The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-25

German Lager Beer Saloon Keepers
Seeking Relief from Police Oppression.

The Police Commissioners Of Brooklyn have ever
since the passage OF the Excise law INDUCED in
periodical spasmodic efforts to enforce the most
stringent sections OF the unpopular law-more
particularly when the Legislature is in session and
amendments are ia order. The great difficulty
attendant upon permanent enforcement OF the
Liquor law appears to be the levenng of all partisan
lines by those who 'prac.se at the bar" and the
most noisy agtators who are at loggerheads upon
all other questions Of public interest found to
lean toward lager TO the detriment Of the
legal eXaction of the Excise statutes 1t hap
pens that about month ago fresh orders
were issued by the Police commissioners
directing that the Liquor law must be srenuOusly
carried out to the spirit and letter on Sundays.
The first sunday the behests OF the authorities
were complied with, after iashion-that is to say,
few OF the saloons remained closed, occasionpg
much inconvenience by requiring little clrcuIn
spection on the part OF those who desired to break
the commandment. The following sabbath the
law was more loosely executed and since then,
though many arrests have been made, no cOnvic-
tons have been effected. The most respectable
and temperate citizens, when paced on Jures In
cases OF alleged delinquent liquor and lager deal
ers reuse TO render a verdict against the offend
ers. All this naturally weaKens the work Of the
police by morally disarmng them OF the right to
enforce the law, and the proprietors OF the drink
ing places. on the other hand, are emboldened to
seek relaxation OF the yigor oil its application at
headquarters liquor and lager beer Dealers
association, composed Tor the greater part Of Ger
mans, has been organized in the Eastern and
Western districts for the purpose OF enecting re-
dress Tor grievances Yesterday large delega-
ton or Germans, under the direction Of Henry
Everdng, their President, visited Police Head
quarters corner OF Court and Livingston
streets, and were ushered into the presence
OF General James JOurdan. President OF the
Police Board, and Commissioners Jensen
and Briggs. They argued their case from the 1Oi-
lowing points 1T is not justice to require them,
closed at twelve O'Clock Saturday night When
arrested it is just to lock the proprietor of the
saloon up all night even though the Excise law
may have been violated. They contend that hall
an hours grace should be given them on Saturday
n9ht-tnat Is, they should be allowed TO keep
open until haf-past twelve A. NJ IL generally
happens that party OF customers are lOath to
take their departure at the exact time, twelve
O'Clock. and wrangle occurs between the GUS
toners and the proprietor. 1.-THE latter force to
get rid OF the men who have been spending money
N the place during the evening he becomes unpOpu-
lar and his saloon loses the profits OF patronage
from that source. Then it is not unusual for po-
lice officer TO arrest the proprietor while he is en-
deavoring to carry out the law by urging his Gus
toners TO leave at the appointed hour. II but nalf
an hour more were given they could accomplish
the clearance business The custom OF locking
propretors up in the cells from Saturday night
until Sunday morning was an injustice 70 them,
they contended, as the police knew them TO be re-
sp0nsibe men, VINO could be relied upon 10 put in
an appearance ct Court at any time, without being
compelled to undergo the lndgnity OF lncarcera-
ton IN prison cell The Commissioners listened
patiently TO the complaint Of the lager beer men,
and President Jourdan promised to give the SUBJ
ject a favorable consideration and make known 10
them his decision IN a few days.