The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-07-15
THE EXCISE TROUBLE.

PRESIDENT MORTON coRaEcrs SOME OF THE
STATEMENTS OF THE LIQUOR DEALERS AND
INDICATES THE FUTURE POLICY OF THE FIX
cIsgB GARD.
Relative TO certain charges made n the HERALD OF
yesterday the authority OF liquor dealers 10 the
loose way The EXCISE Commissioners had Of doing
business HERALD reporter yesterday called upon
President Morton Tor information. Mr. Morton stated
that shere is truth in tho statement that licenses
were issued TO csrcpu,abs places in the Bowery,
Greene, Elizabeth and other streets 10 tho major
ity o. 200 houses OF III famc in the Twcnty ninth pre-
cnct. 'i deny" said he, "hat there is any Justif-
cation for any such assertion and TO illustrate, VIII
state that the Bosrd OF Police returned TO us during
last year list OF G24 places where liquor sold. OF
this number 2li indicated o!
picious character, some bong marked doubtful
and the others bad Inns police report indicated
ovor 400 as NJ subjects Tor accnscs we have
granted, up tn May l. 6251 license. At the time OF the
decision by the Court OF Appeals on March ~
our powers 10 grant licenses, under which
strcted 10 the issuance OF licenses only keepers OF
inns, tayerns and hotels, there were lbs applications
Enacted upon. During the year rejected III appli-
cations, principally on account OF tho character OF
owner place. II VIII he seen, therefore, that the
unlicensed places were between 200 and 1900 Many
OF these were persons who knew II they applied they
would DO refused licenses account OF character. The
published Stall emcnt that there are 200 unlicensed
places In the city unexplained by the fact that since
May We nave issned no licenses, and about 900 OF
these 5000 licenses have apscd since that date. The
small number reported by the police unfit Tor
license SHOWS how uuwarran ted IS the statement that
licenses have .hecn issued Ia resorts for gangs Of
thevcs With one singlc exception, all who were re-
ported upon ~ tho police were refused licenses !
think II sufficient 10 dispose OF the sweeping state
ments OF the liquor dealers tor state II is
tissue Of alschoud you easily learn If you de-
from examination OF the records OF tins Office,
which arc at your disposal"
In answer TO query as to the probable future
said that the Board would OF course he governed by
the requirements OF the law. "A talk OF cvaaing tho
law said no. 'by putting throo beds in the places TO
be licensed is simply ridiculous. The law requires
cases wncro persons dosire 10 sell liquor TO be drank
on the premises that the propetors shall keep all Inn,
tavern or hotel We Interpret this tho courts have
acfncd It-a place where oil the wants oil traveller
BIO obtained. In other words, restaurant that
supplies meals only is not n, place TO be licensed
ing house merely meet the requirements
OF the law. Both must be furnished. In
granting licenses do not propose that every
hotel shall b. kept the same style AS the Fifth Ave.
or Windsor hotels, every one has not the
10 do 90. IL the Keeper OF restaurant sucn us are
found down town desires to prevent the breaking up
oil his BUSINESS all that Is necessary IS to add lodging
Accommodations Tor guests. This will make tho place
hotel and emitted liccnsc II other objccto
exists. The result will bc that many saloon keepers
who cannot conform TO tho law will DO iorceu To out
II will doubtless entail har ishps upon very many de-
serving who have invested capital in IL; but tho
Board give them redress Ia Wow OF tho decision
or the courts