The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-05-30
Tho LIQUOR Dealers prosunciasaie u<s-
Foolish Acsfsa sf the Excise Comssiss,es-

The LIQUOR Dealers, pro.uncla Mi sxs-
Foolish Acefsu sf tho Excise Oomnsissies-
ore.
The trafhc In Intoxicating drinks has always
been troublesome subject for I,ev;s,at,,ra, 70
handle. Drunkenness Is vice which every
intelligent community deplores, and the abuses
OF the appetite Of man have always been pro-
lid' sources of evil. At the same time No in
reference with those appetites beyond tho
point necessary for public safety, decency and
morality will be patiently submitted TO bv a
free people; and attempts ON the part Of fana,
les to legislate mankind up to . particular
standard have always proved failures. There
has never been in this State any popular objec-
zion to fair and even stringent general Excise
lawj but special enactments for particular
communities, and all total abstinence legisla-
ton, have invaSiably met with Herce opposition.
The New Yoyk Legislature, two sessions
ago, passed an Excise law for the MetxopoM.
tan Police district sSone, distinct from the ress
of the State The first object Of the trainers d
the law was TO secure q fund from the license
fees for the Board Of Police Commissioners,
and to make political capital in this city for
the dominant party in the State out ofths con.
troll Of the liquor business The provisions OK
the act were quite stringent, and were espe-
cially offensive to the liquor deslers Of New
York and Brooklyn, because applicable only
to them, and not to all the citizens Of the
State Still, they were submitted to with
remarkable patience, if with some grumbling,
and the heavy license fees extorted from all
who sold beer and spirits were readily. paid.
The Excise Commissioners, however, seem
to have set deliberately to work to pre-
vent the peaceful operation Of the law a.
passed at Albany, and, by the exercise Of
extraordinary powers and the display d
very arbitrary spirit, to render the
act unbearable and imperative. II they
were in the direct interest of tho
saloon keepers they could not do more
to upset the present Excise law than they have
already done by their indiscreet and oppressive
action. They have treated large and influ-
entail class Of business men as little bettee
than convicted felons, and have appeared 10
take 1t for granted that every man who sells
liquor is confirmed violator Of law and order.
No person can apply to the Commissioners for
license without feeling as if he were crlmt
nal, doing q lawless act, and the conditions
imposed upon him by their regulations are csl-
culated to degrade him and to convict him ON
his own admission, as it were, of being an UNI
trustworthy and dishonorable man.
The popular indignation excited By the
course of the Commissioners may be gathered
from the articles from Wilces' Spirit Of ~
Times, which are published as an advertise
ment in to-day's HERALD. They ioreshsdow
the course determined upon by the liquor deAls
) ers Of the city, and their suggestions WI 40
doubt be acted upon generally by that class 81
citizens, and win greatly embarrass and proha4
bly, totally stop the operation Of the lsw.. 4 3
proposed that dealers conform to the letter ol
tho law as passed by the Legislature, paying
no heed whatever to the regulations made bE
the Excise Commissioners under their assumed
legislative power, and then proceed to SELF
liquor with license, If one be granted "a
them-without It, if 1t be refused. II any ars
rests should be made by the police, the party
arrested is counselled to make no oppositlo1ts
but to give bail, which will be supplied BY the
Liquor Dealers Association, and demand 8
jury trial. II is claimed-and We have %
doubt on good foundation-that no jury in THE
city will convict person who has been ready
to conform to the requirements Of the law, boz
cause be has refused to obey the oppressive
orders and regulations Of the Commissioners
The republicans made themselves ridiculous
when they passed this partial Excise law,
putting New York and Brooklyn under pain4
and penalties not imposed on the rest Of The
State, and supposed that they could make
political capital In these democratic strongly
holds out Of It. Governor Fenton made him.
self ridiculous when he approved such special
and oppressive legislation. The Excise Com.
missoners have made themselves more ridicu.
lous than all, by adding TO the law, already
unjust and offensive enough, q set Of arbitrary
rules and regulations suited to their peculiar
autocratic views. Altogether they have mada
nice middle Of the business, and, without put,
ting stop to the vice of intoxication, have
only succeeded in denying to our German aud
other citizens an opportunity to enjoy them
selves on the sole holiday they have during
the week, and in branding q numerous, wealthy
and respectable class of business men a. con-
irmcd rowdies and law breakers.
Amuscments Of the season.
Aflar lauU IanO winlar fardv aprt0U II