New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-06-23
now THE LIQUOR LAW Is OBEYED IN
THIS CITY.
To The Editor Of The ". Y. TTibgRe.

To the Editor Of The " Y Tribune.
SIR: During the last few weeks, events have trans
PRED in this city well calculated TO test the force Of
the law regulating the sale of Intoxicating Liquors,
particularly on Sundays. ExJudge Ulsh0effer and
Issac H. Bailey, both known to be solid friends of Tenn
perance have fairly entered upon the duties Ut their
offices, Commissioners Of Police Their first prom
inen, act the appointment Of Amos Pilsbury, a
strict Temperance man, as General Superintendent.
As the Police Department is specially charged with
the enforcement of the Liquor Law, the collection of
these To manage it was an earnest of what might
be expected Then came week and upward of trials
for violating this law before Judge Hilton ian unques
toned friend of sobretyl, in the Court of Common
Pleas every of which resulted in conviction. At
about this time, Excise Commissioner Holmes an
nounced that he was engaged IN instituting suits
agane 6,UOO h9uOrdeaers tor violating this law. This
certainly presenting very bold front, well cacu-
lated TO inspire belief that reform was abOnt to
commence in the liquor traffic Now let u glance at
the results thus far, and the prospects During the
whole of ast week IL reported that the best class
Of the liquor dealers busily engaged in advising
a general closrg-up on Sundays, and on Saturday
evening last the police everywhere giving verbal
notice to the rums sellers that their places must be
closed on Sunday morning, and remain closed during
the day and night. Well, Sunday morning came, and
what n change upon the face OF this city presented
Full thousand glass doors and windoss were for
the frst time bbndfOlded that sacred day and truth
fully have several of the Police Captains reported that
4" there very general cOsng-upi' but was there
a very general or, indeed, any closing up of the
sale OF intoxicating liquor that day Those who
walked about the city with their eyes open, very
confident that there was more liquor sold and drank
he Jdr.r0Oms IN hts city on that day than has ever
been before. The whole proceeding was the yerest
mockeiy, and the police well knew il. Every large
hotel allowed It's guests-that IL, every one that
cropped ito step into side room upstairs ard
be waited upon to whatever kind of liquor they called
for. The smaller hotels and corner porer-houses and
grocery stores all had either side door alleyway
entrances the latch string visible at the front
door and the key unturned. In the evening, bright
light, slmost illumination could be seen over the
doors through the cracks Of the shutters At
places Broadway written notices were placed on the
bar counters, thus ono liquor sold at this bar to.
day." In these all you had ~ do to take
seat the eide table and be readily waited up
at the usual prices. In the lagerbeer saloons and
gardens, where large portion Of the sales are gin,
scbnapps ard German wines, notices were hung al the
eItTances" Sacred concerts To-Day; sacred shoot
ing should also have been addei for in nearly every
place target shooting was in full blast, aud then
such sacred" music was enough TO jar the ears OF
the most hardened In the face OF this picture and
these facts TIE police report Great Sunday reform.
Ii the number Of policemen could be ascertaned that
are on the porerhouse free list mnch Of the mix in
the cOooannt would be accounted for. Nearly every
porter house in the city has It's favOrte policemen
the free-drnking list that they be called upon
when required. SO long this state OF Affairs exists,
what l. the use Of talking about or thinking Of
form The only reason why the liquor refuse
to take out license is that by doing the fbe for SELL
ing Sundays would be $50, instead Of $50 the risk
they now run; and the idea that they intend 70
stop selling Sundays, or pay dollar a. q fine,
OF suffer hours imprisonment penalty, has not
yet entered their MINDS viii all the sound and fury
that is ade have the -gh effect upon their steady
and continued Sunday trade. A CAREFUL OBSERVER.