The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-11-28
THE EXCISE WAR.

EFFECT OF THE HARD TIMES ON THE LIQUOR
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. MoRToNs VIEWS ON
'.LEaIsLATIvE RELrEF"--A BLUE OUTLOOK
FOR THE BARRooMs-JUDGE DUFFY AGAIN
IN DOUBT ABOUT BLEEKER
Although there seems TO be u temporary suspension
of crusade against the liquor dealers the Office Of
the Excise Commiss oners thropged throughout
yesterday by ANXIOUS looking applicants for hotel
and other licenses. Many OF these, after walt
ing hopefully Tor an opportunity TO state
their case before the President OF the Board,
wen: away with saddened faces after having . lew
questions propounded TO them by that official which
they were unable answer satisfactorily. Awaiting
himself OF the momentary leisure OF President Morton
a HERALD representative asked him what effect tho
depressed condition Of business generally bad on ths
retail liquor trade, to which be replied as follows-
DECLINE IN
s'During the past eighteen months il has been the
means Of closing fully 2, 900 liquor places In this city.
AS an index OF the hard times it may be mentioned
that in addition 10 the saloons have alluded TO as
being closed many OF the places still open are con.
t,nuaily changing hands Bills OF ITO LETT may be
pasted up all over, as there IS great difficulty IN
letting which has boon used for the sale
OF liquor Tor any other business In OF this
OF affairs the question naturally arises as TO the
result Of closing the remaining 1000 liquor saloons
and tho extent OF loss 1t would entail on real estate
owners and others"
LEGISLATIVE RELIEF
sThe hotel keepers and liquor dealers arc looking
forward with confidence TO the Legislature for relief,
do you think they will be disappointed"
.sMy opinion is that II Will difficult to obtain any
legislation that will change the present policy IN re-
gard TO the granting oil licenses to be any more
liberal than tho existing law, winch has now de-
fined by the highest legal authority. Although am
inclined think that the delegations from The large
cities would favor mobilization Of the o. o. 1901 YET
l believe that the members from the rural districts
will remain as heretofore, generally opposed to such
modification"
Justice Duffy yesterday informed Mr.. W. II. Mundy,
counsel for Law Order League, that he (:hc
ton S32 Of the Revised Code, allowing persons who
had formerly been convicted TO testify, applied 10
criminal cases. and appointed eleven o'clock A. M next
Monday the time when he will hear arguments Of
| counsel the subject Mr.. Mundy informed the
writer that In view Of the action taken by the Execu-
tive Committee OF ire Law and Order League on Mon
day evening" he does propose 10 press the actions
already commenced against certain hotel Keepers for
| violation OF the Excise law. Communications were
received by him yesterday from three poor women,
whose husbands and are spending their earnings
| in groggeries, begging his influence in having the
| dens alluded 10 closed. one OF the notes signed
| "a Suffering Mothcr with Five Unhappy Children"
IN QUEENS COUNTY.
Judge suncrn, Of Rookland county, presided In the
Queens County Court and Court OF Sessions yester-
dav in place Of judge Armstrong, who Is confined to
his house Jamaica by illness. The most important
Of the cases tricd that Of the Board OF Excise Of
the town OF Newtown against John Van Opstael JE,
wholesale liquor dooler, OF Now York IL appeared
IN evidence that tho defendant sent agent repeat
ediy into the with his wagon to solicit orders,
and tho liquor subsequently delivered by the
agent to the purchasers In Quantities less than i've
gallons. II was commended by tho prosecution that
this clear evasion OF tho law maxi ny tho sale Of
small Quantities m'soemeanor puahsnao pie. "
ton OF the Court Tho defence attempted to estab-
sh the proposition that the principal was not re-
sponsbe for thc acts OF the agent as hc was not
INFANT OF them, but iacd Tho jury, alter about halt
an hours elaboration, rendered verdict OF guilty,
default OF which to DO imprisoned sixty days Van
Opstacl ediaely paid the nc and was discharged
HIS counsel, Mr.. keene, proposes TO move Tor new
trial on n writ of error.