Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-17
THOSE nHoRRID CLUBS"

with great deIicacy we suggest mat our
grave and reverend seigniors OF 'he 1ene-
raj Assembly appear considerably muuuieo
ovor the social-club liquor tax question,
fhonch not more muddled than is the
state OF legislation on the subject. Inc
House passed bill laying a regular par
| room tax Oh social clubs. The Senate COM
mittce. to which the bill was referred
amended il 50 az 10 Impose tax OF %
| cents on each member of a club in which
| are scld intoxicating liquors. When the
meassrc came up for consideration in the
| senate Tuesday, that oody raised the
| head tax 20 81, ana tackled various ana
sundry trimmings on the bill. whether
the purpose in increasing the tax was 10
make Il more commensurate with the ex-
aggeratcd caputal proportions those un-
| familiar with club life assume TO he an
inevitable consequence Of an evening at
social club has not transpired. But the
debate in the Senate on the bill developed
as much confusion Of ideas touching the
functions and true status OF the social
club as there is variegatcd fiuidity in
magician's bottle.
The true social club such as the west
moreland, the Commonwealth. the Jefrer-
son, and the Albemarle. in this city, and
similar organizations i'm other cities and
towns of the State is practically In its
conduct and purposes. 10 more than a
private residence. If the object of put
ting 4 tax on all clubs is, as some per-
sons claim 10 reach fake clubs ana
Sunday bar-room attachments. the Legis-
laturc ought to deal with these latter
alone.
However, II the General Assembly Is
determined To do the omnibus act. we
would come to its rescue and help it out
Of the muddle. We would respectfully sug-
gest q substitute for the whole business,
the adoption of which would greatly SIM
plify matters. Let the General Assembly
revive the Mofit bell punch, and place
one of these little tintinnabulating de-
vices Of blessed memory in every social
club. Then let the proper officer swear
each member of every social club by the !
beard of Bacchus, John Barleycorn's ef-
iorescent nose, and the horns OF the Will
liam goat that presides over the brewing |
Of book beer, that every time he takes a |
drink he will ring himself up.
Further, as consequential legislation, |
COR the reason that the /
Legislature should be co isistent, let it be |
provided that one of the little musical de-
vices be placed in every private mousse
also. and that the head of the family and
his friends be required to take the same
triple plated oath above outlined.
Indeed. aside from its consequentiality,
this private house provision is more inn
Dortant TO our mind that the club pro-
vision The notes of the bell would be a
dead give away" 10 the dear one, who
might be pining upstairs while the
horrid men" were revealing below. ana
( the host should have the audacity the
lext morning to tell her she had been
dreaming of chimes, she could confront
him with telltale figures.
So, we say that our substitute would
extract revenue from the clubs, cause
men TO drink less at home, or be more
presenting a choice of
moral alternatives; enhance the reputa-
ion of the Legislature for consistency,
ut the lawmakers on record as patrons
4 music. and last but not least, vindicate
fter many years the much ridculed bell
unch.