The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-05-15

OUR MUNICIPAL DIFFICULTIES.
u>ONrN0o~<NNN>oer.>|Dno
Flaws In the Excise Law-P0ssahls Resigna-
taon or the Excise Commissl0ncrs-Nullin-
cation OF the Port Wsrdeus Bill-The Pilot
Commissioners ut . Stand ssill-C0nflAct 81
enc Tw o Sets Of Police Commissioners Chc
Common Council and the New Charter-The
Quarantine Troubles, &c.
The outrageous character Of the laws passed by the hate
log rolling spoib seeking, infamous, black republican L.
sature is amply demonstrated by the present condition
d affairs in this city. Every department of u city 60
vcrnment which Is At all affected by this legislation has
been thrown into perfect state Of chaos from which 1t
will require years berate IT, and the damaging effects
4 which utterly irremediable. Aside rom the hun
dre Of thousands Of dollars which to DO levied on our
already overtaxec citizens, the anarchy, civil war, and
perhaps boodshed consequent the action Of tho last Le
gshsurs win render prominent in the catalogue Of the
Infamous In order to give some des Of the actual state
q Affairs, the following facts are presented -
ABEURDITIES OF THE NEW EXCISE LAW.
RIDICULOUS BLUNDERs OF ALBANY LE0IsLATiON-
POSSIBLE RESIGNATION OF THE C0AhIssIOf ERS
AN INFORMAL MEETING OF Tab COMMISSION
ERs.
n addition 70 the strenuous opposition which the new
incense law has 70 encounter from the wealthy and nnu
sutial association of liquor Dealers appears that the law
sse 80 rsplete with glazing Inconsistencies important
defects and egyegious blunders that Is doubtful whe
shcr the Commissioners win be able TO act under H.
Msssya VIM. jay Haskell, John Kerr and Robert HAws
ase the three Commissioners appointed al the law pro
vdes BY the Chief Justice Of the Superior Court the Pre-
siding Judge Of the Court Of Common Pleas and the Re-
srder Aeesrs Haskell and Kerr took the oath Of ooe
before the County Clerk Tuesday Mr.. Haws has ye.
b ~ in. AZ the very outset the Commissioners
provision TO the person before whom they TO DO
sworn In. An informal meeting was held yesterday
q tho ONCE Of Mr. Haskell, TO examioe the law
te debersiOn II found that the law perfect
mass Of Legislation run mad, and that It must been
gsstve and not an idea Of the dstncou be
tween one horse town with tavern, post Office, and
blacksmith shop, and the great metropolitan city of this
The nrs point OF the law which was taken % was as 10
what position they should take with relation to freehold
Sls used in the law before the word freebooter and use
simply the words "freehoder OF tho State" upon the
ground that there no liue drawn In the constt ton be-
tween poor man and rich man. and that every man in
his opinion, who good citizen, uniainted with crime
should be considered respectable, until the contrary
He quoted tho Revised ~ no ~ 70
he effect that title for Inheritance, lease for hfe
shall be considered q freehold Ho commended that
~ mere oc,s"cass OF .Ieeno'aer would 90 al
~ nc snou!u ssx, u evidence OF tnat parucu-
r fact, that the claimant q freeholder. Any
esner course would De periecty mpracncaoa 10 inst
t1te an inquiry into every mans title would require years
q labor, since the do of speculation In this country
le but few titles unmpaired The Oommissior agreed
30 this rule and that Is now the nxed rule Of evidenceo
Mai II Of DR.. Brandrelhs lots or a plos
Greenwood he freeholder In the eye Of tho Excise
NV.
Upon the question of character the Commissioners
held that every who hfuly performs his duties in
The ordinary affairs OF life Is supposed be moral MAJ
md the certificate OF freebooter that he knows such
man, will be considered a. evidence that he IA such man
q COED moral character.
mo next point was 10 how many days they were TO
81 during the year Tho law specifies hfty DAYS. but
nAkcs mention whether they shall be cousecutiv va
- Ho The Commissioners came 70 the conclusion that
hey could alt for my days during any time q The year
Then came the question where they should st and let
~ was In medaey sent TO The Common Council request
ng proper rooms In the CITY Hail. thai place being pro-
yided FOR In the law which designated expressly thai they
shah rt The place whe the County Cortr are required
- be held Tho day upnn which thew win Commence ora
rssions IA on the third Tuesday 10 Nav the Ith nst ana
they have resolved that the Common Council shall make
provision for suitable place Of meeting receive ap
pncaions and petitions for hcens some proper place
- he papers, they win reuae perform any duties under
the act They require safe depository for ther re-
would lost and
In relation TO the requisite expenses OF The Commission
found, examination of the act that the Commits
oneIs have power 70 advertise their place of meet
ing the iime or the form of Application that by the
Ash section, their only allowance for expenses was IN
ehese words he pcnses of procuring necessary books
for minutes and necessary blanks when actually Incurred
sha be AUDITED and paid like manner as other county
charges" They have, therefore, NO power Tn incur or.
penses for advertising and In ,hs respect w he en,raiy
m VIC mercy o. sne puonc Pre-. ,"serad 20 Tbov havs
-. - - $780,. ,h,.o 30 .,ish 10 ,,rcr,ra
Scsnsn hv leans Of MA as nnder tho old ax In
~ 20 -, aherefore the sc, Z exc.ssIveIv defec,ive
- 49,. A.. .u..,J .o..,.. .r .to
IN U ~, ~, ,a ~ seo nor Nora ,hsn Slso for ces
sns'i DC ~, ". ~, ,h ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Sira, ~, uasrcu
pop ' pns ,nn 49,. na ,hs, he ,nnr, sn,n ~
san .hons he The ony sam chargeS n n Is not in ao
~dancs ~b The gs5,as OF demoeraiic form OF govern
men, to the selling OF liquors. and that
We 80 was enough 70 Pay TOT ncense on tne gnepe
n could be possibly avoided. Messrs. Kerr and laws
dissent from this view and contend ths there should be
sliding scae ron ,ne highest sum-s-oo-oo"h 70 tne
MIMI um sum OF ~. uo-,,.u.oa
iueIe ocns u.s. , eo ns sr " =. a,J.e,os
resnpg books So the Com uissoners n,oud asking the
Beard Of Supervisors 10 provide them with permanent,