The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-05-10
THE EXCISE LAW.


Indignant Protest Of German I.Iouor Dealer.
Against the Action OF The Police Cemnis-
siomers Speech Of Mayor Hoffman, &c.
large delegation Of German cit,zens at great respect
sbly--over ono hundred In number--calIed on Mayor
Holman yesterday and after appropriate remarks from
their chairman Colonel Abraham Levy, presented the
following petition
TO IT, Hmaabk ~ Mayor and Common Council of
fAe City Of N<sc Pork The undersigned citizens were
~ public meeting q tradewmen, hold at tho Gcrmana
day OF May 1857, duly appointed delegation 10 lay be-
fore you the grievances hereinafter set FORTH
nv recent acts Of the Legislature of the State Of New
York the Police and Excise Commissioners have been
clothed with most extraordinary powers As good
S, - a., ,bSss novsrs vsssed a., ,h p s sms'
and Excise Boards have been greatly abused by
certain unjust and outrageous measures passed by said
By those they Cypress large class OF busi-
men, tho tendency being 10 endanger IL not totally
destroy 1.-The means BY which thousands Of our fellow
citizens make honest living
Said Police Commi and Excise Commissioners
have under color Of said awsl adopted certain rules and
regulations which entirely unjustinabe and most
humliaiing Under their orders citizens insulted
arrested and treated with brutality. their rights out
ragged aud they treated like and locked mp cells with
mnas who guilty OF the most henous crimes
Under color OF said laws aud the rules enacted ny
such commissioners me police enter our Dwelling
effected by stealth done but II force ~ necessary,
70 break doors order " gain entry into private
dwellngs--even this y resorted u.
The undersigned hail with JOY thr resolutions In
reference 10 those questions lately introduced
Common Council
The undersigned respectfully ask that you the num-
cipal authorities Of the city OF New York win sud
assist che undersigned all legal measures which they
take 20 bring about reform of these abuses and
To obtain legal redress for any wruas and Illegal acs
committed upon them by sucn Commissioners Of Police
and Excise
We call upon you through you upon All peaccahle
and aw-abidng citizens who love freedom OF scion to
aid ia resisting these tyrannica ensciments, aHd
make despotc officials before the proper TRIM.
w. BERSHEINRR
JULIUS KoRN,
and about seventy others
Mayor HorvsAs addressed the delegation a. fol-
lows
Ny Fnl0w Cirzsss:--i ara glad to see Won; am
glad nj all times any OF constituents call
upon me for advice and counsel have iistend tho
statement ofyotr complaints: regret 10 say that have
no power TO relieve Won. The radical and iDtoc-
rant spirit In state LEGISLATION which upon the
people Of this portion the state law which With all
its good provisions contains many that are odous and
oppressive has deprived the mayor or ths city ~ the
privileges and powers which Of right belong 10 him
the chosen Chief Magistrate OF the people The came
ntolsrant spirit In legislation which conferred
traordinsry power upon the Police department. max
ing the Police Commissioners virtually executive,
legislative and Judicial officers, has made that
department independent Of the Mayor and or nj,
municipal authorities Tho whole spirit OF the constit.
t6Dof the stale been violated and the right of the
people OF New York and Brooklyn regulate their own
cities have bssn placed under commissioners appointed
by Sefs authorities, and Cue Excise law has been made
not for the state At large hut for part OF the
tan Police district Under that Law what 10 lawful In
other parts of the STATE IN Wesfchsser mart OF
the Metropolitan disirct criminal here In regard 70
this law, which IL here enforced with 20 much
sary rigor and barshpss have already Expressed nv
opinion 10 letter written sops time ago need nol