The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-20
LICENSE FOR LIQUOR.
Interesting Facts from the New
Excise Commission.
CHOSE SPECIAL DEPUTIES. .
porters Of Foreign Liquors-A Clean
Sweep in Prospect

/
| The d0ings OF the new Board OF Excise Commits
soners have at present special attraction for a
large class in the community. For this reason and
in view Of the fact that the operations Of the Board
seldom come under the notice OF the public though
they concern indirectly every individual in the
| community, HERALD reporter was detailed yes
terday to visit the building at the corner OF HouS-
ton street and Mulberry In which the ofices OF the
| Excise Commissioners are situated. The reporter
| had received an introduction to Commissioner
Marshall, who, in the absence Of the President OF
the Board, in the course Of long conversation
gave large number Of facts which will, no doubt,
prove OF much interest to the public.
The reporter introduced the conversation by re-
marking that the Impression existed abroad that
there was
VERY SERIOUS QUARREL
existing between the Excise Commissioners and
Sheriff Brennan.
"For what reasonp' asked Commissioner Mar
l shall.
For the reason, as 1t is said and has been stated
by many Of the newspapers" replied the reporter,
that you had asked the sheriff to appoint thirty
special deputy sherds VINO should be detailed to
act in your department ana report to you on the
character OF tie liquor saloons which you should
| in accordance with law, license"
| Commissioner MARSHALL have heard and seen
the reports Of which you speak, and am glad
| you have introduced the subject The rumor, as
nearly all rumors are, Is partially true and par
tally false. There is good deal OF truth IN 1t
far as 1t says that we have asked the Sheriff to
appoint authorized persons to inspect the charac-
ter OF liquor saloons who could show their au-
thority, and who could, by official right, make their
Investigations thorough but that we have had any
quarrel with Sheriff Brennan or that he has
|
| false.
"Please explains" suggested the reporter.
| AN INGENIOUS PLAN.
| "Wel" replied Commissioner Marshall, 1--WE
| nave had the plan OF having six inspectors EN-
| ployed in the Department Of Excise, to whom we
| pay certain salaries and to whom we auot certain
duties. The latter OF course, consist in the inspec
ton of the character OF the saloons and reporting
to US from their personal observations. The duties
| OF these men we considered most important and,
| as q natural consequence, we deemed 1t necessary
that they should be invested with certain author
ity, which would enable them to enter any saloon,
| make arrests, If necessary and act as
A SHEkTFF'S OFFICER
| II circumstances required IT, TO show you what
| these men do 1 may quote the following CASE
complaint came to us OF certain liquor saloon in
Albany street. We sent our inspectors there
day and on Thursday: two others we detailed to
go there on Tuesday and Friday, and the
Now, the report we had received OF the place came
from the police captain In whose precinct the sa.
given of the place was backed no bY REPORTS we had
heard from private individuals, and yet to make
assurance doubly sure,
| We said to ourselves Now, If these men all agree
in reporting this is disreputable house, why,
we may be as certain OF its character as II we had
| consulted three commercial agencies as to mans
financial status in New York city, and they all
| agreed in reporting him OF bad standing in the
| commercial cOmmunity.'
sour men, we considered, under these circum-
stances should be invested with authority, anu we
| deputies. The truth Is that Sheriff Brennan
treated us very well indeed, and when 1t was rep
resented to HIM how the case stood ne cordially
acquiesced In our representation and did make
| our inspectors special deputy sherins, investing
POLICE CAPTAINS, REPORTS.
"What should understand by yOur reference to
the Police reports to the character OF liquor
saoonS" asked the reporter.
COMMISsIONER-When we came into office we
had furnished to US report from the captain of
every police precinct as to the character OF every
had to be answered by each police captain. For
instance-Did certain saloon keep open on Sun
day' what was the character OF the persons who
1requented the storep Were persons OF immoral
character habtues of the placer Has the pro-
prietor ever been fined for violation of the Ex-
else lawr WAS he ever arrested for any other
offence?'
The Commissioner here showed the reporter the
liquor diagnosis OF the Fourth ward, sent in &C.
cording to the requisiton OF the Captain OF the
Oak street police station, from when 1t appears
that not few OF the liquor dealers in that vicinity
ranging, at the least, from grand larceny upwards.
ave do not trust to the police reports oihouses,"
resumed the Commissioner, ''because we know
how easy IL Is for policemen to backmail liquor
dealers, though there was an unreasonable howl
first called for but as nave explained, you see we
have our own corrective in the unanimous report
now TO e are yon a a
portant matter Tor the HERALD, and as conse-
quence, for the public"
"What is thatY" asked the reporter.
CORNER GROCERIES DOOMED.
THAT we have had more complaints against cor.
ner grocerles--that 49, where the necessaries Of
life as well as spirtuous liquors are retailedthan
against any other class OF liquor saloons. We
70 what we Ss
that many mother of respectable family will go
or send around to these holes Tor her gin or her
whskey and nave 1t charged IN the passb0Ok' as
'beets' or onions or something else, and this wo-
man, who under no circumstances, when in state
store Will, having caught the excitement from
these places, do something to bring blush to her
we mean to stop altogether, and no corner gro;
ceries as they are called, viii receive renewal Of
'''.'' VI xr5kTrns 70 PAY Eycyysp.
again" resumed Commissioner Marshall,
"there is another very important subject that the
that's that IS that we have taken new departure with
regard to the importers OF liquors who keep places
where you or ybody else can procure a dozen OF
pay the regular license fee; and yet, under the
old regime they have never done II. They have had
perfect immunity in this respect up to the present
these men who does not pay license for selling
liquor in this city prosecuted TO
THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW.
We consider this kind OF trade an injustice to the
regular LIQUOR dealers, who promptly pay their
license taxi The law on this subject Isl
g. Vines quail e.
time without having license therefor granted here
in provided, shall forfeit $50. for each offence.
Now, MIR. Commissioner" said the reporter,
al would wish to direct your attention to one