The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-10-02
WAR AND TAXES
SHUT 600 CAFES
New Law Closes 1000 in state
-$l1. 10000 Fees Collected
in New York City.

More than 500 saloons III New York
city are interned for the duratio Of the
war. and with smaller chances. i, is
said, Of renewed activity than are held
out to the kalscr's big steamboats, up
the river. When CLOSING time came Satur-
day night the Official Eood-by was given
to all the customers IN these places. The
suds were nlopped up with a final swab
the double doors opened and closed on
conviciality forever more, or until times
get good" again and the prorrietors
can see their way clear TO renew their
licenses.
Right now times are bad for the
saloons. so bad in fact that when the
saloon keepers New Years Day came
around. october l. when taxes for i
year in advance had to be paid TO the
Excise Department OF the State before
doors could be opened there was n
notable decrease In each of the boroushs
OF those who applied for renewals of
licenses.
In Manhattan alone Pa bars previously
polished for business, six days week
and perhaps seventh. now are out uf
business. The BronN loses ll5. Brooklyn
loses els. Relative figures VIII hold.
according to conservative estimates, for
the two other boroughs.
national prohibition measure proscribin e
dit illation OF alcoholic beverages gem
orally Is thought 20 he the chief cause.
The Brown bill thought by some per
sons to be responsible. provides for only
a negligible increase in Hcense taxes
FOR dispensaries OF the frst class IN
centres OF large population. These dis
pensaries include all places where in
toxicants are sold and consumed on tho
sl..a.. .stNr
front or in the theatre district.
Surtax scared saloon Men.
The State per cent. sirtaX on gross
liauor salee Is said to have intimidatcd
, some of the saloon proprletors who quit
business. but the feeling generally Is
that the retail liquor dealers have long
since agreed TO transfer this added en-
pense to the consumer by raising prices
or eliminating free lunches.
II Is said that among those proprietors
who failed to renew licenses there Ia a
belief that the adverse liquor situation
is destined to last only until the end
Of the war and that with the coming
of peace there will be more favorable
conditions SO they can reopen. 1t IS
) pointed out that saloons, cabarets and
cafes are particularly hard hit just now
by the enlistment Of so many young men
of imhihing age. Great numbers OF men
are leaving the country or. what !s just
as bad for the liquor traffic, are donnins
uniforms.
Wineshops ind groceries. rated TO the
second class, decreased in Manhattan to
the number of lo2. In The Bronx -. in
Brooklyn So. The licenses OF these
places was increased ny the recent state
legislation from ss37.5o year to 81, 200.
I'm Brooklyn. however, enough drug
stores took out new licenses tn more
than make up the decrease. The In
crease in licenses issued to such places
il i30. the total number being 255,
against 1875 issued last year at this time.
According TO Joseph r. Thompson.
Deputy Excise Commissioner. 40s Ii
cen~.s We're issued this year in Rich
| mond. whereas last year +63 were is
sued The amount Of revenue collected.
however, because of Increased rates this
! year. IL more than double. This year Il
/ IL S246, 900 in round numbers Last yeal
IL was $lOl.Oo0. Figures FOR Queens are
not available.
At the office Of the Excise Department
for the borouehs of Manhattan and The
. Bronx a large force under s1ec.ai F.xciss
Commissioners John T. Mcneil and
William 5. CT main have been at work
day and night for a~.weck collecting
+
Mcneil yesterday said the sums taken
In 10 date approximately w.r" So, $50 n00
for Manhattan AMI Sl,05u.u0r for I'll,
bronx More licenses probably viii bo
taken out or renewed within the next
ten days. he said.
/ According to present figures given by
! Mr.. Mcneil S.T3s licenses for saloons
OF the first class were issued this YEAR
AS against +.0I2 last wear. ana Isl II.
oousns for thuse of the second class a.
, against 5s3 last rcaG for Manhattan
FOR The Bronx go licenses were issued
for first class, against Is5 last year. and
/ siXty-nve licenses for second class
against eighty nine last year.
d. II, Ralston, Deputy ExciA, Com.
missioner for brooklyn. reported a total
/ collection of $3.50. O.21250. against s..
! 200, ,+07 30 last year, The licenses issued
were First class a,2S2. against 24a;
! last year second class 1877. against 81.
4 CsHttnued nm Second Page