other liquor dealers. No
new saloon can be established within
200 feet of a church or school, or within
200 feet of any residence without the
consent of twO-thirds of the owners.
No certificate will be granted to places
where gambling or anything else un-
lawful is carried ON. Careful regula-
tion of every portion of the traffic is
provided for, and the business is placed |
in the hands Of a state excise commits
sioner and assistants. who form a force |
costing the state about $250,00o annual
ly. All local excise boards are abol- |
ished. the state taking full charge of all
liquor selling. Two-t thirds of the |
moneys received go to the several COM
iiltiiltltS, anu Ollt-tuilu W TIE Sldlt.
1t will be seen that this measure diff |
feis little, except in few details, from !
the Brooks law of Pennsylvania. II |
improves upon that law in taking the |
duty of passing upon applicants for Ii !
censo away from the license court |
judges and vesting it in a state COM
mission, similar To that proposed by the |
Hackenbcrg bill which has twice been /
defeated at Harrisburg This differ. !
ence of course. is radical, and will i'm |
mensely strengthen the political impor- |
tance of the gubernatorial office; but |
the change can hardly be for the worse,
in New York state, while a similar |
change in Pennsylvania would be for |
the better provided the license commits |
sion were made up of honest men, well |
paid and appointed for life or during |
good behavior.