The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-23
PRIVILEGE LIQUOR TAX.
A Proposition to Make Dispensaries Pay
That Also.

Il nat AlNps
And still the matter wasn't settled, for
the liveliest fight was yet to come.
And it came when section "a was
struck. This section fixes the license tax
on bar-rooms.
To this Mr.. Winston proposed an
amendment imposing a license tax OH dis
pensaries, as follows:
On county dispensaries 5000.
On dispensaries in towns of less than
500 inhabitants, 800.
On dispensaries in towns of more
than 500 and less than 1000 inhabitants,
5000.
On dispensaries in towns of more than
1000 and less than 1000 inhabitants,
$500
On dispensaries in towns of more than
1000 inhabitants, 81 900.
On township dispensaries $500.
Speaking to his amendment Mr.. Win
ston said it was an effort to get back
part of the revenue that is being taken
from the State by the establishment of
dispensaries.
Every bar-room closed up, he said,
meant a loss to the State of 800.
I'm Charlotte there are Is bar-rooms,
and in Greensboro g. Now the closing
of these means a total loss of $4,000 to
the State Treasury.
Where are you going to get money to
fill up this hole? The tax rate has not
been increased. Suppose it were, the
people of the whole State would simply
be taxed for the benefit of these towns
and counties having dispensaries.
Mr.. Boushall opposed the amendment.
II take it, he said, "that the gentle
man is not after revenue but after the
dispensary. His amendment | consider
an effort to accomplish by mdirection
that which he could not do directly"
Mr.. Winston-"Ill state for the benefit
of the gentleman that it is not my way or
doing business, and there's nothing IN
my life to justify the charge. When L
want to do thing / go directly at IT.
If / want to defeat dispensary dlVe
straight at it; if | want revenue L go
for the money"
Mr.. Boushall-'Why then do you
strike out the discretionary power gwen
the commissioners and make 1t manda-
tory to issue licenseT
Mr.. Winston-"I'll answer that when
we come to it,"
Mr.. Boushall-"I'm willing to impose
ii purchase tax on dispensaries as
provided for in an amendment already
adopted, but I'm opposed to a burden
some license tax"
Mr.. Ray said he couldn't see any JUS
tice in taking the revenue from the
State and applying it to the counties.
He favored Mr.. Winston's amendment.
Mr.. Robinson was glad to see the
Legislature at last coming to its senses.
They had violated the viii of the PEOPLE
in Cumberland county by refusing to
submit the dispensary question to a vote
of the people.
Mr.. Ray signed nice little docu-
ment to set the gentleman (Mr. Robin
SOM right before his people. 1T ne
doesn't mind I'll take it back.
Mr.. Robinson-"Im willing for my
disnensary TO pay $1,000, the amount
paid when the town had it's twelve bar
rooms. but I'm not willing for 1t to pay
twice as much, as this amendment pro-
vides."
Mr.. Foushee-"Where does the State
tax on the bar-rooms now goT
Mr.. Thompson, of Onsow-"Io the
school fund of the county in which it is
paid,
Mr.. Foushee- What will be the effect
of this amendment
Mr.. Thompson--."I'm unable 10 an
swer that question"
Mr.. Foushee--"Do ali the protits OF
Continued on Second PageJ