The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-12-08

fhs sommen soancii mot last night Al
sp M. Chairmsn Kendrck sn tho ehsif
waeh . nemosrs present.
UDoe shs sppsovai Of Shs records az
read ~ clesk Hsv1se the docket was
taken up IN - vssA order. Chairman
yosspA bd3sA e TIE oommittee on cfdi-
naposs haSing me floor.
resolved Q report upon a resolution TO ap,
ply 10 Che Eenesai assembly for t6t pas
sage OF legislation AUTHORIZING On spcfc
In the fees Dor LIQUOR licenses In the city
Of Provfdeuoe: and Recommending the
passage of a substitute resolution request
Ing legislation that win provide for an
increase In the fees for liquor licenses.
IT was presented by Councilman Baloh
who moved tho passaSe Of The accom-
panying resolution and spoke on his hope
for change in the liquor license laws,
giving the laws OF Boston. which he said
were admirably classified
Mr.. Balcn continued 10 state that IL
tho tax rate wac to be decreased the only
way to bring Il about was by tho In
crease In the liquor license rate.
He said the liquor dealers themselves
favored the proposed step and that in
conversation with a member OF the police
commission he had been assured that II
was in sympathy with the change In
price. The report In part was as follows:
Your committee find that IN many cities
the tendency has recently been to increase
materially the liquor license fees. Among
the cities which have within the past few
years increased their fees, may be men
toned: Scranton, Pa. raised in 1902 from
$500 to slloo; Utica, N. r. yaised In 1902
from $3.50 to $500; Waterbury. Conn-, raised
in 1902 from $500 to $3.50: Lincoln, Neb..
raised in 1909 from $1,000 to $500; Tacoma,
Wash. raised In 1902 from $500 TO $500:
Butte. Mont, raised in 1909 from $500 TO
500.
New York has recently increased the re-
tail license fee.
Philadelphia increased In 1855 from so TO
800. In 1892 to 1900. and in 1898 TO $i10o.
Boston. from q maximum fee Of 500 In
1858 to a minimum fee OF 1900 In 1889.
Under this minimum fee Of $1,000 hotel is
charged 5000 and a saloon Sli0o. The
Massachusetts, law provides for princi-
pal classes with a stated minimum fee for
each class: the minimum fee for saloon
of The first class is 5000, under which In
the different cities varying amount is
collected up to $500
REDUCE NUMBER OF APPLICANTS.
Your committee unanimously recon-
questsd to enact such amendment to tho
present liquor law as will permit an in
crease OF the retail liquor license fee,
now $500 to $3.50, and the wholesale liquor
license fee. now $1,000 to $1200. and feel that
the only just criticism that can be direct
ed against this action would be that the
increase In fee Is not great enough, but
for the reasons previosuly suggested in
this report, they have decided 20 recon-
mend these figures as stated.
An advantage which will illsnaturally fol-
low tho Increase Of license fees will be
IN the reduction of tho number OF appli-
cations for licenses. The number OF re-
tail licenses to bs issued Nov %. 1904 was
4N. The number OF licenses TO be issued
under the present law. II under tho con-
troll OF tho police commission. and II is
estimated by them that the suggested
increase In license fee will tend to re-
duce the number OF retail liquor licenses
20 between 400 and 425. Tho increase OF
revenue 20 the city OF Providence II this
request Of the city is granted by the gen.
sral assembly. would be between $4,000
and T0,00o, and the Increase TO the state
OF Rhode Island In It's proportionate part,
G per cent of license fees collected would
be between $4,000 and $4,000
Your committee therefore return the
resolution referred 10 them and recon-
mend that the further consideration there
Of be indefinitely postposen; but they sub