The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-04
THE EXCISE CRISIS.
What officials and License Holders Have
10 Say on the Question.
LICENSES TO BE RESPECTED.
No Sweeping Raids To Be Made
by the Police.

Excise Commissioner, having finished their labors
early yesterday afternoon. departed for their several
suburban and watesde to enjoy the luxury OF
quetude from oppressive Official labors In the
time certain classes OF tho city were in a ferment in
consequence Of tho PRONUNCIATION OF odict from
Police Headquarters (the text Of which published
In yesterday mornings HERALD to the edsct that tho
Excise law, as construed by tue temperance people.
would be executed to the letter.
The following is the final resolve gwen TO the
public by the Police Commissioners
Resolved That licenses duly granted by the Commission
Inn or hotel. the Of beer to drunk
On the premises. are vali and to be respected.
LICENSES RESPECTED
The assurance that licenses duly granted under
law TO be respected gwen tho Excise Com
mssioncrs' headquarters yesterday
"Atout those who receive receipts OF an applica-
ton s' was inquiry
They receive receipt that they have paid SO much
money for license to sell liquor"
"what do you do then?"
"Wihout giving the license we send out an ,n-
spector OF which the Excise Comm issioners have
twelve to ascertain whether the party applying for
license is entitled to one not According to his
report, good or bad, the license confirmed with.
held"
'You have bonds connected with the license?"
"Yes; all the licenses contain bond, sigred by two
responsible citizens, which obligatcs them in the
penalty OF $500 EACH to that the provisions
bond are complied WITH"
'How many Of these bonds have been legally con.
frmcd?''
"Out OF about eighteen hundred licenses since last
May think there are about forty bonds that have
been legally received and registered"
SUPERINTENDENT wALLINGs VIEWS.
Superintendent walling was asked by HERALD re.
porter yesterday about Instructions given police
IN regard to the execution Of order Lie stated
tina. he had given directions. With duo
recognition Of the intelligence OF the ollcors in COM
mand, he had transmitted the order to thor
several Headquarters They were to carry il
out at their own discretion. With reference
70 tho licenses they are, the Superintendent said
has hotel inn tavern license duly granted by tho
Board Of Excise 1t Is prima iacia evidence It's
reciness 1t Is not the duty" continued the Super
intendent, "oi co-ordinato department OF the city
government to 60 behind that evidence II dealer is
found selling liquor, ale and beer boer IL
cense he will be arrested and will any SELL
ing without license ut any time. Receipts for licenses
although Justices Morgan, Olterbourg and smith have
held 70 The contrary But no INSTRUCTIONS have been
given 10 the police In this respect
WHAT INSPECTOR DILKs
About I've O'Clock yesterday afternoon the now
order (No. 222 was received by Inspector Diks whose
headquarters arc on Fourteenth street. near Sixth ave-
nue.. What are you going 10 do about II 7" inquired
HE reporter, referring to the order.
''Whais the matter with the order" asked the In
spcctor. "'s all right; propose enforce my
district. You may understand that wherever
open violation OF the law we shall mako arrests
ana make them without warrants. When citizens
make complaints ana get out warrants must make
arrests There been no un stir In this district
lately. Temperance at work in some parts.
propose quietly TO enforce the law. We cunt so be-
that Will BIZ regarded as evidence Of nprvllego SELL
REcEIPrs TAKEN FOR LICENSE
Gin regard to receipts taken for license" continued
Inspector Dks, Il don't know how that will be taken.
ain not prepared TO answer that question have in
my district great many liquor sellers. In the
TtvAn thnr hama 1innn paaIA
In the Twenty ninth, sixteenth, Ninth Eighth aud
rwenty-seventh thore are a good many, and in tho
Fifteenth pretty good lot In all these there are not
many who have taken out licenses"
"RAIDs' TO MADE.
$40 you purpose making any raldsY'' asked the re-
Inspector Dilks promptly replied:-"A great many
people have an idea that there is to DO simultaneous
enforcement oil tho law all over the city. l do not
know any thing about it, There will be raid In this
district we aon't propose to go into back yards,
ascertain whether u man does this or that, but
propose to go to Work Systematically and quietly in
bucket houses where we propose immediate aud
exemplary measures"
POLICE JusTIcx SMITHS VIEWS.
The long delay oil Polio just ice Smith In giving mis-
decision IN the case OF the People vs. The Excise Com
mssioncrs is beginning to eXcItc much IN liquor
circles. The Commissioners OF Excise. IL will DO
mcmberei, were arrested nearly month ago at the
nnoc people. Tho charge against tncn, was issuing
Illegal licenses. MIR. Mundy took the ground
,ha. the decision Of the cour, Of Appeals
ON the premises, except to inns, tavcrns
or hotels worthless. After long argument, by Mr.
Mundy or the temperance advocates and Mr.. Diet
cnaorf for the Commissioners Judge Smith, sitting
IN the Tombs Court took the papers rcscrving his de-
summer VACATION and returned only the present week.
When asked by the HERALD reporter yesterday about
good deal the law, but there are still
somo few points which wish cleared
that within lew days viii be able to announce il.
Myphysca condition is not good at the present time,
otherwise the delay would rot be SO long" The
observation, It recently having met with pain
iul injury. which necessitates hts. relraning
from much reading or writing. Win refer
ence TO the validity of receipts gwen by
Ihe Board OF Excise to applicants for Licenses Judge
Smith said:"l 10 not regard them sufficient. The
!uw requires liquor dealers to have proper license,
and such receipt is certainly not proper license,
whatever it may indicate to the intention OF tho
parties" In this view oher police magistrates
concur.
Judge Smith declined intima.ing the tenor of his
coming decision until such time fully prepared.
LIQUOR DEALERS VIEWS.
Among the noteworthy liquor dealers OF the Six |
tcenth ward Is Philip Mcdowell, known to fame under
The ola regime as the City Hall clock wnder. Mr. |
Mcdowell used to call his place wine room, but,
common with other dealers, he resolved 10 accom-
modaie himself to the law anu Opon tavern. HIS |
hotel is now IN operation, although he is not troubled
with lodgcrs and MS register st presents spotless
page he has his receipt Tor license leo paid 10
the Board OF Excise, which he considers equal to y
reporter OF the HERALD found him yesterday morning
sitting in front Of his place, and sought his views on
the EXCISE problem
III don't know what TO think, he sad al applied /
for license nearly three weeks ago; gave bond
CURED by law and received receipt for sI5 hich
paid to tie Board the condition beng that was to |
nave formal license within ten days or have tho |
money refunded. have heard nothing moro about |
tho matter sincc There has certainly been time |
enough pass upon my character, while my ability |
to keep hotel In good iath cannot be |
questioned. The delay Is dIsagreeabe, TO say
the least OF II, especially under tho recent |
order OF the Police Department any policeman may |
give man trouble. 1t is not pleasant be dragged
to station house, kept all night and taken 10 police
In the morning, even II you are sure 10 DO dis
charged IN the emu"
What do you think will DO the method Of enforcing |
tho law 7'
"lf | to judge from what see in the HERALD |
this morning the law will DO enforced alter the old |
fashiontbe small dealers will be prosecuted while Tho
great houses will not DC ntcSiercd with. That Is what
] call beginning at the wrong end understand that
NO licenses have yot been granted aud that big |
and little the footing, have their receipts
I'M mi uts at a h,