New-York tribune., 1878-04-18
A TEMpERANCE YICTORY.

A TEMPERANCE VICTORY.
defeat or THE HOLAHAN EXCISE BILL IN IiH A9
sEMBLY-sTRENUOUs EEFoRTS TO INFLOENOh
VorERs-CHARGEs OF BRIBERY-AN INNrSIl"A-
TON ORDERED.
t,po, rur pycrIAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TEIBUNE.l
ALBANY. April 1.-THE Assembly, to-day,
onpareptly determined to pass Mr. Hoahans Excise
hin tbongbt about the matter for q while and then
dectucd It's various moods concerning the bill were
revealed in two hours of debate voting ana resoulons
copcerningit The session altogether the most eA
citing held I'm the Assembly Chamber TINS legislative
year charges of bribery being made by MI sAher VI
Jefferson County and Committee OF InvesTiganonihto
the facts being ordered by the Assembly IL
had been rumored that the bin would be con-
sidered and therefore there an exceedingly large
attendance Of members and spectators Th' ga'erles
were crowded with New-YOrk and Brooklyn pohUcians
and agents Of the hquor-deae"s Senators foineroy'
Jacobs Oakley Pearce, and Rockwell also LEFT thelr
seats In the Senate and either from the galleries or Oh
the floor witnessed the conflict The struggle was over
the following wholesale amendment of the Excise Law
Of1s7O;
Except that in cities licenses may be granted for
period Of than year, to permit the Sae OF
surtuous quOrs to drank upon the promises, oher
than inns taverns and hotels in cases where
the person or persons licensed shall be OF goOd
moral characters ana such licenses De,oIe S peiI6 6
writing by the Mayor Of the city where the same Is Is
sued and no licenses shall be arrested ios any fio"V
OF this act except warrant duly issued All moneys
received for licenses IN cities slaH De aGlosi!eu I'S
with the Chamberlain or treasurer OF Ihetiy WI ~
the license granted 10 be used as now pfONueu lO ny
law.
For several weeks it has been known that the New
York members intended to make another attempt to
modify the present Excise Law. The DAILY bill de-
feated By very large rut It was known that sew
eral members voted against that bill had altered
their the necessity of change in the EX-
else Law and would for another bill. BY logrOllng
OF various kinds Mr.. Holahans bill was taken from its
place the calendar and pushed TO an advanced
position. IT took several weeks however, to do this
work Meanwhile canyassing for votes In its favor went
on mdus,riously. The temperance advocates watched
these movements with alarm, but were unable to stay
The progress OF the bill Nevertheless soon as it was
moved to-day Mr.. Gilbert the temperance leader
courageously attacked IT, and asked the Assembly 10 Kill
e. moving shat the enactng clause be stricken out lie
said:
Imove to recommit the bill to the Judiciary Commit
tee with instructions strike out the enactng clause
The bill has been materially changed There IS no
limitation as to the time license snail run We nave
heard OF the nonenforcement OF the law in New York
City. is due partly TO the fact that for years the laws
were confused and those VINO were empowered 70 en-
force them dld not their way clearly Ins bH
would Increase the confusion IL would also greatly IN
crease tine sale of inOx xcatng liquors 1t Is proposed
by this bill to throw down all the barriers against liquor
selling II It is 70 be- done at all is to be done 0y your
votes viii the Excise Commissioners guard the public
Experience proves the contrary. They often found
law. This bil is than the Daily bill. Tue men
who voted against that bill ought to vote against tins
We told by men that II Will be political death to
vote against this bill There IL moral law which should
govern all OF brand this bill as an infamous one.
Mr.. Grady-The member from Franklin (hr. GilDefO
does up professions. He did not act up TO
his profession Of obedience TO higher moral command
when IN the Republican caucus he advocated sticking by
the AppOrtiOnmeDt Bill, whether II right or wrong.
Some talk about liquor selling as an llgtimdte trade
answer that you might well say that legis aOn Is
igitimate much of the pauperr5m In the state
Is caused by the laws passed here The laws you pass
here no more restrain mans appetite Tor liquor
than YOU can restrain the pouring over Niagara
bhat appetite only be restrained by moral cOnvc-
tiOn ON the part OF the druHkard, that he Is dong
wrong God by drinking Not OF the liquor saloons Of
EewYOrk been closed in consequence OF the decision
Of the Court of Appeals There 5000 saloons and
1000 policemen to watch them but they are not closed
The greatest effect of toe decision has been 10 cut on
many thousand dollars from charitable institutions
A vote was then taken Mr.. Gilherts motion.
While tie being taken, Mr.. Gilbert said that
he had been told that long he member of the
Assembly, brewers would buy any hops in Franklin
County.
Mr. l. l. Hayes-KnOwtng New-YOrk as do say that
Modification the Excise Law necessary for public
order Excise Law Is not and cannot DO enforced
IfaaW executed h leads TO puDNc decentralization
Let US have law that can do something Wlih and
which will continually bring authority into con
TEMPT Let say for all that this continual lee
turing about morality Il beside the question.
Mr. GIlbetts motion defeated, by a vote of 5l
70 81. THIS apparently assured the passage Of the
bi A. II has au important relation with the vote ON
the bill ITSELF which Immediately followed. 10 Is given
in fUl below. lBepublcrns 10 Roman Democrats IL
ftQiicl