New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-28
SHARP THOUGHTS FOR THE EXCISE BOARD.

A sharp letter from "MentOr" to the Hon.
Judge Bosworth and members Of the Excise Board" Is
before The sokenng tragedy just enacted at staten
Island he says excites sadness and indignation among
the people The greatest victim OF the double crime
however is the suicide and murderer himself Ho acted
and died frenzied with Tho liquor which
maddened him was sold TO the man under one OF
two condtions-either under the laws license or In de-
ance OF law; II the first the Board had licensed the
sale. II Is questionable whether the ponce RECORDS ever
presented much vainy in the shape OF rong, wife
beating cruelty rape, murder and suicide as at present
While the members OF the Excise Board are breaKiasng
at their homes they read in the morning papers OF fresh
murders, OF families stricken down and women NAL
treated killed They leave their breakfast tables viii
agents and manufacture more drnnkards few weeks
ago the writer Of deputatlon OF temperance
men from BROOKLYN who waited upon Excise Board to
urge the enforcement OF the Excise Law ana protest
against the reduction OF licenses They heard them very
paenty as they also did delegates Of the interest
In favor reduced license fee The very nrst OF the
latter who addressed the Board was from staten Island
the scene OF the recent tragedy To the temperance
delegation a deaf ear was turned The license Zee
was reduced. Since the reduction violation OF the
law has become still moro common, and liquor Is
sold 70 children too small TO reach the countertop
IL "a sold at all hours, too, day aho night hhd
on Sunday. For this violation OF law with It's accompa
nyng crime the members OF the Board know they are IN
great measure responsible They are saarled servants
OF the people sworn to enforce the Excise law They
neither bound 70 give licenses nor to withhold them
II Is their right 10 refuse license whenever they thnk
for the public interest to DO So Here 10 moral respon
siby. But 10 the enforcement OF the law with lts
penalties, there IS legal responsibility which
they have assumed under oath. Under the reduced
license system the Board Is increasing the number OF
runi-shops The police records show that under the
earlier experience IN the law there was less crime ana
0uieer SUNDAYS III any influences had been brought TO
hear upon the Board to influence ls action such infu'
enoe Is that OF the moral community nor OF the
Church The only Inference is that it is political in
uence The Board has lost its moral prestige Society
once expected better things OF IL dare expect nOthhR
now The supineness OF the Excise Board has democrat
lied the Bench and the Police is discouraged in its
duties. Temperance men claim that an increase IN the
number OF public drinking houses increases drunken
ness crime, and paupersm. decrease In tho number
lessons drunkenness crime and pauperism No member
OF the Board presumes TO deny TINS propOsltOh
II Judge BOsworth and his associates continue 10 neglect
sponsbty the people will charge the question home 10
their consciences in view OF coming murders ana VIC
ience-" guilty or not guilty. what say you 10 the
charge