The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-12-09
l.NOL. XLV.--N0. 100.
TIE GREAT WHlSKEY WAR.
TIE POTrCE sTHIJTNG TO ENFOHCE THE
7ROt BLESOME EXCISE LdW


tinucd all day yesterday. The proprctors OF
all OF them that are no, licensed madc n pre-
tcnce OF closing them. yet at every ono of them
1t was casy for any person who was known to
the harkcepcr as n previous customer to enter
and obtain liquor.
A reporter for THE SUN called on Mayor Ely
yesterday to ask in what direction he looked
tor an allayment Of the present excitement
"Only In legislative aid" said he. " The
only action that would probably affect the
course OF the Excise and Police Commissioners
would be their removal"
win you endcavor TO have them removed ,"
he was asked.
"I have no intentions 70 do so because have
no power | would exercise such power II
had IL. ! wish. indeed continued the Mayor
with energy. "that could be the Mayor Of this
city in reality Tor few months. Do you know.
that ia order to have one load Of street dirt re-
moved 1t requires the cooperation Of four de-
partments-the Police Department. the Dock
Department the Health Department. and the
Board OF Pilot Commissioners learned this
at recent conference in nay once relative to
street cleaning Each Of these departments is
jealous OF all the others. and NO two OF them
will act together in sympathy.
To the question why the Mayor thought It
Impossible to effect a renewal Of she Commits
sioncrs. he replied:
Some time ago had n conversation with
The Governor with reference 10 the Inspectors
OF Weights and Measures. and found that he
was indispcscd to cooperate in uc removal Of
the heads Of departments so long as they acted
within the letter Of the law"
The Mayor added that he had boon eSanin-
Ing the old Montgomerie city charter. section IS
Of which vests the power OF granting licenses
TO sell liquor exclusively in the Mayor This.
NJ courae hp saiI "was suparaedpl in later
years by various Excise laws. But the charter
6i 1873. under which We are now acting. Ok
pressly states in section li9. that all parts OF
The Montgomerie charter which wero then in
force and which were not inconsistent with
the charter OF 1873 should continue in force.
1t is claimed by some intelligent lawyers
that this revives that portion Of the old Mont
gomcrie charter which gives the Mayor the TX.
elusive power. OF granting licenses. 4 asked
the opinion Of Corporation Counsel Whitney
upon this subject this afternoon. and he thinks
u would be proper. lpropose 70 grant = license
10 some party II xt week in order o make tcst
case for legal detern nation. Even II my
action should be- oyerrued 10y the courts. II nj nll
events would compel immediate "A. ton 10y tho
Legislature in january. which hop will result
In the enactment Of a sensible cNcis" law
Later sey4nl delegations OF ldnor dealers
called on the Mayor at his Office, Io them he
learn definitely wheiher The Governor would 20.
operate with him in IN" removal OF the Excise
and Police Commissioners. He told them he
shpeNhe t.'h " -
menis S a he 'ps shniapo ' but rSspt from con
DIR. Howard Crosa D. President Of the Society
toI the Prevention ol Crime. said last evening:
Our society hrs nothing TO do " tn the present
Exciss muddle. We shall take no part in It. For
one wholly disapprove oi the ierci, proceed
gs Sta' S and diHSrr ihe raeHr ommsoners 2Ts
are both wrong--ths EN'ise Comm .sslpn"rs in
rsas ana The Fds FA,s doHS f9la ns k
Ing such harsh measures and ~ na'ihg IN
discriminate arrests; II the law had been, en-
forced against the 5000 liquor sellers who have
neither licenses nor receipts thcre would have
been no cause for complaint But the dealers
who have pnid in their money. and who hold
receipts have been treated unlusty. | agree
with Mayor Ely in the stand he has taken in
condemning IN. Commissioners our soci"ty
believes in dealing justly and iariy with the
liquor dealers. We believe in punishiug the
men who 20 on selling after they have boon de-
The Tnlnmany Committee on Organization
yesterday passed resolutions of Indignation at
tho arbitrary and offensive " manner in which
the Excise law was b ing enforced. Col. VIM
T. Roberts. ,e,S-Judge Quinn; Thomas {. L. r.
rected to consult with Mayor L.y and Police
Commissioner ,Niehols. They waited upon
Commissioner \ Nirhols last evening. Mr.. Purdy
said that tn" commltre from Tammany Hall
bad called urOn MIN pursuant to resolution to
urge upon HIM as Police C49nnlss ,on,T :, ana
the board. To- USE his Influence to mitlg gate, Us
tar ~ possible the harsh execution OF tho Ex-
The Commissioner answered: e" No one dep
recates, ihe nrbitraEy manner Of ne snlorc,'-
self For u time the EXcis' Cummiss ion"rs
Issued receilts for money without srantlns
receipts Will. 9th rs refused and in this con
nict Of authority the Police Commissioners de-
sired to pursu" moderate course AMI AZ the
same time t. Acep within the spirit and lett r Of
the law. w. however. wrre confronted by
sharge t. tlr Gran Jury OF Oyerand rcrmin"r
Jury WIS in~iru tod to inquir' into violations OF
Of The hN'sr mw. and 10 ndici all ON "lals who