New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-24
Plans to Reduce Number
of Saloons and Increase
States Revenues
MANHATTAN CAFES
TO PAY SUPER-TAX
Leaders Expect Measure
introduced Will Offset
Prohibition Wave

fFrom stan Correspondent Of The Tribunel
Albany, Feb. 23.-Rsdical amend
ments to the liquor tax law, designed
TO reduce the number of saloons IN
the state by approximately 5000 to
5000 and to increase the states rev.
enues by about S1,5OO,OO0, were in
troduced in the Legislature to-day by
the Senate Committee on Taxation and
Retrenchment. They embody the plan
of the Republican leaders of both
houses to counterfeit the prohibition
wave and still keep New York in the
wet column.
The principal features of the amend
ments are these:
Liquor license fees are increased
generally throughout the state, except
in the boroughs of Manhattan and
Brooklyn, where the fee now is $1,000
a year.
Hotels and saloons in New York City
will be affected, however, by a pro-
posed supertax of per cent on the
amount of gross receipts for the sale
of liquor over and above fifteen times
the amount of the license fee.
Local option is extended to all mu-
inequalities of the state, including New
York City, by a provision that the local
governing body, common council, or
board of estimate, may by ordinance
set aside certain portions Of the city,
not exceeding in the aggregate one
half of the territory of the city, within
which no new places for tTafhc IN
liquor shall be established. This car
ries out the proposal of Governor
Whitman in his annual message that
the local privilege now enjoyed by
towns should be extended to cities
Cut in Number of Saloons
The present ratio of liquor tax GER
tifieates to population is changed so
that after October 1, 1917, there shall
be no more than one saloon for each
500 of the population in cities oil
$4,000 or less and in towns. Actual
reduction is to be accomplished by
committee Of three reputable citizens,
approved by the State Excise Commits
sion, who are to decide what saloons
shall be put out of business. in parts
of the state affected by this provision
the average present ratio is about one
saloon to every 500. The present law
provides that no new licenses shall be
issued in any place in the state unless
there are less saloons than one for
every $50 of population. However, this
ratio has seldom been reached, and
there is now no provision for putting
any existing saloons out of business.
The sale of bottled liquors in guam
titles less than FIVE gallons, not 20 be
drunk on the premises, Is prohibited
10 hotels and saloons in cities Of $4,000
people or less and in towns. That
privilege exists under the present law.
The right to traffic in liquors un-
der a liquor tax certificate on cars,
steamboats,. vessels or barges actu-
ally operated for passenger transpor-
tation is extended to the whole state,
but the assessment for each is in
creased from $3.50 to $50 year. to
be paid at the full yearly rate. This
does not meet the complaint of the
Anti-Saloon Leaguers against Pull
man car traffic in parts Of the state
prohibition territory.
Against Operation by Brewers
The amendment drives hard against
the practice of breweries paying for
and holding licenses operated by
saloonkeepers. Adequate provision is
made to prevent this practice. There
is also provision that in country
towns individual local option may be
employed against any particular
liquor dealer and the same privilege
ia extended TO decide whether par
ticular places shall sell only beer and
ale. Provision is made, too, for the
issuance of limited liquor tax certifi-
Gates to summer hotels to operate
from May ! TO October 81 only.
The schedule Of license fee in
creases throughout the state as pro-
posed in the new amendment is as
follows:
In cities between $4,000 and 100000,
from s93750 to $1,000
In all places from 1900 to $4,000,
from 1915 and s636.5O to the fat rate
of 5000.
In all places between $500 and
1900, from 1915 and 1915 TO a fat
rate Of 500.
In all places between 1000 and
$500, from 1876 to $500.
In all places under 1000. from
S1s7.50 10 $3.50.
The present TAX in cities and Dor
oughs Of 100000 or more is $500,
and this rate is made applicable TO
all cities or boroughs over 100000.
Queens and Richmond Increase
IN Queens, Richmond and the new
part Of The Bronx there is to be an
Increase Of 83A per cent in all IL
censes now below $1,000. Then in
Queens and The Bronx there is 70 be
3 yearly increase Of 800 until a max
imum Of 81 200 is reached, and in
Richmond there is TO be similar
yearly increase until a rate Of $1,000
is reached.
The tax on mo bar" places where
liquor is sold not 70 be drunk on the
premises also is increased, as follows:
In a city or borough having q pop
ulstion Of 100000 or more. $1,000
NOW Ss37.50J.
In a city or borough having popu.
lation less than 100000, but more
than 10000, $500 NOV $500.
In a city or village having q popu-
lation Of 10000 or less but more than
1900, $500 lnow t462.50).
In q city or village having a popu-
iation Of 1900 or less, but more than
2BO0, $500 (now 1919.
In any other place, $3.50 NOW