The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-08-10
LIQUOR DEALERS ANNOYED.
THEIR IMPRESSION TBfT THERE rs
SOMETIifNG UNDERHIND.
superintendent WnIiinu's Explanation OF the
Arrests Amer Court Hours Can Anybody
Make Little Needed Political Cnpita1f

1t was not the damp atmosphere that re-
duccd the number of applicants for licenses
yesterday to less than that of any other day
since the police began their raids upon the bar
rooms. The influence Of the more thoughtful
dealers is beginning to be felt.
"Whnt is the usc." ono dealer inquired. " OF
putting our money up herc2 1t doesn't protect
any ono from arrest. and tho police behave.
when II receipt is shown. as though they looked
upon 1t IA only a trick to evado the law. Most
OF us are beginning to understand this now.
and we might as we'll have our money us 10
have it waiting here for month"
Among the dealers yesterday the feeling that
they are being unjustly dealt with was gaining
ground. The technicaitics OF the law nro lost
sight Of as the belief grows stronger. and 1t is
openly charged that there is something behind
tho acts Of the police. Tho burden Of complaint
is that in the teeth Of an explicit understanding
with the Police Commissioners that dealers
holding receipts from the Excise Board should
not he arrested. such receipts are laughed nj by
the Police Captains and are not recognized. IL
Is complained. further that responsible dealers
are arrested late at night and thrown into tho
police stations instead Of being taken hy day
during court hours. In addition 10 this. the alo
md beer sellers feel that Judge Smith ought to
decide whether they como under the provisions
OF the law of 1857.
See how il works against us" said the pro-
pretOr of n large lager beer saloon in the Bow
cry. " The mntter ia loft TO- Judge Smith for
decision 80 far as beer and ale sellers are con-
cerncd He mny decide that the now nterprc-
tation Of the law does not affect us. The Excise
| Board think So the CORPORATION Counsel thinks
so. Meantime. while he is holding back his de-
csion. we ARE arrested. taken before him. and
Put under 800 bonds for trial. For what For
| Whiting for "a decision from him. That's tho
| plain English Of it. Because. If he decides that
,he law does not Apply TO US. we are under
| is right. Isn't i fair 10 supIos that cnre not
Intentional vontors Of the law. when II Is con-
| sidered that We have always met what We have
boon told Were its rcguirementsf Then up
! comes "a new Interpretation. We nre not To
| blame ior il. certainly. when IN" lawmakers
didn't discover il for three ~ four years. and
! we don't know now whether II applics t. us or
/ not. Wouldn't the i.ir way h". under the cir
! cumstnncos. g. Jet US 20 along until some de-
| c.sion IS roachcdp But no. We are put under
/ bonds before the Court decides what Is law.
| tll YOU th"ro is something behind all this.
| Major Suurr said Yesterday that Commls-
| sionrr Nichols " tn" Police Board had erkuowl-
edged That alter the understanding with regard
! to the receipts. II IL very unfair to arrest those
who hold them. Mayor Fly tlkcs this view.
All the police Captains that the reporter
talked with Yesterday said that they did not
Our insirutlons." Capt Mcdonnell said.
were g. arrest those persons secns selling
liquors who have no lcen-" \ reccpt Is not
u lic1nse, and can't recognize i ~ such
Then yoq know nothing 81 The underst9nd-
| ing 10y which those who hold Excise Board re-
no. We have had only tho one general or.
il. nnd think ali the Captains did. the manner
OF arrest was lcft to the discretion of the Cap
| tains. | Instructed my men T. arrest every per-
! son they saw selling liquor who had no license.
| but told the men that any halfway respectable
| seller ought to be arrested IN court hours. and
ii such were discovered at night. to 20 TO court
the next day and get out magistrates war
rant and then arrest"
But some such were arrested and locked up
over night, were they not p
"Y Yes. few. believe but you know officers
| don't always use Just the beet judgment in car
| rying out orders. The larger part OF the sellers
| IN the Eighth Ward. every ono knows. arc keep
ers of low hhunts that make no prctension TO
resp, liability, and most Of those arrestod here
have been OF thet ,s clasT Thompson street suli-
'""Thcre il % no % question M" hut h. Police Board,
dealers to understand that receipt would pro-
board IN clfc.t repudiated that PROMISE said a
member OF the Excise Board. Now the deal
rrs not only look on tina. aS unjust. a hardship.
but under th" circumstances a little peculiar.
II has madn talk. hear certain hints that there
is,aa roliil al s'heme back OF i ell. That's tho
Captain, VINO II a very mild Democrat. arrested
two very respectable dealers in one ward. These
men were very strong TammHny Democrats
and hear Of similar instances elsewhere. Ii
wouldn hr proper for me To charge anything.
don't know personally Of anything. | haven't
talked with member of the Police Board for n
long time, hut 10 know that Lut for Their A.,
tiun the dim Dultios could Dee easily adjusted. OF
course there II a class that cannot be- licensed
under this hotel act. but in time these Will nd
Just themselves to the new requirements and
In lact, many Of them would never think OF
taksi9E out ,a a llconss i rnywaTb . ,o.,
know who leads the Police COmmissiO iOners Just
gs he, wants to. Hes a Republican, strong
Now. don't you sec how easy IT Is "a get the DEM
orratic liquor dealers stirred up Most OF those
arrested are strong. DemocInts. and nlnturaly
they at first lay the blame to Iammany Hall and
swear that they Will Eot thor revenge. Tint was