New-York tribune., 1896-03-29

MANY INTERESTS WHICH THE LIQUOR BUSINESS
TOUCHES. DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY. WILL
SUFFER FROM THE RAINEs LAW.
More than one hundred proprietors Of all classes
OF saloons and restaurants have been seen by
Tribune reporter since the Raines act received the
signature of the Governor. Up TO this date 1t can
be safely asserted from these inquiries tnat 'he
operation Of the law will be such as to affect many
collateral en-, oyments and heavy interests as We'll
including real estate. 1t was ascertained that
IRE grade table dhoes would not be seriously
embarrassed. While figures cannot be stated with
any degree Of accuracy 1t is thought that in all
tSe crowded districts in New-York four or nve
saloons will be closed in each block These places
will be chiefly those without corner entrances. ana
when they are forced only by their inability TO pay
the license tax 1t is computed that in nearly al
cases their creditors will be made to sufer-those
OF whom they have bought goods for sale and
household supplies. we'll as saloon fixtures These
saloonkeepers say that they Will be also large losers
from unpaid safes owing by steady customers,
sometimes amounting TO from so to 800
Now" said restaurant and saloon keeper near
Liberty-st to a group Of prosperous business men.
II don't care for the Raines bill myself: on the
contrary, IT is money In my pocket. but It's sweeping
and incongruous provisions amaze me more than
anything I have before known In forty years In
NewYork City. selling all beverages. without ever
having committed a single infract:on of the law.
Again. Just wait and how this law is going TO
operate for the Raines bill is nothing more than
measure in the interest of the whiskey combination
as against the brewers. That Is the fact. and you
can arrive at other conclusion"
But do you believe. Gained" interposed one
OF the auditors. that this Raines bill will wipe out
OF existence over four thousand saloons on Man
haitian Island out Of a total say OF nearly ten
thousand?"
"Not by long shot" replied the host. ut is not
all to the interest Of the liquor combination to
let go of 1900 such saloons out Of business
L., me illustrate: Here Is John Doe who went
into business some months ago in Beecker-st. He
had been barkeeper. and had saved up capital
OF $500. He wanted TO become a proprietor, 50 ne
went TO popular brewer. told him his circum-
s;ances-that he could pay his rent month in
advance. S25 and get his fixtures on instaiments.
The brewer answered: Very we'll | will put an ice-
box in for you worth N,ooD furnish you with my
beer which must be used exclusively. and you
mus, give me a chaite mortgage on the icebox
and fixtures including the lcense-beer bills 10 be
payable weekly. with discounts according TO the
volume of your consumption And mark you.
this is in fact bogus mortgage which the brewer
exacts from the victim. because in the great ma
iority OF cases he has foisted him second
hand .cebox, or worth probably NOT over 500.
Yet he takes lien upon all the property standing
in the name OF the retailer. Thus you will see at
every point the brewer has had the advantage for
years The saloon he could almost turn out
will find daily published with list OF foreclosures.
in the records of the district courts.
Now. the whiskey combination has had its eye
on this singular Of trade and has asked itself
The brewers have had this advantage long enough.
Why not let take our turn? Observe. also, that
the consumption OF beer per capita is increasing
vastly while that OF liquors per capita is decreas
ing. Then what is to happen is this: The agent
OF the whiskey combination or any fraction Of II
will 20 to John Doe. OF Bleecker-st., and say:
John. they tell me you are gong out Of business
can't pay the 500 Raines license tax. But have
come to say you this for my whlskey firm; We
Will assume your chattel mortgage to the brewer,
pay the additional amount the License imposed
by the new law in consideration of which
10 Rave the same lien the brewer had. but you
mus, buy your liquors from US. your wines and
cigars from whom name. push our goods 10 the
utmost extent and all will 90 smoothly. and We
Will not swoop down on you Ike the brewers have
done I'm thousands of instances. Now. John Doe,
mere n a new lease OF life; take heart,
This" continued the Lberty-st. spokesman rs
exactly what will be the outcome Of the Rdnes
bill" .
The proprietor OF a 5o-cent table .:6,e place in
the Tenderlon district said recently: I'VE are
ruined l have two places In Sixth-ave.. and al
most all my patrons are neighbors and professional