New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-12
Legislators Plan
To Fight Whitman
On Local Option
Senate Committees Report
Opposes Extension to
Cities
Favor Fewer Saloons
Anti-Liquor Forces Offer Re-
ward for Evidence Of At
tempted Bribery
ffrm san Correspondent Of The Tnbunci

iron STAFF Correspondent Of Tie Tnnunei
Albany. March IA report of the
Seyate Taxation and Retrenchment
Committee on the proposed liquor tax
law amendments indicates the deter
mination of the Republican legislative
leaders, in spite Of Governor Whit
mans insistonce, 20 sidetrack local
option until the regulating and revenue
increasing measures are enacted into
law. The report was prepared under
the supervision Of Senator Elon K.
Brown, majority leader. 1t will be pre-
scented to the Senate tomorrow night
with the committees favorable action
on the liquor law amendments.
The Governor seems determined to
extend the local option privilege to the
entire state, and Republicans and Demo-
Gratis in both houses. but especially IN
the Senate, are combining to defeat it,
Threats are in the air TO rattle the
bones of few administration skeletons
if the Governor gets ugly" and the
anti-saloon forces announced to-day a
reward Of 81 900 for evidence resultine
in the conviction of any person at
tempting to bride legislators on the
question Of closing saloons.
"Slush" Fund Rumors
corruption says the Anti-Saloon
Leagues announcement, sis the only
weapon left this wear 90 the liquor
traffic, which does not scruple to re-
sort 70 IT. Where there is so much
smoke around Albany in the form of
intimation Of a huge slush fund, col
lected in advance and deposited in
banks outside of the state. so that
there can be no possibility of tracing
checks or bank records in any legis.a-
tive investigation; of this money being
brought TO Albany in currency about
this time and deposited IN safe de-
post vault, of its being paid out at a
certain hotel after the adjournment
of the Legislature, there must be some
fire; hence this reward offer"
The Taxation and Retrenchment
Committees report emphasizes the
financial problems involved in any cur
tailment of the liquor industry. The
proposed amendments, the committee
saws. will reduce the number of saloon
licenses. increase the states revenue
by about 100000 and give to mu-
inequalities fuller control in regulating
the location of places where liquor is
sold. The number of licenses in cities
of less than $4,000 inhabitants, it adds,
will be reduced from 1857 to 4,450.
"Three suggestions" the report
states. "have been urged for considera-
ton-a referendum by constitutional
amendment for the prohibition of the
sale and manufacture of alcoholic bev-
crages in the state; the extension Of
local option as now practised in towns
TO cities; a reduction of the number of
places Of traffic, with important regu-
latory provisions for the control Of the
trade.
Fewer Saloons Favored
while the committee has not con-
cluded its consideration Of the refer
endum and local option proposals and
is not prepared to report thereon, IT
recommends the immediate adoption OF
the third suggestion"
The Republican leaders expect the
new law to produce about $2i,0OO,OOO a
year. to be divided equally between the
state and LOCALITIES in which collected
In 1916 the states share of liquor tax
receipts was 12,S07.37l; the localities
share SS.199 .269. The latter, with the
reduction of the state tax, the report
says. made a total benefit to localities
of SCI 0O6.64 New York City received
directly S5.253 600 and was relieved Of
SS.4Sl 900 direct tax.
Since the enactment of the Raines
law, in 1896. the report points out, the
state has collected 1923 100000 in
liauor taxes, of which the state got
Sl52. 100000 and the localities the rest.
In 1916 the liquor trade in the state
paid more than s3O,000.00O in Federal
taxes.
at is apparent" concludes the re-
port. that a substantial part of our
state. municipal and Federal taxes is
derived from the trade, and the limit
Of its tax-bearing capacity is not yet
reached. Whether to regulate and tax
the traffic or to destroy it is the ques-
ton