Republican Herald

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

This body of Legislators will be in session the coming week, at East Greenwich. and as there is now before them an Act to alter the present Law, licensing the sale of Strong Liquors, I am desirous of throwing together a few thoughts on the subject. As the Law now stands, giving the Town Councils power to demand and receive Fifty Dollars for every person licensed, and as some of the Town Councils in this State seem to fall in with the recommendations of Temperance societies, it is fair to presume that attempts will be made to demand an exorbitant sum of Grocers and others. as was the case in this Town last October, unless the Assembly interpose and so alter and amend the Law, as that no opportunity will be left the Councils, who are now the Executors of the Law, to obtain a large revenue of those who are illy able to pay it. In this Town alone should the Council see fit, more than nine thousand dollars might be demanded, from the retail-grocers, victuallers and tavern keepers; whether they would pay it or not, is another and quite a different thing. For myself I am satisfied a disposition exists in many of this community to oppose these classes of our own citizens to the last degree. This Town, however, at their last town-meeting, when the whole force and influence of the Temperance Society, and with using all their means to hinder the friends of, and those who would have voted with the Grocers from attending Town-meeting, were not able to sustain the Council in the course they pursued.

For myself I cannot see the propriety of over-burdening this class of our citizens with taxation ; and if those who are licensed do not conform to the Laws, let them be prosecuted. I have yet to learn the fact that a small sum is not as amply sufficient to demand of them as a large one.

When the General Assembly were in session in October last, a communication appeared in the Patriot of this Town, suggesting the propriety of compelling every person to procure a license, who dealt in the article of ardent spirits, in any manner whatever ; that there should be a definite sum fixed for all; and I think that sum was five dollars ; that this money should go into the state Treasury, to be added to the School fund. and be disbursed to the Towns, in proportion to the amount paid; to be appropriated to the maintenance of the public schools, and the plan is a good one if feasible, at least in appropriating the money.