New-York tribune., 1878-01-03
TIE NEW EXCISE BILL.

TIE NEW EXCISE BILL.
The Governor says truly enough in his Mes
SAGE, in speaking of the unsatisfactory condi-
ton of tho Excise Law: "What * needed IS
"to substitute for all existing laws on the
"subject carefully prepared statute, reason
liable in its limitations and restraints, clear
"and explicit in all it's provisions, and, above
all. com,lete in itself, to be uniformly, stead
"ily. and constantly enforced" Having
thus suggested what may be considered
an ideal of a statute, the Governor
leaves to the Legislature the work of
moulding it into practical shape. Prompt
" Mr. DAILY is on hand with a new bill, the
nrovislons of which are said to be perfectly
satisfactory to the wine and spirit dealers, and
to the brewers and maltstcrs. The act pro-
posrd "a designed To regulate the sales OF in
toyicating liquors specially in the City OF New
York. The distinction is preserved between a
license to sell liquor to be drunk on the premises,
and those which are not to be 20 consumed.
I'm each case the license fee and the amounts
of bonds to be given are fixed at what
seems to DO reasonable rate. Persons
of extreme temperance views VIII be
likely to notice that the law requires
all who are licensed to be of "good moral
"charactcr;r but if we are to regulate this
business by law, and not prohibit it altogether,
It will not do to set ont with presumption
that liquor vending and morality are totally
incompatiblc. The ultra-prOhibit0nlst who
dcnoupccs the spirit-seller as worse than a
rol,bcr and murderer rolled into one, Will be
satisfied with no possible laws regulating the
traffic and will laugh sardOnicaly ut the idea
of n "moral" barkceper Nevertheless, every
body knows that some liquor-sellers are bet
ter than others, and that some liquor-shops
are safer to go into than others. The object
of the "moralr in the statute is to get the
best men into the business who will be likely
70 90 into it at all 4; and so far the provision
seems to us wise one.
There are other safeguards in the bill which
are worthy of praise, and among them are the
unqualified restrictions upon Sunday selling
and upon vending on any election day 4; and
upon selling or giving liquor to minors, to
habitua drunkards or to persons already IN
toxicated. Licenses are to be promptly re-
yoked for any disregard of their provisions,
after due investigation. A heavy fine is to be
inflicted for any violation OF the law, and
cases prosecuted under it are to have pre-
cedence over all other cases upon the cal
cndars There is an excellent clause for
bidding the employment OF any incorporate
| " engineer. conductor. fireman, switch-tendcr,
commander, pilot mate or fireman." by any
| "conipanics or persons engaged III conveying
"rasscngers or property in the City of New
York" Intoxicated persons are to he ar
rested or pgpiShed. The ri;""""";i ri;;""'.':i ~
..n IfqdUr5 sold To unlicensed retail dealers Is
prohibited. \ novel provision is made for the
appointment of a chemical examiner OF liquors,
To whom samples of liquors purchased for the
purpose at different shops by the district
inspectors are to be submitted, in order that a
uniform standard of purity may be maintained.
Upon being detected in selling adultcrated
liquors, tho dealer Is to be warned if he com
mits second like offence, his license will be
revoked nor can he have another for a
period Of two years.
Such, briefly stated, are the provisions Of
the new hill, which appears to he carefully
and intcigently drawn. All are excellent in
their way, though it is possible that some
necessary or desirable point has been over
looked. But those who believe in a license
system at all, and even those who want some
thing more, ought TO be satisfied, if this law,
or anything like it, can be firmly and steadily
enforced in the City of NcwYork, without
fear, favor or political affection. Ii, or some
thing like il, is about the best which the
radical temperance men can expect to
get, and certainly intelligent and honor
able venders and drinkers, not besottcd,
ought to be contentcd with it. The main
point is enforcement. The weak point Of all
liquor laws is that they are not enforced ex-
cept intcrmittcntly, spasmodically, and for
some sinister purpose. They have been used
as counters for the games OF politicians. They
have been often so drafted by enthusiasts as
TO preclude themselves by their own yigor and
vitality. In their manipulation the height of
legislative laundering has often been reached.
Yet good Excise law is just as necessary in
this city as good Streets or schools, or as air
is, or a police force, or a fire department. The
present state of the whole matter is disgrace
ful, and even ludicrous.