New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-04-06
LOCAL MISCELLANY.

THE EXCISE BOARD WANTS INFORMATION
WHICH THE POLICE COMMISSIONERS DEcIINE TO
COLLECT FOR IT.
An apparent conflict has arisen between the
Police commissioners and the Board Of Excise "hen
the present Excise Commissioners, Mr. Morrison ana
DE- Merlle, went into Office, recently they Iounu
the books and the affairs Of the board il tI'"
confusion. Not only were tnancia nl"''oi'
,nixed M and the accounts Of the Office ID
poor condition, but it was Impossible 70 nhu
out who had received licenses nd what places were cen
Quoted IN violation Of the law The now COMMISSION rs
began a rigid system o. bookkeeping and to-day are
able 10 present the names Of all hqloracaes 10 "o III
licenses have been granted. the amount OF money re
ctved for them and the character of the places which
these licenses protect. The Commissioners some
weeks ago instructed their inspectors to
make thorough canvass Of the city ana
report the names, location and propTietors OF all
plaees where duor is Sold and whether or not licenses
have been procured As there are only thIty
ton The Commissioners concluded also that ~ Mas 'o
exactly within their province 70 MAKE s'n C mem The
the city The law, they argued impo5eG un Hconses
duty OF deciding what persons should receive nce,so
and made II the plain duty o. dne lOce
The Board Of Excise thereupOn requested INC foCe
Commissioners TO furnish report upon the ehaIaced
Of each place In the CITY where IquoI o @ U the
usually sold" The Board Of Police, Yesterday naue wy
fIe assstsnce 70 enable your board to perform its
duties with success the Board Of Police are not Wli
comprehensive this The service asked is ~ no TeTcr
police duty and If performed, would PIacu u 1i
from the Board Of Excise 10 the Police Board asGie
ton and responsibility which the law conferred anu I
posed upOn the Board Of Excise. lnasmucn ps
Inc records of the Excise Commission Tor years psI
Inust contain much If not ALL the information Wucn te
Doiice cOuld furnish IL does not seem proper 10 Will
draw from pOlice duty officers in each precinct 10 MAXI
connlete and exhaustive report upon every uIIuhhg
Mace I'm the city If in the course or your Dushe5s
neca cases occur where the facts upon wnlcn 70 uSe
Whether an application should be granted are not Wth
yonr reach Wv an application in writing 10 the super
intendent YOU will receive sucn information as ne pos
mis- action of the Police Board was received Win
sunrise and regret by the Excise commission III.
Nafke said that il the Police Commissioners were hot
willing 10 undertake to respOnd 10 request SO luuSne
and comprehensVe" the Excise Board would ehueaT9r
10 make II more definite and less compTehenSSe, ne
added; THE work which We requested the 6oaIu VI
Police 10 perform is strictly police duty we n TE
neher the right the power to DO II ourselves ne
law sDeaks p.ainly We are here 10 grant IL
censes and as the police are obliged 10 arrest
the offenders against the law II is clearly their 0uy 20
ud ont who are selling liquor without license ana arrest
Them wish we had the power 70 arrest the huhuIeuS
of offenders Of the Excise Law. There would not De- III
mat case so many low dens now. Every pOlSeIlan
I'm the CITY knows The character Of the places on MS w
frO and Il would be easy for the romeo OOHls
sioners 10 give us the information we seek
The subject is attracting considerable attention III po
lice circles and among the hquOr-dealeTs'