New-York tribune., 1878-03-30
TEMPERANCE AND EXCISE.

WARM DEBATE IN HE ASSEMBLY on MIR. BRoOkss
RESOLUTION FAyORlSG THE MoFFErr LIQUOR
LAW For Ngw-YoRK CrrY-rHE RESOLUTION
ADOPITD.
lrRoM TIIE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.l
ALBANY, March 29.-The extreme total abb
stinonce men la the Legislature VIII not accept the
Mofiett Liquor Law with It's bell punch They are con-
tent with fe law Of 1857 and afraid that however
harmless any modification OF that law may sce 1t will
contain some sentence that viii drive sword through
its heart AS expressed the idea. Even the temp
tson Of securing revenue to the state does not allure
the Temperance watch-dogs away from their posts
This was made clearly evident BY debate IN the As
scnbly to-day.
MIR. Tras,us Brooks called up resolution, offered by
hn last Monday. directing The Committee on cities 10
report upon the expedcncv Of substituting the Mohett
Liquor Law for the Law OF 1897 In Nrw-lorS city aone
imposing "A tax Of zig cents each alcoholic drink and
u cent each glass of wine Dear or porter the cei
Sept Of the CITY Of New-York and ut the same time
promote the cause of temperance" MI BROOKS made
tom raferrig incidentally to the experience OF Virginia
with the Mohett Law and the large income tnat the
State had received from that method OF taxation.
He argued that the tax was imposed upon
the proper person. the buyer OF the liquor under the
upon the DAILY bill and chiefly contributed to its defeat.
hoty attacked the resolution. His main argument was
that the liquor dealers dcs rcd the passage OF tho Mof-
fetf Law and that therefore II was evident the law
woud give greater iacillie, for liquor selling than did
ought TO beware any such devices put forward In the
v In a 9e a as 81 m . MT
the passage OF the resolution and had supported the Day
Excise bin as ms rcspectabllily ana eminence when ad
vOcang bill gave great weight 10 H. Liquor dealers
rpiOlccd 10 have such chalnpion
skirnish OF very lively nature between Mr. Grady and
Mr. skinner. MIR Grady referred tauntingy to members
of s sSe TH2 %a Mr. sSnSs sd
knew members who did not practice what they preached
men who made speeches throughout the state IN iay3r
OF total abstinence, ana then III inc hssemDy
had voted in favor Of throwing open the Hood
gates that prevent the flowing of rum
freely This thrust was reference TO the wellknown'
fact that Mr.. Grady has been making temperance
ter in the Assembly voted In favor OF the Day bii Mr
Brooks, whose dark face had become teniolh darker
reply 10 it. lie started OUT with the declara; n
tion that he deeply regretted that the debate mad
he should say that Mr. GberPs remarks had been un-
genilcmany. Mr. Gilbert had no right u associate nm
OR. Brooks with vile things He would warn tue gen
tleinan that the words vi the member who had not
charity woud bo regarded by his fclIow-ineI-
e crs sVSn %ere as en % smperae S as Mr. IN The
senby, who mad been charged by that gentleman with
rghi to "a ociate him lMr. Brooks with those men
Mr. Gilbert content, because 1t could not be helped
York but opposed every effort that would tend to
make these saloons OF better character ana reduce
could be an honest difference Of opinion about the
methods OF dealing with liquor soing and thai he had
Very calm and cool in his reply. He denied that
he had been personal or on unsenemsniy IN ,a, hi,
the Influence OF such u man as Mr.. Brooks
was worth thousandAto the liquor trac whereas that Of
men closer under It's dark shadow was not worth but
tan Men OF high character were needed to give the
Daly bill responsibility lie had no charity Tor wrong
and hoped bc never would have. There nothing thai
could offend God more than weakly extending charity
lie had the greatest respect for MI Brooks
butAeyerheless opposed him because lie thought Tho
Mofett Law put a premium on liquor selling No
amount OF revenue TO New-York City could
for that. Mr.. Brooks's resolution was then passed
The Committee on Cities reported fav0rably to-day the
bill transferring the Excise Department to the Police
Commissioners.