The New York herald., 1869-02-13
THE STATE CAPITAL.


= u.mocrasIc Defence of New York Kights-
The RepubIicaus Dumb-The Excise Law
p;nned lin Before the C0mmiftee-ffenFy
Thonpson, Of the Erie Railroad, Declared
In Contempt-He Refuses TO Appear Be-
fore the senafe-The Scrgeanf-at'Arms
After Him. ~ - ,s.o
The debate last night in special session OF the
House on the Governors message was a one-sided
anair. and had no issue. Messrs Bergen, Keegan,
Hartman, Nachtman and Plunkett, all New York
democrats, spoke vehemently against the usurpa-
tions practsed upon the people OF New York by
Albany legislation; but no republican responded.
The democrats had 1t all their own way, and they
certainly pitched into the different commissions IN
unsparing terms. Mr.. Hartman's was o very argu-
mentative ana forclble speech although brel, WINE
Mr.. Plunkett, q new member, almost exhausted
facts ana figures in his denuncation OF the
Injustice done to the metropolis by partisan ma
jority. He demanded Tor New York city the same
rights accorded to ST. Lawrence county city that
gives sixty-nine thousand democratic majority IS
manly governed by radical office holders; me TAX
PAYERS have no voice in the election OF their rulers
Over sixteen million dollars Is wrung from the Guy
every year by STATE authority ana expended oy
Office holders in whose choice the people nave no
voice. In no respect are these commissions respon-
sibe to the people, Was not this usurpatlon
Tae people had 30 declared over and again, but
the republican party had refused to repeal or modify
these odious and tyrannica laws.
Mr.. Nachtman denounced the Excise law as
most obnoxious measure, and made private rum
snop OF every house. Did II suppress vice? BY no
means The Police Commission was failure.
Never before had so many murders ana roboerles
been committed. Holes had been dug through walls
three thick, almost under the noses ofthe Com
mssioners. In the name OF his constituents ne de-
manded the repeal or the obnoxious COMMISSIONS.
The discussion upon MIR. La Bau's resolution on
the Standardization laws, which followed, was very
decided nzZle that gentleman declining TO go into
argument defence OF Ills rcS0utOu, anu MI.
Jacobs WHO was expected TO ayau IT, declaring him.
self not prepared 10 do so. The matter therefore
went over for week.
There was an animated discussion before the Com
mttee on internal Affairs yesterday afternoon upon
the subject OF the Excise law. Mr.. George Bliss Jr,
coNnscl Tor the Excise Board, appeared In favor OF
the law as 10 now exisIs Mr. Mitchell, OF the
committee responded In an earnest manner, hitting
the counsel. whom lie declared to be the paid advo
cate OF tne Board, some very heavy blows. He said
tnat the hoard boasted OF having revoked 457
licenses last year, the value OF which was SIl42oO.
This he contended was an atrociouS grievance, as
The act for which the dealers were thus punished
was al, the worst but misdemeanor punishable
by a fine OF twenty-five dollars at the hands
OF a police justice, while the revocation OF the
license amounted to fine OF $3.50, besides imposing,
In most cases, Incarceration IN cell Tor one night.
Ii such acts Were done by any court 1t would be de-
nounced as gross outrage upon justice. He CON-
planned tnat section IL OF the law OF 1866 denied the
liquor dealer the right To collect debts due for any
quantity or liquors less than i've gallons, While the
Vender OF Cry eooas or any oler kind o wares could
collect sums OF the smallest amount. He did not see
why tins distinction should be made. He objected
TO the privilege OF uniform license given TO hotels
and the liquor dealers the profits OF the former being
vastly larger than those or the latter. He denied
that the law was either JUST or efficient The Excise
Commissioners admit that they shut up no less than
2,42l places where liquors were sold dur
ing the past year. Now, it was notorious
that there were 5000 shouses in New York
selling liquor without any license at all.
was in error IN stating that Mr.. Husteds railroad
bill was reported unfavoraDy. II was presented by
the committee and laid upon the table on Mr..
Husteds own motion, from which 1t win be taken up
for discussion al iuture time II Is not dead, but
sleepeth.
A recusant Erie Railroad director was held to be
in contempt IN the senate to-day. Senator Hale,
chairman OF the railroad Committee which has tue
Erie stock watering arrangement before it. reported
that Mr.. Henry Thompson had refused TO appear be-
fore the committee 70 answer such questions as may
be put 10 him. Mr.. Hale asked that Thompson
70 the bar OF the senate by the SergeantatArms. 10
was so ordered, and Mr.. Thompson. whose tnforma-
ton would, no doubt throw an Infinite Hood Of lgAt
upon the transactions OF the road, will probably
cump TO the authority Of the Senate.