The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1855-05-08
The Pioneer Correspondence.
From our Regular New York Correspondent
Matters and Things I'm Ncvx Work..
New York, April p, 1855

NEW YORK. April q, 1855
The excitement of the liquor dealers and Ii
quor drinkers on the subject of prohibition in
creases as the first of May approaches. If thu
construction put upon the new law by the TEN
perance men be correct, no person can sell Ii
quor in quantities smaller than five gallons be
tween the first proximo and the 4th of July
when all the provisions of the act take full eff
feet The retailers differ in their views as to
the propriety of obeying the spirit and intent
OF the statute. Some are preparing to con-
form to its obvious meaning, others to DEFY it,
1t is not apprehended, however, that there will
be much difficulty during the interval between
the cessation of the license system and the 4th
July. The temperance party are not, think,
disposed to proceed to extremites pending the
advent of the whole law. Both sides. howev-
er, are preparing for the litigation which will
Immediately follow that event Inc liquor in
terest is powerful i'll a pecuniary point of view
and has secured the services of the abest mem
bers of Our bar among others, O'Conner.
who has certainly no superior if he has any
equal among his professional brethren in this
city. lie has received $500 for his opinion,
which is said to be IAN opinion as is an opn,
ion" and will be retained as counsel on the al
'cOhOlic side during the struggle. If the law
conld have fair play, it would triumph over all
the objections of Mr.. Hall, district attorney
aud Mr.. Dillon, corporation counsel, which, al
ter all are little better than mere quibbles-
Bat there is more serious drawback to its
practical usefulness which may, and probably
will, render it nullity in this city. A law
passed subsequently to the passage of the IL
quor bill enacts that msdemeanOrs committed
here shall be tried exclusively in the Court OF
Sessions. Breaches of the prohi itory law are
msdemeanOrs, and, as the last mentioned act
provides that the class of misdemeanors OF
which it takes cognizance shall take prece-
dence of all others in all courts of the State.
it is pretty clear that the Court of Sessions
will be brought to stand-still by the over
whelming mass of business, which the liquor
dealers will take care shall be forced upon it,
from the jump. The probability is. therefore,
that the retailing Of Intoxicating drinks will
not be stopped in this city by the measure ;;
but have no doubt that the law will be 50
amended at the next session of the Legislature
as to have no loophole wide enough for even
philadelphia lawyer" to drag contumacious
client through.
The last returns of the commissioners of en-
igration show marked falling off in the num-
Der of aliens landed at this port during tie
present year, as compared with the arrivals in
1854. Between the lst of January and the
25th of March last year the number of aliens
registered was 4e,4ls-this year, during the
same period %, 1885, decrease of 25,2S2.
The difficulty between the holders of the
Schuyler Stock" and the New York and n CIV
Haven Railroad Company, still remains unset
tied. \ new board of directors is to be chos-
en- on the 10th of May, from whom an honest
adjustment is anticipated.
1t is said that there are about two thousand
Chinese at present living in this city Some
of them pejdle cigars; others beg; few work !
Ot~ ~f their number keeps large celestial
clearinghouse in Cherry-st., and is getting
wealthy by the speculation Rumor says that
rats, cats and dogs are remarkably scarce in
that vicinity.
The domination of Commodore Vanderbilt
by that committee in New Jersey was a "sc. -
One of the committee states over his own sig
nature, that it was merely bit of gas, intend
r 1 l Al. ~:
of Geo. Law. The Commodore bit at the
tempting bait, however, and talked back We
ry sententiousy
1t is decidedly irreverent thus to spoke fun
at a citizen worth five million of dollars
Somebody will be nominating VIM. l.. Astor
for the Presidency"6y way of sandwich one
Of these days.
The friends Of the prohbitory liquor law met
in great force at the Metropolitan Theatre last
night for the purpose Of exchanging cOnsratu-
latiOns Mr.. Nj. +. Dodge presided, and the
meeting was addressed by Drs. Tying, Beecher
and Peck, w. II. Burleigh, Esq, and others.
broadsdc of puns on the occasion. Speaking
of the money said to be subscribed to defeat
the law, he said he did not believe the rum
sellers would ever be able to say to the Bench
decide for me and Ill give you a puncheon
of Otard, but decide against me and I'll give
you punching of the ribs Pretty fair for
the church attack
A daring attempt was made yesterday morn
ing by prisoner in the "Tombs," named VIM.
Eberle, upon MIR. Chas. Hauper, the keeper of