New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-03-08
THE EXCISE BILL KILLED.

THE ENACTING CLAUSE STRICKEN Otl Bf NoiH
OF "a 10 SO. AFTER WARM DEBATE IN The
ASSEMBLY.
Ivpou TIE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or HE TRIBUNE
ALBANY. March THE Excise Law of 1857
stands. all the Efforts to modify IL having come OF
nouybt Even the city OF New-Yor& the Legislature
will not except from its severe commands. The Day
ILL., which embodied the policy OF an exception ana
which was supported by all Of the twenty one kepIe
seDtatves of New-York in the Assembly. was not only
defeated IN that body to-day, but all further hearing Oh
the bill was rendered impossible by the
victorious majority. Unless there is marvellous
change Of temper, it would seem from the spirit with
which this bill treated by the Assembly that IL
would be waste of for persons to attempt 10
secure auv modification whatever OF the present EXclse
laws In the debates and votes taken upon Inc DAILY
bill the members from cities were invariably opposed |"
members from country districts. At first in the
debates. the city members were cautious lh
their speeches, and put forth n great many
generaltics afraid OF drawing out speeches from
fanatical temperance men among their opponents ihe
opponents Of the bill said little about the measure but
had made some excellent temperance speeches For
over month the bill has thus dragged along at no time
vote being taken which indicated its probable tate 10
day the city mbers. especially from Ncw-hoiR ana
Brooklyn apparently exasperated by their i'll success III
getting votes pledged to the bill, threw hside
caution and charged home on Their opponents
I'm a series Of strong speeches. The gist OF
their argument was that tho law Of 1857
not being enforced enforceable in New-Iork the
lowest class of liquor stores nouiished; While II the
DAILY bill YVES passed this class could he suppressed ana
dealers who would have more regard Tor the law ana sen
ess deeteYos LIQUORS would be encouraged to enter the
business Speeches in this line of argument were made
by Messrs DAILY, Brooks l. l. Hayes Grady, Fitzlat-
rick and Bergen The opposition contended that the
present law must DE thorn IN the size OF the
liquor-dealers OF New-York. or they would not
seek 10 have it nodded. Moreover they
did not believe that tho best sentiment OF
New.York regarding the present Excise law was ex-
messed by its twtntyone Assemblymen. Speeches OF
this character were made by Messrs Gilbert, Aiyord'
Dewitt c. Peek. and Warins. MI william Jones' o'
Utica, made unique speech-one wholly apart from
those of groups mentioned above He is an DID, gray
headed farmer and. from his accent, II would appear
is Welshman. His speech was frank one in favor of
permitting any one to drink who desired 10 do 90 He
said boldly that he had drank liquor all his life, and
hoped TO do so till he died II was good for people
I'm his opinion lie had circumnavgated the globe three
times ana had witnessed the drinking habits OF various
peoples before coming to thiS belief lie claimed that
the people OF Utica as moral "a the inhabitants OF
any other city the State. and yet, in journey OF
tweny-seyen miles through the rain on sunday aS TO
investigate the subject he had been athletic get glass OF
ale at every liquor store MI JonesS speech greatly
amused the Assembly often happens the sucech of
the matteroaet speaker contained the only humor OF
all the speeches made Below viii be found extracts
from the chic: speeches made:
TIE DEBATE.
.ir Brooks-This bill has been well considered Those
who favor are of just good moral character IA the
gentlemen who oppose it. Any man who Vlsts Now
York will sec that there isn't attempt 10 obey The law
Of 1887 Iii LAW against public opinion. Gentlemen
from the rural cannot impose and enforce such
a law on New-York. We are the representatives OF
the people there over 10000 people there have asked
for modification OF the law. Any law that limits the
sale of liquors tavcrns in cities has never uech en-
forced aud never viii be enforced The gentlemen from
tho country where single hotel bar sufiice' Tor the
wants Of the inhabitants OF village ought not TO impose
their views upon the inhabitants Of cities
Mr. Gilbert-f believe this bill was conceived IN In
inuity and will he born In sin. We are told that the law
ia against public opinion. answer that the pnblc OF
New-York las not been re. resented here. was
in New-York few days ago, aud heard the opinions
OF bankers merchants andIawyers on the subject Iney
introduced it, I did not They protested against any
change in the present law. Therefore say that inc
frue sentiment OF NewYOrk has not been represented
We are told by Mr. Astor that the liquor trade Is es
mate trade The time viii come when men Will not dare
to get upon tie Goor Of this House and utter such doc
trnc Is it not legitmae to introduce want and misery
to TamilIesi
Mr. Grady-Iet me call the attention OF the Assembly
to the fact that trade Of the opponents of
this bill is hard words Sin miquty and misery, are
Their words in argument Lev ire bring them down to
facts The OF this bill is TO destroy the buckeshops
u
Mr. IL Hayes-shall we have law which can be en-
forced or one that Is enforced Prohibtory lawshaye
never been enforced The Law of 1857 s inocEery
invites to crime By bringing the laws into contempt
let us put the liquor selling into the hands
of men who can be trusted to obey the laws
We here. trying to get law which will protect us
against the eternal violation OF the law. TIE law OF
1857 has not been enforced day 1t is utterly demon
azing. We mast have some law. Let us, as men, and
not as moralsts consider the matter. stop this eternal
talk about the morality of liquor selling and go to work
at passing reasonable law
Mr. Warins-This matter OF getting at the opinion OF
locality is difficult. Let me say that srehd tweiYe
out Of the twenty-four hours during tne Su,pne, III
and others, and they all are opposed 10 te passage Vi
this law. ,,,.-- VII. .,u..ou,. -
singular sIprtacle How came the mOustrous debt on
the back OF New-Yorki Toe deot was iaregiy oe TO
Tweed who was elected by the run power bFeu llcr
his crimes were known the iunI power eec'eu nun 10
the legislature. .. .o
The law IS a good one for us" In Gods name icy
them keepIt lut that no reason why the cites OF
The state should have excise law which they can
enforce We want reasonable law one that we can en-
force Temperance lectures have nothing to 90 with
M Ayofd-The NEWCOMERS demand that we give
t,em Isy which they can enforce. 80 we to con
scr Sbaf the awbreakers think about law are WEI
Probably the criminal classes wOnld make Sniir ue
Iand that should weaken the laws that affect thtin.
Mr.. Jones bad drank ale. beer aud whlskey rom hs
youth the present tne and believed II good Tor n
lie hid been al ound world twice in the prosecution
OF his business. had been backwards and forwards
good deal during his life, and he believed he re-
fuied in his person the idea thai liquor huriu
He had eleven children. ten grandchildren, ana Tour
ioor nc hoped TO have several gc..tgCat grandchildren
His advice to every one OF them was ~ use liquor II
they wanted it, ana be ashamed OF il. He not
ashamed 70 say that he used g. and had always used IT,
and would continue TO Use IL.
Mr.. Dqly-I challenge q denial when say that to-day
there is not rIu-shop IN ScWIOrk than there
was a year ago last April, when the Court o. Ap-
peals gave its decision. To-day there are 5000
licenses ont in Ncw-IorE and 5000 pcrsons
or 1aged In the business. T.cre 800 licences
out in Albany. Are there GOO hotels in Albany! We
secognze the horrors rum, and seek 20 restrain its
sale We only differ about the method. We ciaiin mat
the thoughtiu sentiment OF New-IOrh demands a
change INA The law The question Is, whether we siali