Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-05-26
Enforcing the Sunday Liquor Law In New York.

Enforcing the Sunday Liquor Law In New York.
There was great CONSERVATION among the
keepers Of bar rooms in New York city or
Sunday last. and among those who are in
the habit Of froquenting those places. The
Sunday liquor law, which has so long been
a dead letter on the statute books, all Of q
| sudden turned 0ut to be endowed with vital
ity enough under the new police board to
close all manner of bars, from those of the
most fashionable hotels to the lowest "buck-
ct shops" Five hundred arrests brought
home the terrorS OF the law to the compre-
honsion Of the dullest As usual, when Any
law i striugently enforced, the complaints
of tie sufferers were loud and numerous
\ some If the reports Of this raid init
mated that the Commissioners were in>ti-
gated to make it by unworthy motives, a
representative Of the New York Mail inter
viewed Commissioner Erhardt upon tie
subject
The commissioner said that all limitations that
there was % joh' col ceaed under this raid were
absurd. The simple tact is that the Legs azure
has seen tit 20 place upon the statute hOoEs llw
prohibiting the sale OF liquor on Sunday. The
commissioners have nothing 10 say regarding the
sd m %. tho law, and they can No more ignore
or refuse 10 enforce i than they can ignore or
neglect the enforcement OF any other law. When
the Atlantic siarden trouble occurred deputlt on
of brewers and Liquor dealers appeared before the
Board and desired should shut our ey es 10 the
sunday quor traffic. We informed them that tbs
was absurd. that Il the law remained on the statute
books We should enforce It. / personally request
ed them 20 20 to ihauy aud secure its mod an
70 Eve the police authorities jursd cti0n over
the sunday liquor question Were this done the
Commissioners could adopt such rules and reruli
tons p they may from tine TO tine deem
necessary u ley are fit 10 be trusted
with the Management of the police force
they are surely hJ to be trusted With this dscre-
uouary power. nlen the subject came W IN
The Legislature there was no definite acton reach
ed and that body adjourned without hav n chang
ed u in the least. 1t therefore became the duty q
the Police Commissioners 10 enforce IT, aud this
they dd as soonas the matter was formally brou sht
10 their attention.
General orders wero sent cut to the Captains to
prevent tile sale u li0u1r On Sunday In their IRA
cincts AMI they were given to understand that they
would be held pereoLally responsible for the en-
iorccmeut 90 the order. Heretofore CaptAins have
begged the question BY say ing that they had given
the necessary orders 70 the patrolmen, and these
failed 10 report any violat On OF the Excise law
This IS eonven ent way for the Captains 10 wash
their hands OF the business. hut il won't do l.
patrolmen, We can dispense with their services
THIS Is the simple history OF this raid. The
Legs, AZURE PASSED the Excise law and saddled
me 70 ice Board with the responsibility uf
its enforcement We are pressed by citizens
70 DO So. and We do not propose 10 shlrk
OUT cuty. Arrests Of viOlat0rs % thu SIM
day law Will be made regardless Of persons when
ever suasiantiattd complaints against them are |
made, and the police viii use every exerti0n 10 |
prevent IT, being violated. The law makes no c.s- |
unct On between mont aud bacs-do or shiskev sell
in-, nor between the Water street saloon and the /
pfoGdcst hotel IN the city. AL are classed az liouur
sellers, and d they sell On Sunday are liable To the
penalties provided in the act. We shall 20 right
"u max NJ these arrests Sunday after SUNDAY until
Tie traffic Is broken up opposed To the present
law personally, but so long as Il is law will do
all IN ms power To- have it Obeyed
Gen. Vim F.smith, President Of the Police Board
was also interviewed and said that he youid have !
been glad had the Legislature notified the law in
such manner as to DO away with the complaints !
Sslnst Il. bot this the Legislature has not seen liz
Ia do, and II only remained for the Board 10 en,orce
Tue statute. when asked why the law had been
iiloWed 10 remain imperative fora number Of years
ana especially for the last four months in which !
ie had been President, the General replied thaf
.ti@mpis Lad been made from time to time though
ID smaller scale than the present one lie stated
o. conclas4on that Superintendent Nalling would
g held str city accountable for the enforcement Of
Dee iaW Lex sunday and on all ensuing SUNDAYS.
Ld iat any lure On his part to enforce Il would
- Inn "allin@l INTO trouble with the Board
Ofcourse tie Commissioners knew what
would be TIE effect Of an honest and un-
compromising execution Of the law, in a
ity like New York They knew the polit-
'al power, in both parties, that lies back
the liquor sellers. They anticipated a
term Of abuse and they are getting some
1t. But they are not the kind of wen to !
C easily scared, or moved from the clear /
ne Of their duty. Every law-abiding citi- |
N in the land must approve their courss Z !
nd ifoihcialS charged with the execution of /
Re laws everywhere, in city or country,
ould follow tneir example, and do their
ity without lear, favor or malice, the
use Of law and order would be greatly the
liner [