Norwich bulletin., 1915-04-22
Especial to The Bulletin

Hartford, April 21.-An act con-
corning license fees for the sale OF
spirituous and intoxicating liquors
was the order Of the day for Wednes-
jority and minority reports, the latter
being in the form of an amendment
making the fee $3.50 instead of $500,
both increasing the present fee, which
Is $500. Mr.. Morton OF Saybrook
moved that when the vote is taken on
vote. The motion did not prevail.
Mr.. Martin of Orange, in advocacy
Of the amendment, the minority re-
port, said that both the majority and
the minority reports agree that there
should be an increase of license fees
and that the state should share in the
gross income from license money, but
they differ in the amounts of the va
rious fees and the manner in which
the gross income from license fees
shall be divided.
What Majority Report Calls For.
The majority report calls for an in
crease Of one-third or 33 1-3 per CEN
tum of the present retail license fees.
Making the fee in towns having over
than 5000 population the fee will be
increased from $3.50 to $3.50. Whole
sale licenses will be increased from
5000 to $500, an increase in this case
of 90 per centum. Under the majority
report the state will receive about
100000 If no licenses go out of ex-
istence as a result Of the increase.
The towns are cut to 81 IL per cent.
instead of 80 per cent, and the county
Is cut from 10 per cent. to IL per
cent.
Based Upon Fallacy.
This is where the majority report is
based upon fallacy. They claim to
De increasing whom in
fact they make no provision to pro-
tect the present income of the towns
and counties from license money. All
towns which license the sale of spirit
uous and intoxicating liquors at pres
ent share in the license money. They
figure on it as a part of their income.
Some licenses are certain to be can
celled or not renewed under the $500
or $3.50 fee plan. This being so, and
the majority report giving all the in
crease to the state, it leaves nothing in
town and county treasures to make up
for the loss which will necessarily fol-
low from loss of the fee for licenses
Which are not renewed.
Basis of Minority Report.
The minority report is based upon
nothing more or less than fiat Sc 2-3
per cent. increase on all licenses;
| namely, retail liquor licenses will be
increased from $3.50 to $3.50 in towns
! over 5000 population; in towns less
than 5000 population the fee proposed
would be $415. Wholesale licenses
will be increased from 5000 to $685..
and the same with hotel licenses in
small towns. And the state of Con-
| necticut will receive practically $780,
600 where it received nothing at the
present time. And under the minority
| report plan the state, towns and coun-
| ties will all benefit, while under the
| majority report only the state bene-
| fits, and If licenses are revoked or can
| celled the towns and counties will have
| their present income cut off just so
much as the holder of that license paid
as there is no surplus to cover that
deficit, because all the gross increase
under the majority report will go to
| the state, while under the minority
plan there is an increase to the coun-
| ties and towns, which is really a sur
plus, which will affect probable losses
| where licenses go out on account of
| the increased fee.
Policy of Regulation.
Many years ago this state deter
mined as it's policy the regulation of
and licensing of the sale of spirituous
and intoxicating liquors, taking the
| license theory rather than that of
prohibition. How long we shall con-
| tinue on the license theory 1 do not
know. 1 understand that the house
committee on constitutional amend
| nents has voted to report favorable
| on an amendment to the state consti-
tuition under which we would have
| statewide prohibition. What the fate
| of this report will be, remains to be
| seen.
| In considering a question of state
| policy we are inclined to look to our
| sister states to see what they are do
| ing or have done on the same ques-
| ton. Now I find in Massachusetts,
that they have fee of $1,000 for IL