The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-03-07
THE EXCISE LAW.

Memorial Of the German Radicals 10 thor
LEGISLATURE.
The German Republican Central Committees OF this
city and Brooklyn, through delegation appointed for
that purpose, have presented to the Legislature q
memorial embodyiug propositions for modification Of
that section OF tho Excise law restricting the sale
liquors ON Sunday They admit in the document alluded
to that for moral and political excise law is
necessary; that ths sale Of alcoholic beverages Is
source of decentralization and crme that establishments
where they reaied should be placed under strict
be restricted further that the present Excise law with
the exception OF few provisions, is wholesome and
wise measure and they declare that they always defend
the law against the attacks of persons who are msed
in their views the subject but, taking this view,
they regret that the opposition against the law Is such
that 1t interfere with Its enforcement and tho
success OF their party which is generally held RESPONSE
Bile for the ordinance by the opponents of the law This
from the spirit of opposition against the law
auguated by the rumselers and parties interested in
the liquor business The opposition on the part Of the
people directed against the Excise law but only
against certain Of its accidental provisions which inter-
fee with the supposed rights Of the people and their
personal liberty. The opposition on the part Of tho
liquor dealers is based self interest and base
motives. But two clauses particularly in opposi-
tion to public opinion, viz First the power dele.
gated to the police in paragraphs nineteen and twenty
make arbitrary arrests; second paragraph fourteen
the closing OF all places named during the whole OF
Sunday
they propose that the first of these provisions be
peaed that one can be arrested without warrant
Of law except In where liquor is sold without a.
license and that the Sunday clause be modified SO that
the sale of refreshments after two o'clock on Sum
days allowed. Experience has shown that serious
bunders have been made by the police in the exercise
of their discretionary power and complaints on the sub
ports of the police and the public journals These
arbitrary arrests irr!tate public opinion and
create indignation which tend TO bring the law into
dsrepute. They do not intimate that the police have
acted from malicious personal motives; but they will
maintain that police officers should not have dis
cretionary power to interfere With the personal liberty
of a citizen
II The notifications proposed should be adopted the
law would be rendered popular among all classes, with
the exception Of the liquor sellers faction they
IL these notifications should not prevail that the
spirit Of Opposition will become more general from day
election that these fears were we'll founded
Mass Meeting In Y0nkcrs In Favor Of the Ex.
tension Of the Law TO that Town.
mass meeting of the citizens Of Yonkers was held
last night at Radford Hail for the purpose Of taking
consideration the proprety Of pettonnG the Legis
athie have the Metropolitan Excise law extended to
that town. There were about eight hundred persons
present including about ono hundred and hfty ladies'
At halfpast eight o'clock the meeting was called TO
order by Dr. Seward and Robert L. Getty elected chair
y
After some Introductory remarks, DAVID R. Jacques
made ngthy address, in the course OF which be urged
the dcsiraotty and necessity Of having suc admir-
rable measure the Metropolitan Excise extended
TO Yonkers He said that tho quiet aud good order
which prevailed in New York the law into OPP
GRAFTON the best evidence OF its great utility The poics
returns showed that the Sabbath day was no longer
desccrated by the appearance OF drunkards on the
streets The gentleman concluded his remarks by ex-
pressing the hop that the close Of the Legislative
The benecent influences of the bill would be felt
not only IN Yonkers, but throughout the whole Of
Westchester county.
Messrs. Handy, Bchrends REV J, May, Cabe REV D.
King (Rev.l and others followed with similar remarks,
and the close OF the meeting petition to the Legsla
for signature, emb0dyng the Obsor
vatons OF Mr. Jaqucs and the other speakers II was
signed amid the utmost enthusiasm and the proceed
lngs then brought to Messrs. Handy and
Post appointed committee TO be the bearers Of
the petition to Albany. M a