The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-28
THE EXCISE LAW.


The order OF the Police Commissioners issued AZ
che Friday meeting regarding the enforcement OF
she Excise law goes into force to-day. 1t VIII
then revive much OF the disturbance which made
the police force so unpopular in 1868. 1t Is
prooabie that the law. however, will not De en-
Ssrced wit the same riRidy, as the lesson OF the
general disapproval Will probably be sudicient
without q second one.
The following is the law on the suoJect:-
SECTION 6Llsenses granted as IN this act provided
sale, or ell give away or dse o. strong splr
soss 90 sos nd Se on hs
al licensed as aioresait shall be cosed ana KEEP
when such selling not suthsrized by law and
M snI and oicer q police enforce q
foregoing pFCviSons Shns herein asd
entertaining travellers any time, subject to The re.
d IL sna act
son shall ei i1 give swaS n
on sunday or UPON any day on Which sesgdssi a0 0I
within opequarer of mile from the place where srsa
he'd in any Of the villages cities q the sta,e
e. any person eena ssa ne e genera through
out state provisions OF this section in such case
wneh such 'escon me or town meeting hed
Whoever shall offend against me provSSns OF hs so
ished after each offence by fine OF not less than SO
sSe days nor more than nifty days both such hne
and %9rss y aet % the a'ef'n0h Oh the
In accordance with these provisions OF the law
superintendent Walling yesterday gave speclal
instructions to all the police captains to nave the
law enforced to the letter on sunday, but in no
wise 10 exceed their orders and instructions. 1t
has been evident that the Comm issioners have not
known what TO do under the clrcu tances, ana
tnat they are simply trying TO walk along softly,
without treadlng Oh any body's toes. On tue one
hanu they do not care 10 offend the power OF
Tammany ana the democratic objection to sump-
tuary laws and on the otner hand they lear 10 re-
iuse TO enforce the demand OF the saooa.n keepers
who depend upon and demand The carrying out
oil the ABOVE section, which cannot De mlscoh.
strued. The Commissioners are weak-kneed anu
have acted IN so fearful q manner ABOUT tnls MaI-
ler during the past iew weeks that there can be
no dOuDt they wish 20 evade tne responsiollity on
either side and throw IL upon the superintendent
and his officers. Under these circumstances the
law will no doubt, be very well kept to-day IN the
more respectable quarters, wnlle III Others, whe
the great UNIV ashed predominant. there Will be
very little change Tne whole a1ar Is passing
scare which the Police Commissioners have been
forced into by the petition OF the Alanson Metho-
dist church 1t is even said that II the Commission
ers had refused to enforce the law charges would
have been preferred against them by the Saooa-
tsrlan Committee to the Mayor, who would then
have been responsible. TINS difficulty has been
TEN pOrarly bridged over by the action OF last
FRIDAY. One OF the Commissioners stated to a
HERALD reporter yesterday that the Board had
matter, and 80 long as decent appearance OF
adherence to the law was made nothing more
would be demanded. II was necessary mat
saloon keepers should not expose their
liquors in windows nor keep their front
doors open on sunday but there was
nothing which could proniblJ them Keeping ther
back doors open, and no officer would have right
10 enter the house to see whether sale OF liquors
was gong on 30 that unless distinct complaint
was made they could not effect an arrest. The
Commissioner added that there was no wish on
their part 10 embarrass the trace II decentiy car
REC on.
This conversation shows that the liquor dealers
nave little TO fear. Orders, 1t is sad, have been
gwen that there shall he no spying or sneaking
around back doors for the purpose oil making cases
against nquor dealers similar 10 the Actohian
system.
superintendent Walling also gave orders TO his
captaius regarding the suppression OF gambling
dens and houses OF ia fame. They were distinctly
Instructed TO break up all gaming establishments
and TO arrest any unortunates who made pubic
exhibition Of their tra1ic. The order Will reach
manly those women who promenade the streets
NJ night and the numerous disreputable Houses
which inlest the Eighth and Fifteenth wards.