New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-11
THE JJOUOP-TAX AMENDMENTS.

covernor Rlack's certificate Of urgency not
on,v shows that he favors the amendments 10
tho Iiouor.Tax law. and will approve them II ne
hoe tho chance but Is sure TO enlist some addl-
,ionol sunnort for them in the Legislature What
Nv Jauterhach and other strenuous opponents
NJ tho Ra,nes programme will resolve to attempt
in rho way Of further direct opposition or OF
ronr,sals will be better known after to-day con-
sul,atjon at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. Their nos
t,,,tv has been chiefly, if not wholly aroused ny
rho amendment taxing all clubs alike. and the
no,,tical consequences which they predict have
heen their only argument If they could secure
tho withdrawal of this amendment. or even the
hotter end of a compromise they would undoupt-
edlv be retoiced TO let the other changes go lot
what they are worth
No reasonable person can deny that II the
Iiouor.Tax law is 10 be kept on the statute-book
u ought to he amended in such manner as 10
DESTROY or greatly diminish the facilities wDlch
{, now proyides for fragrant violations or lis
essential purposes 1t Is half-amuslng half-
melancholy reflection that while the bill was be-
fore the Legislature last year, and for con-
siderable period after its enactment its spon-
sors snent most of their time in dllating upon It's
nerfections and rebuking the folly and malice
of ALI who ventured TO assert that it would en-
courage a vast amount of Illicit trafti, and in
that and other ways produce many evils. The
poljtlcal supporters of the bill were not the only
ones who accused The Tribune of cooperating
with the foes Of society in the interest OF
,iouordealers We said score Of times that
the law would inevitably bring into existence
q multitude Of establishments which would sue
coed in doing business on a large scale in def
once of the laws intent. The principal amend
ments now proposed are a clear confession that
this radical fault exists and that 1t must be re-
moved Beyond doubt 1t ought TO be. The
fraudulent traffic which the law shields causes
great loss Of revenue is highly injurious 10
society and is most unjust to honest dealers
As to the remedies proposed, the new provision
designed TO drive the fake hotels out of bust
ness appears to be fairly well adapted to its
purpose 1t is never possible 10 say in advance
how far the ingenuity Of lawyers and the for
bearance of courts will avail 10 protect offend
ers but it certainly seems as II, under the terms
OF this amendment 1t would be practicable 10
discriminate in law as well as in fact between
an establishment which was essentially hotel
and an establishment which was essentially
saloon If the contrary should prove TO be the
case, 1t would perhaps suggest the necessity for
improving judicial logic rather than the neces-
sity for correcting statutory phraseology. There
are other proposed changes in the law, such as
the reduction in druggists license fees TO which
few persons will seriously object, and there is
one complete reversal Of positior-to wit, the
restoration of the free lunch. which multitude
Of hungry and thirsty souls will hail with rapt-
ure But when il is remembered that the abo
ton Of the lunch counter was fervently eulO-
Cized year ago ms the instrument Of n vast and
precious moral reform, this sudden considerable
for the sufferings of cheese and sausage makers
seems something less than sublime.
The amendmen; affecting clubs, over which
the fight has been almost wholly waged. is an
attempt to remedy that defect in the law which
II WAS most difficult to reach. SO much at least
most opponents Of the caucus programme would
probably acknowledge. 1t must be admitted
also at the outset that 1t will inflct hardships
on numerous legitimate associations OF a pOliti-
cal and social character. including not a few
which make important contributions TO the wei
fare of society. IT Is not true, furthermore that
a.! or most Of the opposition to this amendment
has proceeded from members OF large and So
called aristocratc clubs The argument against
the amendment has been made chiefly in the
interest of the smaller and weaker associations,
and TO that extent is plea in behalf Of the
many rather than Of the few. The essential
question is whether 1t is necessary, In order to
crush the fake clubs which exist for the pur-
pose Of evading the law, 10 Cypress and perhaps
In some cases destroy clubs existing for innO-
cent and excellent purposes. Obviously. dis
elimination ought to be made IL possible The
advocates Of the amendment declare that 1t IL