New-York tribune., 1866-12-29
THE LEGISLATURE AND THE EXCISE Law.

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THE LEGISLATURE AND THE EXCISE Law
Last May, when it was made plain that the citizens
of New-York did not mean the Excise law to be q
mere formula, and that the Metropolitan Police were
ready to enforce it to the letter. the quordeaers Of
this city and Brooklyn formed association for the
express purpose Of preventing its operation during
the year, and Of obtaining from the coming session
Of the Legislature the repeal Of at least, IFS
most important provisions. That they have not been
idle thus far the suspension of the law since the mid
die of last Summer, the 054 ujunctions issued by
Judges Cardozo, Brady and McCunn are proof Prob
ably the city has no more powerful association than
this and in politics it is especially influential The
Rum and Beer interest. in Mr.. Partons opnion-and
il is well fortified by statstics-could if united decide
the county elections. In opposition TO the Excise
law it is q unit, and we know how strong is the
my We are to meet at Albany this Winter.
Here Rum has been too powerful it has controlled
all the Police Courts, and succeeded in carrying its
claims to the Court Of Appeals With the whole Met
ropOltan Police ready to execute the laws Of the Leg
slature, they are violated with impunity, Women in
underground saloons disgrace Broadway; the tayerns
are kept open ali night on Sundays more liquor is
sold than on any other day; unlicensed drinking
bars evade the penalties Cardozo stands sentinel be
fore every low saloon in the city, and no policeman
can pass him uncballenged. How completely the ia"
has been nuhfed since June is shown by the amount
of fines and penalties credited to the Excise Revenues
for 1866 The total is 5000 Of which Brooklyn paid
s5,775, Gravesend Sl65, and this great city Of law
breaking rumsellers the enormous sum Of 1890.
We think there is nothing TO fear from the decision
Of the Court Of Appeals. The constitutionality Of
the law cannot be overthrown, and the higher the
court tho more certainly will it be sustained Simply
IS legal question, and without any reference to NOR
aty and public order, we have a night to assume that
the njuncons will be dissolved by the Court of Ap
peals. The only danger is in the Legislature itself
1t made the law. and it can unmake it, and we have
reason 10 believe that the Liquordeaer's Association
expects 20 secure that result We have recently shown
to what an astonishing extent whisky Is illegally
made in this city, and the public have some knowl-
edge Of the tremendous Influence it wields. The
manufacturers, who bribed the very Government TO
overlook their frauds, will join with the sellers in this
attempt 10 break down the Excise law. injunctions
will not last forever; they know that TO insure the
safety Of their bad trade the laws must be framed to
protect it, The friends Of Temperance, and common
decenoy and religion must 90 TO the Legislature with
equal zeal and ability.
The Legislature cannot honestly repeal a single
section Of the law in defiance Of the demonstration
of its usefulness. So far as mere revenue is con-
oerned, it cannot find any fault with these new
regulations Of the liquor-trade which have Ia 1866
Welded revenue Of ST. lO5 92i against but SI2, $50
in 1864 1t cannot deny the beneficial influence Of The
mt -. g. 4. r,vtc, ~,oaeto,
anddsorderly conduct for 1866 furnshedby the Police
Department are emphatic on this point The follow
ing table Of arrests will show the difference in favor
of good order on Sunday, which the Excise law
secured during the months in which it had fair trial
1865. Old system;
On Tuesdays in May and June....-..1,O15
On 8 Sundays in May and Juue...--. lob
1866. New system;
On 8 Tuesdays in May and June. ......1 ,2O3
On 8 Sundays in May and JuDe.-..---- 6O3
Thus the Average Arrests on the Sabbath were dis.
minished by the law more than one half. The
moment the operation of the law was suspended the
evils became evident. In July, August, and septem
Der last tho arrests on the thirteen Sundays were
2,l25, and on thirteen Tuesdays, 1908. Could
clearer proof be given Of the value Of the law and the
wckedness Of an attempt to repeal this great protec
ton of the Sabbath The people will hold the
Legislature guilty Of o crime against the public
morals and the public safety should it remove Of
those restrictions which this Law imposes upon
the drunkard and the maker Of drunkards. If We
urgently demand that members shall be faithful to
their duty it 10 because we know how much the Rum
Interest will do to make them false. We will not
assume that there is great danger lest the Legislature
prove weak against the sort Of arguments that will
be offered TO it, but we mean that the people shall
thoroughly understand the merits Of the Law. Then
If the Legislature mars it, members will understand
that some explanation must be given not inconsistent
with the facts, yet satisfactory to their constituents