New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-24
THE RAINES BILL SIGNED.
GOVERNOR MORTON CONSENTS TO THE
WHISKEY MACHINE

HIS MEMORANDUM FILED WITH THE MEASURE
REGARDED AS AN APoLOGY-MR PLArTs
REASONS FoR FEELING HAPPY OVER
THE GOVERNORS ACTION
Governor Morton signed the Raines Liquor
Tax bill yesterday, and filed with it a memoran-
DUN saying that he believed it was not such
measure as the Constitution requires to be sub
mitted to the authorities of the cities affected by
II. He also defended its provisions From inter
views and other sources ii is learned that the
new law has few supporters in this city
Albany March 90 (SpecaD-Governor Morton
shortly before noon to-day signed the Raines
LIQUOR Tax bill Mr.. Plat is thus supplied by
Mr. Morton with apparatus for the conscrlp-
ton Of the liquor-dealers Of the State into the
ranks Of the Platt machine. Their money by
the thousands Of dollars will be employed in the
payment of Mr.. Platts political agents and in
mortgaging in advance the votes Of the Repub-
lican candidates for the Legislature. Mr.. Platt
obtains the appointment of a State Excise Com
missioner. his deputies. sixty excise inspectors,
excise attorneys and other patronage to the
amount OF s25OOOO
AN UNPLEASANT TASK
Mr.. Morton, to all appearances felt that the
public might believe that he signed the Ranes
bill under orders publicly expressed by Mr..
Platt. and therefore he takes pains to say that
In his message TO the Legislature he recon-
mended some such legislation. Mr. Platt. 1t will
be remembered. last week assumed the tone of a
dictator in a statement he gave out favorng the
Raines bill. He almost said: II am the Governors;
approve of the bill" This statement must have
been offensive to Mr.. Morton making 1t highly
dsagreeable for him to sigr the BILL but he did
o. nevertheless. Twice In the memorandum he
filed with the bill he calls attention to the fact
that In his annual message to the Legislature in
January ne recommended the passage Of some
bill which would reduce the number of saloons.
Such measure disguised and in u motley suit
he recognizes in the Raines bill.
Members of the Legislature who had read Mr..
Morton's memorandum to-day were generally
Of the opinion that he had written strong
document in favor Of the bill. They thought
It labored apology. 1t was remarked that Mr..
Morton makes recommendation Of supple
mental legislation, such as a reduction of the tax
on the sale of ale and beer. There is suspicion
that a great many Republican Assemblymen
from the cities were persuaded to vote for the
bill under a pledge made to them that some such
supplemental bill would be passed. No one will
sympathize with them if they find themselves
cheated.
THE GOVERNORS MEMORANDUM.
Mr.. Morton's memorandum is given in full
below,
In considering this BILL the frst question that de-
ands attention Is of Jurisdiction. Objection Is
made that the bill is not properly under execu
tive consideration, for the reason that 1t has not
been submitted to various cities for their acceptance
II u urged that the bill is "a special city b within
the meaning OF Section Of Article XII OF the Con-
S,,rfo Jctia nuu ba
ACQUIRED after ks transmission to the cities affected
90 tnSR arftoh thereon.
II seems quite apparent that the bin Is general. In
the that applies to ail parts Of the State.
Every town. village. city and county IL affected by
It. and II Is intended TO be general and complete
scheme upon the subject Of the regulation Of the
liquor trafio, II is also. think general within the
meaning of the Constitution. because relates TO all
the cities Of each class. The Constitution expressly
says that special city laws those which relate
to . single city, to less than all the cities OF
class" The amount Of imposed upon the liquor
traffic varies IN different cities. and the amount OF
which cities may derive from the liquor
trac also varics but the ratio Of distribution of the
liquor tax Is uniform The tax. however is assessed
upon tho Individual. and the city has no interest in
until It Is paid to the County Treasurer or other
proper ofacsr. The lack Of uniformity in the provI
sions Of bill intended to DO general does not make
II q special city bill within the eaning of the Con-
stiuton unless 1t contains provisions relating speci
clncally 10 CITY, In HxlHs tne rates VI
taxation the Legislature might have adopted the
classification Of cities prescribed in the Constitution,
but II chose 10 create an artificial classification.
which has had the effect Of making different rate
Of taxation in cities belonging to the same const
tut!onal class Such artificial classification Is not
Objectionable and does not alone render the b.!
subject to action by the cities.
IAN ELASTIC SCHEME"
II should also be observed that this bill is not to
hs construed as II It named all the cities o. the
State and prescribed the tax to BE- Imposed upon
the uQuo, trafio carried OF In each Of them. The
bill evidently contemplates continuous elastic ana
chanseable scheme OF taxation. varying from time
10 time. according to population. 30 that after an
enumeration Of Inhabitants. as prescribed by the
Constitution. new Classification OF cities and VII
hges for the purposes OF this tax WI! Do
made. and cities and villages In which. under prss-
ent conditions. a given rate Is imposed VIII be
paoed In another class. and the rate OF taxation
viii be higher or lower according as the population
u shown to have increased Or diminished. Other
cities and villages will also probably be incorporated
sad os classified according g their pepa:a.!sn
ton and e9Hssqusn new s;asssas'sn, nS St,sf
s.sss 81 a 10 b
'epy qS. % III :"s " and
mentioned. not. ! think special e!'y p'i. ill.,. a..
HPSs T.; hat ssi' IT., W M
tive ana tsad my to
In nv annual message to ths Legislature 4t the
opening Of the present session. was suggestsd tnst
would be under consideration an, took occasion
reducS ths number OF places which eating
beverages shall Be sod thr,Igheut the siate A',sn
larrsr number Fl saloons in this State In proportion
70 popuaton thar in any other WHOSE statistics are
ing place for every $50 inhabitants while the NUMBER
q saloons IN the United sates inc1ang M h tne aD pro-
and Z recommendation was made that the I,ess-
lature endeavor TO formulate law wnich shai' 50
far practicable enbody the best features OF the
liquor laws now in successful operation In various
States with q consistent aim toward me reduc'ioh
Of the number Of saloons In this state
NEW ERA IN LEGISLAT1ON
The bill how under consideration IN rceult OF 'ne
dnlfhorAiinsaa ihia puninot.