run-EVENING.GA2ErTE, K‘, y"' "_@ A n...— RAINES BILL lS SIGNED The High License Measure Will Be a Law of New York State. THE GOVERNOR’S REASONS. Mr. Morton Tells Vlhy He Approved the Bill—Experience, He S ys, May Suggest Changes in the Ad- ministrative Features. ALBANY, March 24.—Governor Morton in signing the Raines bill today filed the following memorandum, setting forth his reasons for so doing: In considering this bill the first question that demands attention is one of jurisdiction. Ob- jectibn is made that the bill is not now prop- erly under executive consideration, for the reason that it has not been submitted to vari- ous cities for their acceptance. It is urged that the bill is ‘ ‘a special city bill” within the meaning of section 2 of article 12 of the constitution, and that executive ju- risdiction can only be acquired after its trans- mission to the cities aflected andtheir action thereon. It seems quite apparent that the bill is gen- eral in the sense that it applies to all parts of the state. Every town. village, city and coun- ty is aflected by it, and it is intended to be a general and complete-scheme upon the subject of the regulation of the liquor traffic. It is also, I think, general within the meaning of the constitution, because it relates to all the cities of each class. The constitution express- ly says that “special city laws are those which relate to a single city or to less than all the cities of a class. ” The amount of tax imposed upon the ,liquor trafiic varies in different cities, and the amount of revenue which cities may derive from the liquor traffic also varies, but the ratio of distribution of the liquor. tax is uniform. The tax, however, is assessed up- on the individual, and the city has no interest in it until it is paid to the county treasurer or other proper officer. The lack of uniformity in the provisions of a bill intended to be gen- eral does not make it a special city bill within the meaning of the constitution unless it con- tains provisions relating specifically to a par- ticular city. In fixing the rates of taxation the legislature might have adopted the classi-- fication of cities prescribed by the constitu- tion, but it chose to create an artificial classi- fication, which has had the effect of making a difierent rate of taxation in cities belonging to the same constitutional class. Such artifi- cial classification is not objectionable and does not alone render the bill subject to action by the cities. . Another Distinction. It should also be observed that this bill is not to be construed as if it named all the cities of the state and prescribed the tax to be im- posed upon the liquor traffic carried on in each of them. The bill evidently contemplates a continuous, elastic and changeable scheme of taxation, varying from time to time according to population, so that after an enumeration of inhabitants as prescribed by the constitution a new classification of cities and villages for the purpose of this tax will be made, and cities and villages in which under present conditions a given rate is imposed will be placed in an- other class, and the rate of taxation will be higher or lower according as the population is shown to have increased ,or diminished. Other cities and villages will also probably be incor- porated and must be classified according to their population. It Will hardly be claimed that after each enumeration and consequent new classification the cities would have the right to again express their approval or disap- proval of the amount of tax to be imposed therein. A bill evidently intended to be gen- eral and to apply to all the people of the state and possessing the qualities of perpetuity and elasticity above mentioned is not, I think, a special city bill, although its effect may not be uniform in all cities. I think this bill is now properly under ex- ecutive consideration, and that my jurisdiction to act .upon it is complete and undeniable. In my annual message to the legislature at the opening of the present session it was sug- gested that the question of regulating the sale of intoxicants would be under consideration, and I took occasion to recommend “such legis- lation as will measurably reduce the number of places in which intoxicating beverages shall be sold throughout the state. " Attention was called to statistics showing that there is a larger number of saloons in this state in pro- portion to population than in any other whose statistics are available, New York having a re- tail licensed drinking place for every,_ 150 in- habitants. while the number of saloons in the United States. including the prohibition states, in one. to each 278 of the population. and 3 rec- ommendation was made that the “legislature endeavor to formulate a law which shall so far as practicable embody the best features of the liquor laws now in succcessful operation in various states, with a consistent aim toward the reduction of the number of saloons in this state.” The Present Bill. The bill now under consideration is a result ‘ of the deliberations of the legislature upon this subject, and the suggestions of many persons interested in it. and while it is not free from objection in some of its details I have no hesi- tation in commending the measure as awhole. It marks the beginning of a new era in legisla‘ tion in this state regulating the liquor traffic. It is a radical departure from the traditional policy of the state. which has heretofore con- sidered the regulation and sale of intoxicating liquors matters of purely local jurisdiction. The subject has been under the general super- vision and control of local officers chosen by the municipalities, except that for a few years during the early history of the state the com- missionrw of excise for the city of New York was appointed ,by the governor. This bill changes the entire scheme, abolishes all local boards having jurisdiction to issue licenses for the sale of liquor and places the whole subject under state supervision. Whether this is wise or not experience only can demonstrate, but it is an experiment worth trying, and I believe that if the design of this bill is fairly worked out by competent and faithful officers it will produce a. result so beneficial that our people will not be likely to wish to resume the sys- tem of local supervision with which we are so familiar and which in many respects is so un- satisfactory. From Magna Charta until new English speak- ing people have had almost constant occasion for legislation regulating the sale and use of intoxicating liquors. Various experiments have been tried with more or less success. and our own state is no exception to the halting and fluctuating efforts that have been made to suppress intemperance. The evils resulting from this traffic are universally admitted, and the power of the state to regulate or even prohibit it is not denied. The wisest states- men and philanthropists have given the sub-_ ject the most careful attention, but the prob- lem is not yet solved. Absolute prohibition is probably not attainable, and we can only hope for legislation embodying such reasonable regulations as may tend to repress so far as practicable the inherent evils connected with the liquor traffic. This bill is an attempt to accomplish this result. and for the first time the state assumes control of the subject. In doing this the state is amply justified by the consideration that the effects of the use of in- toxicating liquors are not local, but are wide- spread and farreaching, and that the state itself is subject to large expense in the crea- tion and maintenance of institutions for the care of unfortunates who suffer directly or indirectly from the effects of the liquor habit. In Opposition. In opposition to this measure it is urged that it is not equal in its application and will not be equal in its results throughout the state, but equality and exact application in legisla- tion of this character are hardly to be expect- ed. A measure of this importance, which con. cerns directly or indirectly more than 6,000,000 of people, differing widely in their tastes, ed- ucation and experience and in their social and industrial relations, can hardly be expected to exactly fit every community and every inter- est. individual or aggregate, which may be af- Advertise in the GAZETTE. (acted by it. Only general lines of action can be'indicated in such a law, and there must be an adjustment. so far as possible. to these gen- eral conditions. It should be noted that ex- cept in New York and Brooklyn. where‘the tax is respectively $800 and $050. and in a few large villages ' the tax imposed by this bill is no higher than the maximum license fees now al- lowed by law. The license fee in cities may now be fixed at not less than $30 nor more than $500 and in other places at not less than $30 nor more than $150. By this bill the tax in Buffalo and in all the cities of the second class L—namcly, Albany, Rochester, Syracuse and Troy-will be $500. In the other cities, except Hudson, the tax will be S350 as against a pos. sible $500 under existing law. In Hudson the tax. will be $300. There are also a few large villages where the tax will be" $350, several where it will in $300 and others where it will be $200. Inthe rural communities generally the tax will be $100 as against a possible 3150 under the present law. The bill does not pro- vide for “high license” as that term is ordi- narily understood, but fixes the tax at an av- erage and moderate rate. In conclusion the governor says: It has been suggested that the bill in some of its features, especially in comp of its ad- ministrative details, should be, amended. Ex- perience will probably suggest other amend- ments. This subject has'reoeived the thought. ful attention of reformers and, legisl tors for centuries, and even with the aid of air ex- perience and study it is hardly to be eoted that an ideal statute can be formulated at one stroke, involving such a marked change of pol- icy as well as numerous changes in detail. By this passage of this act the legislature has, I think, made sincere efi'ort to comply with the sug estion made in my last annual message and as produced a measure which I confidently believe will be gratefully appreci- ated by all who think that further restraint should be imposed upon the liquor traffic. POURTBBN MINERS KILLED. A Frightful Explosion of Gas In the Ben- wind—Whlte Shaft at Dubois, Pa. DUBOIS, Pa, March 24.—-A terrific ex- plosion of gas occurred at the Berwind- White shaft in the eastern limits of this city today and 14 miners were killed. The mine is a new one which the com- pany has been opening up and working crew's in shifts to push the headings out in various directions for big work later on. Eighteen men went on at 7 o'clock this morning, 14 going into the north heading and 4 into the south heading. A few hours later the 4 men were sensible of a shock and a few minutes laterthe mine boss told them something had happened, and that they should get out as soon as they could. When the party, then con- sisting of 5, reached the foot of the shaft, they were nearly overcome by. gas and were hurriedly taken up in the cage. Assistance was immediately summoned and practical miners from the Bell Lewis and Yates company mines volunteered their services. As the work of rescue pro- ceeded it was found that the shock in the north heading was so terrific that Some of the bodies were mutilated almost beyond recognition. Nearly all of the bodies have been found. Egyptian Debt Commission. CAIRO, March 24.———The Egyptian debt commission met today in order to again discuss the question of the withdrawal of funds from the reserve, with which to de- fray the expenses of the British-Egyptian expedition up the Nile; but, owing to the illness of the Germa _ commissioner, the meeting was adjourne ,until Thursday. —_____J._—- Atchison’s Oldest Settler Dead. KANSAS CITY, March 24.—General George H. Nettleton, president of the Kansas City, Fort Scott and Memphis railroad, is critically ill at his home.in this city, and it is not thought he can re- cover. A week ago General Nettleton suffered an attack of vertigo, and since then has been seriously ill. Mrs. Giddings Dead. KANSAS CITY, March 24.—Mrs. Louisa M. Giddings, widow of ex-Governor March Giddings, is dead here of pneumonia. Her husband was governor of New Mexico during President Grant’s administration. MrsxGiddings was born 77 years ago in Michigan. The remains will be taken to Kalamazoo for interment. The Kaiser‘s Plans. BERLIN, March 24.—The emperor and empress of Germany started today for Genoa, where. it is expected, they will meet the king of Italy and embark on board the imperial yacht Hohenzollern for a Mediterranean cruise. It is not definite- ly known where Emperor Francis Joseph will meet his majesty. Receivers For the Central Vermont. BOSTON, March 24.—It was ascertained today that the suit in equity by the Grand Trunk railroad against the Central Ver- mont railroad for $615,712.45 for traffic balances which have accrued in the past four months has resulted in appointing two receivers for the Central Vermont rail- road. Says He Lost $20,000. BALTIMORE, March 24.—H. R. Kendall, who said he was employed by J. P. Mor- gan &; Co., the New York bankers. report- ed at Camden Station that he had lost a satchel containing $20,000 in securities on a Baltimore and Ohio train between here and Washington. Corbett and Mitchell. NEW YORK, March 24.—The latest proposition in the fistic world was an- nounced today in the following cablegram from George W. Atkinson of, London: “Bolingbroke club offers $12,000 for Mitchell and Corbett. Mitchell accepts. Does Corbett?” Akasheh Occupied. CAIRO, March 24.—News from the front received here today confirms the report that the British Egyptian advance guard. under Major Yollinson. occupied Akasheh on Friday last without opposition. A fort is now being built at that place. Death of a Famous Author, LONDON, March 24.—Thomas Hughes, Q. C., author of “Tom Brown’s School- days," “Tom Brown at Oxford,” etc., and founder of the British settlement of Rug- ‘ by, Tenn, which did not prove successful, is dead, aged 73.. General Nettleton Ill. ATCHISON, Kan, March 24.—Samuel Dickson, Atohison’s oldest settler and one of the first directors of the Atchison, To- peka and Santa Fe railroad, is dead, aged 82 years. He came to Missouri from Vir- ginla in 1840. Glendon Iron Company Assigns. _ EASTON, Pa., March 24.—-The Glendon Iron company, one of the oldest in the Lehigh valley, has made an assignment to J. T. Lea of Philadelphia and Francis C. Gray of Boston. The Killlz Disturbances. CONSTANTINOPLE, March 24.—Mr. Barn- ham, the United States consul at Zeitun, has been ordered to Killiz in order to re- port upon the disturbances which took place on March 20. “7 Advertise inflthe GAZETTE-I “AW“..mV' CUBA Wlllllll DOWN. The Discussion the Feature of the Son- ete’s Proceedings. SENATOR. SHERMAN’S STAND. He Wants a Vote as Soon as Possible—hit. Mills of Texas Throws a Veritable Bombshell Into the Camp—A Startling Resolution. WASHINGTON, March 24. —-Senator Black- burn’s return to the senate today after the exciting and fruitless senatorial contest before the Kentucky legislature was signal- ized by an unusual demonstration by his colleagues. 0n the senator’s desk was the most elaborate floral design ever brought to the senate, rising 12 feet from the floor and overhanging the desks of Senators Walthall and Vest on either side. ' The main design represented. the coat of arms of Kentucky, with two dolls clasping hands as the central figures, around which was worked the state motto, ‘United We stand; divided we fall.” Above this was a large horseshoe, while below and around were .great sheaves of oak leaves and lilies _ ‘fir: '5. ' cliffs, vé' \\ SENATOR MILLS of the valley. The whole was topped with wide spreading branches of American Beauty roses. The tribute came from Mr. Blackburn’s senatorial associates. Several other large designs were from personal friends. ‘ . In presenting petitions from Edward Everett Hale, Julia Ward Howe. the facul- ties of Yale, and Williams colleges .and many distinguished public men and scien- tists, Mr. Gallinger of New Hampshire spoke in advocacy of the philanthropic plan of removing consumptive to the Rocky mountain region and g1 .uiting the aban- doned Fort. Stanton military reservation, New Mexico, for the uses of the project. Mr. Gallinger showed the heavy mortality from pulmonary diseases and urged that the government might well give that at- tention to saving human life that it gave through the bureau of animal industry to overcoming pleuropneumonia in cattle. Mr. Blackburn entered the chamber shortly o‘er the session opened and was warmly greeted by his associates,’ A resolution offered by Mr. Lodge Was adopted, empowering the committee on civil service to investigate and report on the administration of the civil service law at the government printing ofiice. The Cuban Resolution. When Mr. Sherman brought forward the Cuban resolution, there was an ani- mated debate as to securing a final vote. Mr. Cullom, in charge of the legislative appropriation bills, said he could not give way for indefinite discussion of the Cuban debate to the exclusion of the appropria- tion bills. Mr. Sherman responded that the committee desired a vote, and he thought it remarkable, with the war pro- ceeding in Cuba, that the question could not speedily be acted on. Mr. Platt (Rep, Conn.) said the trou- ble with the resolution was that three senators on the conference committee had thrown aside the senate resolutions and had accepted the house resolutions. “And I venture to say,” proceeded Mr. Platt, “that not five senators approve the house resolutions now before us.” The senator suggested to Mr. Sherman and his associates that they recede from their agreement to the house resolutions, which senators did n‘bt want, and present something more acceptable. “If we had any assurance,” said Mr. Sherman, “that the senate would accept and dispose of the subject in, another form, we would be quite willing to accept the suggestion.” Mr. Platt went on to say that he could speak only for himself, yet it must be ap- parent that senators did not wish to adopt resolutions which were contradictory in their terms. “I suggest to the chairman of the com mittee,” said Mr. Hoar, rising and ad- dressing Mr. Sherman, “that he ask the unanimous consent of the senate to a dis- agreement to the conference report, thus sending the subject back to the conference committee. ’ ’ This colloquy proceeded out of order, as Mr. Palmer of Illinois had the floor for a speech against the Cuban resolutions and insisted on going on. He yielded, however, to allow Mr. Sher- man to give the following formal notice: “I now give notice that, in order to expe~ dispose of the question, I will move to re- commit the pending resolution to the con- ference committee." As Mr. Palmer had the floor, Mr. Sher- man could not secure immediate action on his motion. ‘ At 2 o’clock Senator Mills (Tex.) intro- duced a joint resolution directing the president to request Spain to give local self government to Cuba, and in the event of Spain’s refusal the president is author- ized to take possession of Cuba, using the military and naval forces for that pur- pose, and hold it until the people of Cuba can establish local self government. The Pearl Bryan Mystery. NEWPORT, Ky., March 24.—Jackson and Walling were arraigned today for the murder of Pearl Bryan, both pleading not guilty. Their demurrers to the indictment were overruled. Judge Helm granted their motions for separate trials. Jackson will be tried on April 7. Death of Jennie Kimball. ST. PAUL, March 24.——Jennie Kimball of Philadelphia, the well known operatic and burlesque manager and stepmother of 'Corinne, died in a private car at the Un- ion depot today. Postmaster of Collinsville, Conn. WASHINGTON, March 24.—The president today sent to the senate the nomination of S. J. Loxiy to be postmaster at Collinsville, Conn. I. l lAdvertise in thelGaznr'rn.‘§ dite action on this subject and in order to _ E‘s?" TH BUSTUN SlUHE' CUSTOMERS ' - “5:5: ARE . -‘ , ‘ l ‘cusromsas NORWALK. .’ ....‘.‘.':§ onsn'rlssns. HEW Willi MEET-Z42, BBflAIWIY. 35:21:"; _ We are always advancing, no halting, always going ahead. For lhis reason we are compelled lo sacrifice one. of our Ileparlmenls. The increased sales in our Soil and cloak lloomhas made it necessary for us lo lake its whole floor for our display of Ladies’ and Mlsses’ Suils, Ladies’ and children’s Spring capes and Jackets, Ladles’ Shirl Waisls, elc. Therefore, we shall close ouliall our carpets and Mailings al a price. We Want lo close out all our carpets THIS WEEK. Here are the prices lhal will do ii: 75c Best Tapestry Br'ussels, 55 Cents. 75c All-Wool Ingrain, 50 Cents. 75c Stair Carpets, 55 Cents. 25c Mattings, l5 Cents. 49c ‘Mattings, 25 cents. if you are going to gel at Carpet lhis Spring, now is your lime. Hassocks, 29c ones for l9 Cents. Hassocks, 50c ones for 3| Cents. $2.25 Moquette Rugs for $l.75. $2.00 Velvet Rugs for 75 Cents. SILKS—w ,Welihear a great many Ladies say they never bought a Silk Dress in Nor- walk. To let those know that we can sell silk with any house. in New York, here is a SILK SALE 22-inch BLACK DUCHESSE, $l.00 quality, for 89 Cents. 24-inch BLACK DUCHESSE, $I.25 quality, for 98 Cents. 2l-inch BLACK INDIA, large figures, 98c quality, for 69 Cents. 22-inch BLACK CROS-CRAIN, $l.50 quality for $l'.00. Hair Rugs at Half Price. Examine this line and you will say that it is the best value you ever saw. Silk Waist patterns in great variety” THE BOSTON SHIRE. Eur. Main and Wall 33. g. A POINTER Is your plate glass or safe insured? if not, call on me and I will write you~ a. policy in the Mutual Plate Glass and Safe Insur‘ ance Company. Glass will break and burglars use dynamite. n Case of Fire You should be insured. A pelicy in the Reliance 01 Philadelphia; Phoenix ,of Hartford; Scotland Union of Scotland; New Hampshire of Manchester; Rochester German of Rochester; United States and Pacific of New York; Security of New Hampshire or Granite State of Ports- mouth Will protect you against the tire fiend. W. » Eli. '\ BYINGTQN, Real Estate and General Insurance, Room 1, GAZETTE BUILDING , LOANS NEGOTIATED' AND INVESTMENTS MADE- j . 9 / ——_‘_C0RRESP‘0NDENCE SOL/CITED ‘. 24
Norwalk Chronicler