Evening journal., 1907-10-09
License Law Discussion.

License Law DISCUSSION,
| Editor THE EVENING JOURNAL.
The first systematic product OF all the
agitation and legislation on the regulation
Of the liquor traffic, is the Raines Law in
force in the State of New York. This law
became operative in March, 1896 and with
varied amendments has consequently be n
In force nearly ten years, although the
data from which this article is compiled
only includes the period TO January 1906
Prior to the adoption of this act there
was In force IN New York, a system CT
local town, village or city commissioners
whose methods varied widely and OF
whose action no satisfactory summary Of
official character was recorded.
The Raines Law established a State
Department Of Excise consisting OF a
commissioner. two deputy commissioners,
various office and district assistants, and
at the present time we believe has sixty
inspectors.
The licenses are divided into six classes
but we have only space for the principal
class. Those granted to hotels For this
class the fee ranges from $3.50 in the
smaller towns, to Si,20O in cities Of over
l,5O00O0 population which at present APP
! plies only 60 the city Of New York
Holders of a license Of this class grant
ing privilege Of sale 10 be drunk on the
premises may also exercise the right
given under the second class license, to
sell I'm quantities less than five gallons
not to be dunk on the premises. There
are varied provisions as to what consu-
tutes hotel, number of rooms, size. air
space. etc.
/ Tho ,o,rort,o is af,,tdoa ,,,,ol1,. t,ot,,.oo.,
the various localities and the State For
the year closing April 80. 1901 this
amounted to Sl772O,6 ,6Ss.62 as compared
with S2,9li ,2GS.62 in the last year under
the old law.
The number OF licenses under the old
law for the year ending April co. 1896 was
3s.iS7. Under the new law for the year
ending April 3d. 1904, it was 2i1S7, show
ing decrease Of over 20 per cent The
total receipts for nine years have been
Si21. .7s6, ,6S76i the total expense including
fees to county treasurers for collecting
has been $2,S73l1O.4l showing a net rev.
enue Of Sii9s645712o The license fees
having been largely Increased in 1892. the
revenue account will make much bet
ter proportionate showing in the future
The department has instituted over 14o0
actions for violation Of the provisions Of
law and collected some 100000 on forfeit
ed bonds in 1904
We have already referred 70 a de-
crease OF over 20 per cent. in the total
number OF licenses, and desire to say
lest it be inferred that this was mainly
in the rural districts that in one year the
reduction in Brooklyn was equal to 50
| per cent and in New York 30 per cent
In four years the prison population Of the
State decreased from 1861 I'm the last year
! Of the old law, to 1O,76l. Taking into
consideration the increase in population,
the decrease in the number of inmates OF
iails, prisons, and other penal institutions
is over % per cent.
The number OF commitments for drunk
euness as reported by the State Commis-
sioner OF Prisons has fallen from So POS in
1897 70 5S,sol a reduction Of nearly 40 per
cent.
Perhaps the most impressive fact in
favor Of the law is in connection with its
Local Option feature. Under the old law.
No-lcense was secured by indirect meth
cd through the election of commissioners
known TO Re unfavorable to license. I'm
der the Raines law the question is submit-
ted at each biennial town meeting; if ten
per cent. Of the qualified voters pet,to
to that effect; very small percentage
as compared with the requirements OF tire
local option bill submitted in the last
legislature OF this State by the Ant .
Saloon League. which required IS per
cent. of the qualified voters. It was FORM
erly thought and advocated that d rect
submission of this question for a yes or
no vote would result in large increase
Of the no license towns, but what are
the factsg In 1896 there were 2S3 no-lccn g
towns. IN 1908 there were 2Si. with the
easier methods Of securing an expression
of the people and with the very material
advantage that liquor IS not allowed to
be sold or peddled or sales solicited IN no
license towns thereby giving these towrs
the advantage Of real effective prohibition
locally there is recorded an increase of
only one town in seven yeans.
Now II the law was obnoxious I'm its
general features or the evils OF liquor
sales were mose apparent or IL lntemper-
ance, disorder and crime were Increasing,
these facts would incita the temperance
people to make strenuous effort and tho
prohibition towns would largely increase.
!
first state to be organized by the Anti
Saloon League, and it is well provided
with funds to prosecute its work. 50 that
the result cannot be charged to lack Of
organization or means for effective work.
and consequently must be credited to the
unusually satisfactory operation OF the
law.
This law is a protection to legitimate
dealers and conserves all the rights cf
those engaged In the traffic in any way.
It is uniform in its Application; there ara
not as many different policies as there are
counties as in Pennsylvania.
The holder OF a certificate or license
deals directly with the State Department
Of Excise. there is no political pull. in
fuence OF CRATER 70 consult or placate.
The liquor dealer Is not required TO
make annual pilgrimage to the shrine OF
variable and inconstant powers. there 10
humble himself as a supplicant only rer-
haps to be offered up as victim to i'm
pulsive radicalism.