The sun., 1897-04-02
RAINEs LAW CONFERENCE.
Rspubl,cana Split Upep the Amendment TaxinE
Clubs.

Republicans Split Upen the Amendment TAXING
Clubs.
ALBANY. April Tho Republican party
stiu seems to b badly split up on the proposed
amendments to the Raines Liquor Tax law. and
It II q contest between the metropolitan men,
bers aLd the up-country REPRESENTATIVES. After
long hearing upon tho measure last night be-
fore the Committee on Taxation and Retrench-
meut OF the senate and the Excise COMMITTEES
Of the Assembly q stormy Of inference was held.
at whicn an effort was made to roach some
agreement on the question Of clubs This is
now tho only subject OF contention. Other
minor ainendmsnts to those submitted by Sem
ator Rainea arc 70 be made and have practi-
cally been agreed upon, but the question OF
taxing clubs 10 one:upon which the m-tropoli-
tan and rural members seem 70 be drifting fur
thor apart. Tho New York members are de-
tormined. that the clubs snail be exempt from
taxation. and tho upstate members are as do
termined that they shall pay tho full rate and
help 70 reduce tho tax rate.
The gathering last night was not . commit
tee meeting. NOR was It . caucus. Il was sim-
ply Q conference Of the Republican leaders. 70
which Abe Gruber Of New York city. tho cham.
pion OF the clubs. was admitted as the only
outsider. Others present were Senators Ellis
worth. Raines. Ford, HiRRins. and Krum. land
Assembly, man Aids. Chairman Of the Excise
Committee OF The Assembly. The conference
was \ most spirited Ola
"Just 90 certain as you adopt this amend
ment reapectinG the clube." declared Senator
Fo-d. lust 20 certain will New York poll an
overwhelming Lemocratic majority. You
will wreck the Republican party In New York
city" ,,-
amendment you will wreck the Republican
party In New York STATE" retorted Senator
Krum. and this assertion was accom- panied
Itch ,haktN thnr hA Tn
Jared the books upon the upper tters OF the
senate Library. in which the conference was
This was the open declaration OF war. and
upon these lines the eatne was fought, amid
to h1
ton aud declared It TO no Lis belief that each
and every ciab ahould DO taxed $500.
ly drfftinR."" asserted senator Ellsworth. and
q chorus OF ''Tist's Iisht" from tho rural
Senator Higgins alone OF these memters was
inclined to R;ant little concession 70 the
clubs but he was not to as's5s his
with the assistance Of Abe arnner. persistent
made between tie fake club and the leSiti.
WHY DO You object to taxing these elobs'"
:necause they cannot afford it." was tho
Mt. Gruber supported this proposition. but he
showed that hts anxiety was not go much for
the cIubS as for the fate Of the Repu blicnn
party in New York city. He repeatedly do
clared that the hopes OF his party In the Inn
pending contest in the Greater Ne~ York de-
p-nded upon the rejection OF this proposed
amendment. and was each time met with the
contendinR propositon that its failure meant
tho doom OF the party in tho STATE This
WAS the contention throughout. and when the
conference was at an end the members efcod
in the same position which they had assumed
a. The start. Seithar would weaken nor
grant the sliehest concssston. and the only real
action taken was to invite Senator Ford. MIR.
Gruber. and Assem- olym Aids. who deesrt-
ed the rural members. to prepare Puch al
amendment a. they thought would provide IN
adequate distinction between the legitimate
and the fake cluo. This they consented TO do.
but with little encnuraRrmcnt hat it would
De any moro acceptable TO tho rural members-
Seuator Higgins. Chairman of tho Senate
committee which 10 consldering the Excise
law amend nients. said to-d1v that the rom-
nitteo would report the anon mentB favorahiy
70 the Senate next week. and that they would
be uasse-. by the Legislature He said II had
would 10 Sny change In the Amsndmen. tax
ing cluhe. .
number OF members of the Senate Commit
tee on Taxation and Retrenchment and the As
sembly Excise Committee are In conference to-
night at the Senatorial Mansion" on Sttte
street, ,-and n determined effort will be made by
Senator BOYD and OF hers 10 secure differentta-
ton between legitimate and fake clubs. In order
that only those OF the latter class may be taxed.
Senator Raines is In favor of taxing al clubs and
win oppose Senator Ford's proposal The con-
ference Ii likely to continue until . late hour.
and the result II in doubt, II any u attained at