New-York tribune., 1907-12-12
NEW EXCISE LAWS.
WW Play Important Part an Ses-
sions Of Legislature.

Albany, Dec II (SpsCiaD.-EXCisc legislation will,
as usual. play prominent part at the coming ses
sion OF the Legislature. Naturally. the I'M
portant excise proposition Will be the question OF
providing local option for cities. Just what sue
cess tho local option advocates will have will de-
pend on the manner IN which they present the Is
sue.
As in former years the Anti-Saloon League will
be behind the proposed local option bill Opposed
them VIII be the brewery interests Of the state.
It viii practically be the same lineup as in the
past when the brewers always successful
Tho Anti Saloon League seems. however. to be
adopting different tactics this year, and because
Of that fact II IS possible that II may succeed IN
getting a local option bill through. In other years
the league had drafted its measure and
would permit changes in 1t that might be sug-
gested by members of the Legislature. 1t is
nounced by officer OF the league. who was one
of the chief supporters OF the ia the past
that the league would have a bill for intro
duction until It had conferred with members OF
tho LEGISLATURE so as 10 get their views the
subject and. II possible. draw up a bill that will
be agreeable TO practically a majority of the
members OF both houses and the lesg;;e alike.
The league is anxious to extend the local option
feature to cities We are not particular the
details OF such legislation as long as that feature
is retained in bill" This was the statement made
by the officer referred to- and seems to be entire
change of front on the part of the league. II IL
follows out such policy the chances are good for
some form of local option legislation
DR.. Howard H. Russell state superintendent of
the Ant-Saloon League. and the Rev. Dr. Iglehart.
of New York. another prominent member of the
league are TO look after the local option legsla-
ton for that organization at the coming session
Roth have been active of this inject
in previous years.
The Rev Mr. Reed legislative agent for the Anti
Saloon League for some years, will not be inter-
ested in the local option bill. but says he will at
tempt to obtain legislation for the league which
will make it easier to prosecute violators of the
law in dry He favors proposition to
empower excise agents and others TO go into a
place suspected of violating the law and make
search of the premises without restriction. He
says such law is practically in effect in Ohio and
Maine
Commissioner Maynard y. Clement. of the State
Excise Department. is firm believer in not tinker
ing with the present excise law TO any great ex-
tent but in providing provisions to make 1t possible
for the enforcement of the criminal law in excise
cases: that is he feels that the unsatisfactory
operations of the liquor tax law. so far as they
are unsatisfactory, due very largely. II not
wholly to the lack of reasonable and proper en-
forcement of the statute 1t now Sends. rather
than to any defect in the law which should be
cured by amendment
Among the important changes favored D! ooi'-
missioner Clement which he will urge the LeSis-
Iayure make is one changing the beginning OF
tbe certificate year from May ! TO October l. TO
corresnond with the fiscal year of the office. This
he believes will avoid much confusion In the prep
aration of statistics and their examination by citi
Gems.
Commissioner Clement argues that ali important
amendments have been passed usually very near
of the legislative session. so near the first
of May the beginning of the new certificate year
as the law now stands. that sufficient time is not
afforded for the proper preparation of new blanks.
records and other data to conform with the
changes. Another important matter involved, he
says, is the large saving IN rebates, particularly
on that class of liquor tax certificate issued for
what known as summer resorts and hotels. and
turned In for rebate at the end Of the season. which
is usually the last of September. He believes that
II the certificate year is made to end with the
month of September, does the fiscal year. all
certificates this class will expire by limitation,
without rebate, and large amount Of unnecessary
labor involved in the investigation by special agents
of each case, In clerical work and of appropria-
tions will be avoided
At the last session OF the Legislature bill con-
tanning such proposition passed by both
houses. but recalled from the Governor because
the Governor at that time did not think the time
opportune such change. chiefly because
1t would upset slight extent the states finances
at the time by delaying payment for liquor tax
certificates from May to October.
Commissioner Clement also fayors an amend
ment making mandatory and absolute the impris-
onnent of a defendant convicted of the crime of
traffickng in liquor without having paid the
else tax assessed and without having obtained and
posted a liquor tax certificate, required by law
for the business carried Commissioner Glenn
contends that If this class of offenders can
escape with fine. which they pay out OF
their contra band business, they are satisfied to
take their chances in the future as in the past
while dealers who pay the tax imposed by law find
themselves at a disadvantage because they can
not compete with those who pay nothing in taxes
and only small in fines.
Another change favored by the Commissioner is
TO correct the abuses that exist in the sale of the
so-caed proprietary and other medisinal prepara-
tions known patent medicines He believes
provision should be made for the printing upon the