During the same period the expenses of the Department have 1897-98 October 1 to September 30... 264,317 94 274,862 10 280,995 06 284,779 36 309,713 31 October 1 to September 30.. 296,877 67 313,593 93 October 1 to September 30. 327,935 66 1908-09 October 1 to September 30... 377,725 91 October 1 to September 30.. 399,167 74 382,682 28 1916-17 1914-15 October 1 to September 30. 1915-16 October 1 to September 30... October 1 to September 30. 360,770 43 325,214 71 319,652 58 Total ... $7,140,080 02 EXCISE RECEIPTS For the certificate year beginning October 1, 1916, and ending Net balance distributed to State and localities. $20,704,476 31 Of this amount there was paid into the State treasury.... $12,457,818 93 Net revenue over and above county treasurers' fees deducted, rebates and expenses of maintaining department $20,269,002 88 COST OF COLLECTING REVENUE County treasurers' fees... Salaries, expenses, etc., of special deputy com- . missioners of excise.. Total expenses of collection. . . . . Ratio of expense of collection to gross amount collected 6/10 of one per cent. Prior to May 1, 1896, the control of the liquor traffic in the State rested entirely with local license boards, under the statute of 1892, and nearly five thousand officials were employed. (Two hundred and fifteen are employed under the Liquor Tax Law.) The total sum collected throughout the State during the last year under the old system was $4,172,376.58, and the cost of collection was $252,782.77, or more than 8 per cent upon the sum so collected. Certificate Statement For the year beginning October 1, 1916, and ending September 30, 1917 Number of certificates issued from October 1, 1916, to 25,765 Number of certificates surrendered and revoked from 689 Number of certificates in force September 30, 1917... 25,076 Number and class of certificates issued from October 1, 1916 to September 30, 1917, inclusive Subdivision 1 (section 8) hotels and saloons Subdivision 2 (section 8) storekeepers Subdivision 3 (section 8) pharmacists. Subdivision 4 (section 8) common carriers Total all classes 21,387 2,039 2,172 118 17 29 3 25,765 Number and class of certificates surrendered and revoked from October 1, 1916, to September 30, 1917, inclusive Subdivision 1 (section 8) hotels and saloons. 597 Number and class of certificates in force September 30, 1917 Subdivision 1 (section 8) hotels and saloons Subdivision 2 (section 8) storekeepers Subdivision 3 (section 8) pharmacists Subdivision 4 (section 8) common carriers. 20,790 1,952 2,171 113 17 30 3 25,076 Number of Number of Totai number of saloons hotels and s loons 7 869 14 667 22 536 7 938 14 773 22 711 Local Option Status of Towns in New York State The following summary statement of local option statistics covering all of the towns in the State from 1897 (in which year the first vote under the present law was had) to 1917, inclusive, is of interest. While it shows a flucination of the vote in close. towns, the decrease of forty-nine in the number of full license towns, the increases of two hundred and sixty-seven in the number of no-license towns, and the decrease of two hundred and seventeen in the number of partial license towns, and the decrease of nine towns in the State during that period, indicate the drift of public sentiment: |