New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-11-20
A WORTHLESS EXCISE LAW.

Further conversation with the President OF
the Excise Board reveals the fact that the present Ell
else law Is radically defective and almost wort bless
Some Of its defects above illustrated and Others
may be briefly stated. It passed by the Legisa
ture April H. 1870 and under It's proysonsthe Board
organized, soon aferward, with Walter w. Price, John
II. Williams, and Martin Eachtmann Commissioners,
appointed by the Mayor Section OF the law re
quires that all places where spituous liquors wines
ale beer sold shall be closed and kept closed
between the hours OF / aud O'clock In the morning
Section repeats all conflicting provisions OF the late
Metropolitan Excise law and reyses portions OF the Old
clauses or the resurrected enactment which reliance
is also placed for penalties for violations which IN no
exceed 500 imprisonment for three months ACT
ing under this hybrid law, the Commissioners proceeded
10 business and promulgated the new law together WIN
nounced still In force by counsel 70 Tie Board Ine prices
grades above indicated The average price was lees
than 500 To assist In executing the law, the Board APP
poInted ana now have employed, one inspector, two
deputy inspectors. and four clerks, Of whom also
deputy Inspector. The combined salaries OF
this ssT Of f seven ma rs s 81 ne @S
In consequence OF the defects enumerated aud tue gen
era ooseness Of the law the Board found itsef utterly
unable with its limited STAFF VI attaches 10 enforce the
compliance OF liquor sellers with many OF It's rules ana
regulations The cooperation OF the police sought
aud obtained far deemed proper and practloabe
by the Police Commissioners, but even THIS JAILED 70
atone for tho miserable inecency OF the law, and the
Excise Commissioners still declare themselves unable 10
compel dealers take out licenses TO remain closed on
Quoted places.
OTHER MPoRTANr COMPARISONS.
When the Metropolitan Excise law went into effect
there were, in NewYork and Brooklyn, 9,52O place,
where intoxicating liquors we're publicly sold. During
the continuance OF the law this number was decreased
to 1901, 800 less dramshops In both Hew-iork and
Brooklyn than are known 10 exist in NewYork CITY
alone. BY the closing OF 249 such places, during TIE
administration the Metropolitan Board OF Excise al
equal number OF tenements redeemed for better
uses and, it estimated by the bOari, Ifom
10000 10 1900 persons thus diverted from con.
slant attendance in dramshops. The number OF
arrests ntOXcatOn and consequent dlsOrdefy con
duct was also largely reduced during this period. Ac
cordng the ponce returns the number OF such ares
Sundays, during the year from April l, 1870 10 Apu
1871 1854, while from Nov. i, 1865, 20 Nov l. loy
the number 42l3. A comparison OF the number OF
such arrests, on Tuesdays during the same periods,
shows that there s3l4 1870 TO 1871, against
629S The year selected for comparison
that during which the greatest NUMBER or arrests io
and disordery conduct made whle tho
Metropolitan Excise law was IN force large proper
ton OF these arrests on Sunday, from 1858 {"
poltan district to gain free indulgence Ia
strong drink, and who returned late at night
so drunk and dsOrdery that their arrest was not Ony
requisite for the preservation OF public peace and order
but in many necessary Tor the personal safety OF
the nebriates themselves. Among the sautary effects
OF the cited in the official reports OF the COmms
sioners unusual quiet aud order on Sundays and
election days increased balances 10 the credit OF the
poor in savings banks and, aside from gratifying ana
immense decrease OF intoncation, q corresponding
dminuon OF its consequent disorder and visible dc
crease OF immortality anu crime generally. As q moral
agent the Metropolitan Excise law Is regarded az hay
ing been reasonably efficient, and having attesed
the fact that and crime may be reduced in volume
tent for the proper regulation OF the sale Of strong
drink.