The New York herald., 1869-02-25
THE STATE CAPITAL.


Arg',:nonE Fss and AsainAs tine Metropolitan
| ;Z@e.sc Law sesere abe CAuinsitsco on Inter
nal Affairs.
ALBANY Feb. ~, 1862
The Metropolitan Excise law, upon which q: pre-
sent great interest Is centered was before the Com
mitee on Internal Affairs tbis eyeniGg aud 1t Was
argued for four hours wirl great spirit and an
earnestness that proved both the advocates and
tue opponshts oil = modification to the law
| as now existing TO be wound uo to the fine temper
Of steel. Mr. SSees, OF Niagara, the only democrat
on the committee, was in the char. There was q
large representation OF New York democrats ami a
numerous delegation OF Germans from New York
CITY, all. or nearly all. republicans headed
Dy Major General Franz Sgel and Mr.. Otter
ooury, eXUnited States Consul to Mexico.
ihese appeared In favor OF some modification OF
the law, as did also the New YORK representatives,
Mcssrs. Mitchell. Piunket, Murphy. Nachtman and
hartman. George Bliss, Jr legal adviser Of the
Excise Board and Rev. Mr.. Taylor from the Kings
county Central Temperance Association, appeared
in FAVOR OF the law as it sands. General
aiegei N an argumentative speech, introduced
bill OF Mir. Hodges, OF rooklyn, which he said
was not intended 10 reteai the present law but to
amend sucn portions ol 1t werc IN the Opinien or
iaFyc number ~ citizens OF New York. oppressive
ana immoral lie 0bjccted TO arbitrary arrests by the
police and denounced the section Which encourages
enid 10 become the accuser OF its parent
asked thai liquor stores should only be closed from
one O'Clock a. Nj. 70 four A. M and until two r. M
on sundays. He proposed thai violations Of the
law should be punished by line and lmprson-s
ment. Ike otner nJsdeniean0rS and not by
! rssoeataon a of, o. the lacense; further, that
trale, AMI not arrested and imprisoned by O
policeman. General Sigs's bill contains i've sec
tons. lie made an earnest defence or the rights OF
nus countayiaen W eaoy the habits TO which they
Were accustomed, whether on Sunday any other
day. provided tac law was not infringed upoi,
. M. lop
ing series OF points IN iasor OF moulnclIion or
Iae law. These points declare the law failure.
lhere was more iluuor sold Ia New York without O
license than with IT. The law was unconstitutional
and decision IN Its iavor by Court OF Appeals
was only obtained because the Excise Board
mad sum OF millions in It's hands, and
because Il feared that IL would he run down with
rue law created the Police and the EXCISE Conmis-
sioners JuJiciity ana 1t placed restrictions upon
che particular trade from which other trades were
Tree.
Mr.. Nachtman delivered long argument IN behalf
OF ueneral oigcs DlA. lie asked the trainers OF
the law intended that ls should be an uncomfortable
tyranny
rev. Mr. Taylor. IN feryld speech. half sermon
and haL harangue. said he rep esensad 1900 tenn
pefancf men Ia brooklyn, many OF them belonging
70 Father Mathew Societies. He said they were
Ill IN iayor OF the EXCISE law and had protested
sabbath WIS an American right. and no foreigner
should be permitted to bring European
the .saboath OF our Ainerlcan fathers which ne
found here. ra!sled be the arm, he sd that should
Je ever raised against its rules. He only in
tyor oi the Law, out II ne had his VIII he would
sweep The sSl0ie liquor interest and trade into the
deepest pit. lie WAS radical fanatic this ques-
ton, ana ne was prouu or II.
Mr.. ruusetG replied by stating that lie was all hls
life a temperance man. never touched liquor in his
life, had llied every position In temperance soce-
ties and ne denied tuat the Father Matthew soce-
Ties We're III iayA OF the law. This law had done
inanlte mischei to the temperance cause. society
alter society had crunDied away since its enact
ent. n his Own district three societies number.
lnG nearly 500 members had near,y dwinded away
and II was III other districts The societies were
looked upon as responsible for the law. Tie liquor
dealers withdrew tneir assistance from them which
they had formerly literally given, and they lost
good deal OF the sympathy OF the public In conse-
quence OF tins obnoxious law. lie doubted that the
Father Matthew men OF Kings county endorsed the
resolution read.
Rev. ar TayIor-By their delegates in conven-
Colonel Murphy said-Two or three delegates,
perhaps, who did not understand the matter. Mar. |
murphy denounced the language used by the
reverend gentleman. lie thought that man who
preacher. religion from the pulpit should not call
upon 1od il such terms IL '-palsy the ARM of any
one who did moi agree With him In Sabbatarian
opinions.
Mr. Olterbourg said that although republican he
opposed the law as faiure AMI q desposlsln. II
was made Tor q class. The poor man could not get
his necessary refrcshment on sunday. but he (Ar.
Otierb0uig, got his lager ia the morning usual
because he knew where the houses were wnere the
proprietors could afford 20 buy or the policemen.
There was more llnor drank in New York
part while he wanted the sabbath to be |
peaceabiy observed. he did not like people TO get
drunk in Westcheser and come home In the evening
10 the city. lie would rather see them get drunk In
New FORK and go quietly over Harlem bridge into |
Westchester when they ges through. He did not |
object TO moderate excise law. but he did not like
one which made every policeman his master.
Mr. Bliss deferred his remarks until tomorrow
when he promises TO answer the argu.
inens.