The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-15
THE LIQUOR LAW.
How the Police Execute and
the Dealers EVade 1t.
FEWER ARRESTS AND CALMER COUNCILS.
The Aldermen Wish to Replace
Commissioner Erhardt.

Commissioners Erhardt.
The troubles Of the liquor dealers still unended,
and yesterday the OF things substantially IN
changed The Mayor not having made yet the prom
sed removals of the Police Commissioners the IN
structons OF tho police not changed, though
certain iaxity certainly manifested IN their long
continued raid upon the saloons. As viii DO seen
from the interview with Police Commissioner
Nichols, which follows. that gentleman now
declares his willingness to abate the nu-
sance which still disturbs the city, but processes
to be unable to take action until the return oil
Commissioner Erhardt from his bridal tour The
liquor Dealers hoping to ind relief when Mr. Erhardt
returns, now ardently pray that the honeymoon OF
powerful temperance advocate may not be OF the
'inked sweetness long drawn OUT" and not extend
more than q fow days longer. The conversation with
Mr. Nichols alluded to was substantially as folows:-
commissioner. Is there anything new in the action
or your Board with reference the excise raids Y"
''No, sir, nothing new. believe my position has
already been understood. am opposed-as Always
have been-to these wholesale raids, and should De
most happyto give my vote for esssniny the harsh
these for violation OF tho liquor law,
making them, as tar as possible during the daytime,
aud sparng from those honest people who, In
belief that their receipts from the Excise Board
open, did not Intentionally violate the law These
sudden raids are bad In the enforcement of tho
liquor law as In suppressing the social evil. Law
should certainly not be enforced through spasmodc
means like raos but through regular ana proper
methods"
I'll you thus disapprove OF these arrests why are
they still kept ups''
'.Well SIR, l am only ono member Of the Board.
Mr. Erhardt, as you are aware is away on his bridal
hsxut md
can, therefore, take action whatever. However.
Mr. Erhardt Ibeeve, will be back Monday evening
next. and think no will act with Mr. Wheeler and
myself aHording relief to q class OF people who are
certainly harshy dealt with in being locked up taken
away their families and deprived Of their means
Of earning their livelihood"
WHAT COMMISSIONER CAN DO.
III you always have been opposed to these raids,
Mr. Commissioner, how Is It that this one was insti-
tuted 7"
~ give you my word OF honor that never knew
anything this raid until read 1t in my bed FRI
day morning last for laid up with u sprained
ankle that Thursday evening when the first grand
raid was executed. The matter never acted upon
by the Board at all, and It took me as much Dy sur
prise as II did YOU"
elias any Commissioner. then, the right, of his
own personal volition, to order such a raidg"
swell, | don't know but what . Commissioner
might call attention Of the Superintendent to the
fact law upon statute books was being gen.
orally and openly violated and to the necessity OF
forcing It,"
els II true has been openly charged IN the Board
Of Aldermen, that Mr. Erhardt took this steps''
I'll Mr. Ernardt did IT DON'T know " Mr.. Nichols
replied, with energetic aacrIty. II have no knowi-
edge oil Mr. Erhardt having done any such thing"
s.Haye YOU heard any trustworthy estimates as to
the amount OF capital invested IN this city III ono way
and another in The business affected by tho raidS"
Who had made careful CALCULATIONS on the subject gave
me as the result OF his observations the ngure of
| $3.50 900 600 In this total he embraced the whole.
well retail trade, brewsries, distieries
| and ali the other branches or course the wholesale
/ trade IS somewhat Affected, as many OF their
toners viii be unable to pay their debts on account OF
| the sloppage Of their business"
| Touching upon delicate ground, tho writer
! questioned the Commissioner whether he had yet
beOn notified Of the intention OF the Mayor to remove
| the Poiico Board.
| ~ have heard nothing about that except what /
| have read in the public prints officials, however,
| not usually removed tor doing their duty, are
theyY The Mayor must have charges against US be-
fore he can remove u.s. andt would be something new
removal However, II the Mayor m ans to remove
he Is the person TO give you Information and not !"
MAYORS POWER TO REMOVE
The Mayor Is still unprepared TO communicate his
| probable action, altnougn AT the Office oil Mcssrs.
Frederick Dc Barry Co II was still maintained that,
IN private c0nversation with Mr. FREDERICK Do Barry,
| the Mayor had solemny promised 10 remove the
| present Police Board
Tue question as 10 who possesses the power
| move the Excise Commissioners has been referred
for consideration 10 Assistant Corporation Counsel
| Andrews That gentleman has solicited the opinion
OF some promiaent lawyers as TO whether the Mayor
has the necessary authority. IL ID understood tney
cannot give any positive opinion IN the matter until II
Is decided by the Court oi Appeals. II Is also
missed that under general law passed In 1857 these
Commissioners are county officers ana only be
moved by the Governor IN the same manner as pro-
vided Cases OF delinquent snerlifs.
Tne meeting OF liquor dealers and others tonight
Steinway Hall will undoubtedly be largely attended
The crowd At the Excise Commission yesterday
large ever, and the saloons continued TO be
either evade the vigilance 0f the police
by steatny modes OF business IL was stated that
quite large oil officers citizens dress went
about az spies, but NJ Police Headquarters this was
oenied
THE ALDERMEN.
The Aldermen again occupied u considerable portion
OF their time yesterday discussing the excise ques
The usual amount OF denunciation INDUCED
IN by democratic members as to the action OF Tue
Police In causing arbitrary arrests Of
liquor Dealers while the republicans jealousy de-
tended these ofnc,als, on the ground that they
SIMPLY dischargng duties made incumbent upon them
under tho provisions OF the Excise law
A new aspect however, was gwen to the debera-
tons, in tue Introduction by Aiderhau Purroy Of a
resolution further denouncng the Police Department,
ana calling upon Mayor Ely 10 soma IN NJ once the
name vi democrat for Mr. Erhardt's place. The
solution reads rs follows:--
Whereas the Board Of Police Commissioners under law
enacted =. long ago as 1897 have oegun sudden aud IN
disregard Of the fact that many these dealers had
s Of rsespss aud in many eases these
were paid ana receipt: taken under
ate ection until such lime the present intricate
amended. which representation received implied in
uorsement from the Police Commissioners by reason OF
their long continued inscon aud whereas the injustice
done retail liquor dealers under the facts
cited has been nagraut TO call forth
from the highest criminal judge Of this city
in the recent trials Of certain indicted liquor
DEALERS well merited condemnation OF the officials
cerncd IN the pcrpetratcn thereof: and whereas It is
we'll known 10 all persons familiar with the of
the Police Board that Com mssioner joel
hardt OF MS shrewdncss aud energy con-
trolling power therein ana that he is mainly responsible
for the present spasnodic police raids responsibility
which ~ recent meeting he openly assumed; aud
whereas the Of office OF said Joel Is.
Erhardt. expired the 10Th April
holds office and thus enabled these raids only
by OF the failure His Honor the Mayor nomi
nate 70 the Board OF Aldermen as hs successor
spectacle citizen who Is politically with the party
which the people o this city have Entrusted
and to which three outns OF its Delong
! now, therefore. be IL
hesoiveu That committee Of three be appointed by
the Chair wait Ills Honor the Mayor
fuv him conviction OF this Board that
present excise troubles be satisfactorily settled
the efficiency ana harmony OF the public service i'm
proved II he will nominate to this Board respectable
democrat this city fill the Police