The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-22
STEP TOWARD HIGHER LICENSE
EFFECT or 4 LOCAL OPTION Law
~ NEW YORK CITY.


State. Which II IL Proposed TO Mako
Up by Increasing the Liquor TAX
ALBANY, April i.-saoonkeepers in resi-
dental districts In the cities throughout
the State and the brewers are aroused over
the attempt Of Gov. Higgins and the Re
publican Legislature 10 extend to all cities
and villages the local option provision OF
the Raines law which now only applies
10 towns In the rural districts. The bill
permits 20 per cent, Of the electors OF
residence dist rct' In a city, which shall
not contain not less than 600 nor more than
5000 qualified voters in contiguous territory,
70 file with the County Clerk. OF the Board
Of Elections In New York city, . petition
asking that a special election DO held 70
have the voters pass upon the question as
10 whether liquor shall be sold In the dis
trict at any time for a period Of two years.
The bill provides that when mo license
Il carried in district for two years after
the first Of May following the special cleo
ton no liquor shall DO sold In that district
except by a duly licensed pharmacist upon
the written prescription Of a regularly
licensed physician, or In regularly incor-
porated club which was in existence before
March %, 1893, when the Raines law was
enacted; OF in hotel containing at least
fifty rooms A hotel in a no license district
must have at least fifty rooms in order TO
make II impossible TO establish Raines
law hotel In such district In New York
city now hotel license can be secured by
any hotel having fifteen rooms, and in other
cities Of the State where a house has but
ten rooms.
The bill was introduced by Assembly
man Wainwright and Senator Amber,
and Il founded on the Ohio law, where its
constitutionality was contested and its
legality upheld. 1t did not attract any
attention until il came up for final passage
in the Assembly. The first time It came
up IL lacked three votes to pass it. On
Wednesday Mr. Wainwright had the votes,
and the bill was passed, with II votes
! in lts favor. OF just one more than was
necessary.
The bill was received for concurrence
in the Senate yesterday. morning, and
Senator Amber tried to have II ordered
to a third reading. There was objection
and the bill was referred TO the Taxation
| Committee. This committee met imne-
! diately after the session and decided TO
report the bill favorably after amending
! IL as TO form. which means that II the bill
! masses the senate II viii llaNN W - INN
! 10 the Assembly for concurrence IN the
Senate amendments.
There have been three hearings on the
| bill before the Assembly Excise Commit
tee and Joint hearing on II before the
Senate Taxation and the Assembly Excise
committees At none Of these hearings
did representatives OF the brewing inter-
eats OF the State or Of the saloonkeepers
appear In opposition to tho bill To-day,
however, Senator Lewis, the chairman
! Of the Senate Taxation Committee, received
a request for a hearing from the Wine
and Spirit Gazette. The Republican legis-
lative leaders are laughing In their sleeves
because the interests which would naturally
oppose this bill took no notice OF its intro
duction and have shown no interest In
its progress through the Legislature until
II the bill becomes a law there will be a
mate rial reduction In the number OF saloons.
This would mean a reduction IN the Raines
law revenue each year Of about $1,000, 900,
and as the State depends for its revenues
largely upon this source the friends OF the
bill say that the liquor tax on saloons not
In residence districts would have TO be
raised TO make up this deficiency. The
plan Of the friends OF the bill u not only
to drive the saloons out OF residence dis
tricts. but 70 SECURE high license.
Senator Lewis, chairman Of the Senate
Taxation committee, said that he would
report the bill favorably TO the Senate on
Monday night.
During the regular order OF business In
TIE Assembly to-day Chairman Plank Of
the Excise Committee failed TO report
senator Raines's amendments TO the liquor
tax law. which aim 20 Obliterate Raines
law hotels When Mr.. Plank tried 70 sub
NIT his report Asse mblyman Mckeowu
Dem. Kings) objected,
Sneaker Nixon said that technically
Mr.. Mckee wn was right but that IL he in
sisted upon his point nothing would he
gained, as the bill was TO pass the Assembly,
even il il was necessary to secure an eme r
Rency mesa &c from the Governor, which
would be forthcoming.
Mr. Mckeown then withdrew his objec-
ton and the report was req iyed.
Senator Hills bill designed TO meet
practical difficulties In administe ring the
present child labor law, passed tho As
sembly to-day. 1t provides That in cases
where the health autho rites are satisfied
that child Is over years Of age they may
certify the fact, regardless Of whet Their the
applicant can produce formal proof; and
that no such proof shall be necessary when
children have be1n graduated from gram
mar school requiring eight years of study.
Each case. however, must DO acted upon
separately.
~ the