The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-23
What the Officials, It's Victims and the
Public Think Of II.
IT'S POLITICAL EFFECT.
Tammany Likely to Suffer From
Police Zeal.
POLICE COMMISSIONERS STARTLED.
They Did Not Know Their Subordinates
Intended to Enforce the Law.

u'tSisdSd " LiiS'SS u'S Law
Amer twenty-tour hours OF mingled panic and ndig.
nation liquor dealers their equilib-
rum, and like Don Carlos, they have determined
reserve the future for themselves Never be-
lore since the formation Of the Metropolitan Police
District twenty years ago, has board Of po
lice commissioners had to encounter such storm OF
criticism and contempt has been poured since
Sunday at upon the heads Of Mossrs. Smith, Err
hardt, Wheeler and Nichols To say that the people
who engaged in the sale of beer, whiskey, brandy
and other beverages are excited and disturbed about
the eccentrcally raid Of Sunday convey
but faint idea OF the feeling manifested by the liquor
dealing fraternity. The arrest OF 500 liquor
dealers and their the station houses during
The afternoon subsequently caused confusion
In tho families OF these persons that many cases
there but little business dono in the various
liquor stores yesterday. themornng hour like that in
Congress- being devoted of the previous
days performances.
In the districts east Of the Bowery and It's vicinity
the German, Scavonian and Scandinavian peoples
largely abound, and these peoples being devoted
their beer feel very earnestly about the raid and
not hesitate to talk 'sbottom facts" Fully sixty per
cent Of the arrested belonged either to the
Teutonc Sclavonc race.
In the matter OF certain outrages committed by the
police ON females who happened 10 be in tho saloons
when arrests were made bitter comments were heard
on all sides, and 1t than probable that tho
officers who acted roughly will have to answer for it
hereafter
POLITICS LAwP
All kinds Of suggestions have been made and all
sorts Of reasons have been given as to tho cause
Of The sudden raid. All tho tl-Tammany men
who have recovered from thar hoarseness
resulting from expressed indignation on Sunday
declare that the raid made by direction Of Mr. John
Kelly.
Then there various other views beside the FORE
going, Some OF the liquor Dealers one notable in
stance being that Of prominent hotel keeper on
Broadway, declared that II was partly owing to
the combined influence in the Board OF West
Point drill and Puritan fanaticism. sAnd," said he,
'when you got West Point and Puritanism combined
can you have anything worse?
The general feeling throughout tho city is decidedly
against these Sunday raids and in favor Of having the
Police Commissioners to summon all offenders against
the Excise law before them II guilty them tho feeling
is to fine them but not to have any more of these
sudden and summary police raids arbitrary in their
nature and SO useless in their effects.
THE FEELING AMONG OFFICIALS.
1t was not unnatural suppose that the action Of
the police Sunday would be reflected in various
ways ut tho Central Once yesterday. Tho liquor
dealers OF New York largo and powerful body.
They do much in political matters, and many OF
them have a considerable number OF hencbmen, some
belonging to tho higher some to the lower class Of
politicians Here grand opportunity to show
how they would stand by their friends OF the bottle
and glass! 1t must be said that whatever obligations
the politicians may be under 10 the latter gentle
men, they showed themselves anxious to .acquit
them yesterday Not merely had protest TO be
tered against the furious made upon friends
but some kind Of pledge had to be obtained for its
non-recurrcnce. So the Central Once thronged
yesterday with the political friends OF the loud,
mond-bepinned proprietor Of the fashionable ~ bar
ROOM and Of tho modest but not less ambitious
master Of the second rate gin mill II may
believe the angry Of these cheraiers de
po.atiqne II Will go exceedingly hard with Tammany
Hall in the next election
IL OF presumed that would be able
to give better account OF the for Sundays
display OF zeal than the Police
themselves a HERALD reporter waited upon General
smith in order to get that urbane gentleman S state
mcnt on the point
s.Was there" said the HERALD man to General
Smith, "any special condition oi things IN New York
Immediately before last sunday call for the unusually
rigorous enforcement OF the Sunday Liquor law by
order OF the Commissioners OF Poiice?"
The Commissioners gave special orders for last
Sunday any moro than for any other Sunday
.sBut presume the Commissioners wero aware that
some very unusual vigilance was going to BIO exercised
mot at all The first news which myself had OF tho
very large number OF arrests made yesterday in this
mornings papers"
rhcn 10 what do you attribute this very marked in
crease Of action on the part OF the polcc?"
III have 10 speak for myself as President Of the
Board OF Police Commissioners should say that 1t IS
possibly due to tho fact that the police captains are
Kcttng oil the TACT that will tolerate tho
partial Of any law which they have the
iuty OF seeing obeycd. It might TOO, have become
rcar that II the captains could not be brought
their duty possibly those 10 command over them would
huUQ frn ThA
Police Commissioners have taken specia action in
this matter since January last; but charges have
This matter and It may have seemed good to those
mediateIy Them TO that they performed their
Whole duty. Upon the details OF the natter l think
he best TO gve you Information is Superintendent
walng"
Ihe Sunday Liquor law as II stands; do you think
tooc a bad law Y"
have, Of course, my own private opinion with re-
vard u law as II stands, and do say that II
night not be ndvantagcously nodded; but with that
question l. public iunctiopary, havo nothing
All know Is that there IS law prohibiting the sale Of
liquor in New York on Sunday; that the law has
norced; that It is the duty OF the police captains
their suoordina,es to enforce ii here to see
ihem do their duty, and n the Legislature at Albany
hold the people OF New York they should not have
wafer Sunday my duty would De % SEQ that water
they did not get aud water they should not have Ny
convictions might be MORALLY opposed 10 any such
Legislation but an act the Legislature
COMMISSIONERS NICHOLS AND WHEELER
These gentlemen corroborated the statement
OF the PRESIDENT OF the boaru Win regard
70 their ignorance OF any unusual display OF
zenl contemplated by the police ON Sunday.
They had not tncy said, any more discretion IN the
premises than the President They thought that con-
Idering the law had been loosely enforced for so
long period, but fair that the liquor dealers in
each precinct should have been previously notified OF
The contemplated action Of the police. that much
unnecessary hardship would thereby have
been obviated. Both wcro very decided in their con-
dcnnaton Of the law as il stands, which simply
amounts to penalty upon every citizen Of New
York. They thought that every purpose would be
served BY requiring liquor dealers not 10 Keep their
places osensibly open, TO hold them responsible tor
tie orderly conduct Of their places OF business and,
with these restrictions, to allow Thorn to sell liquor
Sundays
SUPERINTENDENT wAILryG.
"well, Mr.. Walhng,n said the HERALD man, "what
Is all this about You have all the liquor dealers in