New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-05-03
A PROTEST FROM me NATIONAL rEMPERANcE So
CITY.
To the Editor Of me Tribune.


To the Editor Of The Tribune
SIR: The Excise bill for New-YOrk, Brook
Ign and 40, pending before the Assembly. has
passed 70 its third reading aud should pass further
for many reasons TO two OF which only viii refer in
this article:
Firs-Tt places no restriction the number Of drink
ing places that may be licensed This question s left 10
the discretion OF the Excise Boards. without some
limitation in the law this discretion viii surely be
abused. The law Of 1857 permits the granting
OF licenses for the sale OF strong and sp.rtuous
liquors only 10 actual hotel-keepers, and the
act OF 1869 permits licenses to other persons
for the sale OF ale and beer only. II must be admitted
that Excise Boards have construed the law OF
1857 as 20 evade ncrt. and IN the OF
their discretion have flooded orr cities with liquor
loors under the guse Of licensing hotels. This furnishes
no reason for removing all restrictions, but rather
strong reason Why tins discretion should be distinctly
and absolutely limited within certain reasonable bounds
To the inquiry. What reasonable bOundsi we al
swer the actual demand present state Of public
sentiment.
assume that one public drinking place TO every 10
drinkers (who would be acual patrous). would amply
supply the demand.
II We anayze the population a given number. say
400 Including all ages and ascertain how many there
each 400 actually demand these public drink
ing places. thereby determine The number re-
qured in city. BY the Last IL appears
that As per cent OF whole population are OK
the age Of twonty-One years and under. and
that SO per cent females. II cannot 90
claimed that these saloons needed for our
children and youth. The present Excise laws
and the bill in question prohibit the sale minors
except By OF parents guardians. II We de-
- from 400, have remainder OF ~.
From this may take tie women, say 30 per cent and
We have I1O of whom least 10 per cent probably p
per cent? are total abstalncrs and many others who
such, liquors only at their houses, ana 10
require these drinking places. W" see nv tAs ana
able demand, that 400 OF our entire popu-
latlon, we have only - 10 100 persons who demand
these licensed liquor saloons II s admitted on all hands
that We have 5000 OF these places IN
our CITY, which, a basis OF l.ODOOOO population -
equal % one every l25 O the whole population OF
Que to every thirty actual patrons. on Ae basis "
one every 400 should have only 100 OF these
drinking aces instead OF 5000 Tn the light OF TINS
ton equal 10 threc0urihs do rot require any liquor
O5ns all. and that 900 VIII more Than meet rue
demand OF those who 90. Ana WY should NOS me
women and children be- considered on THIS question:
which concerns then more thau 10 does tilc men
SecOaG-A second reason WY tie OH N question
should not become law Is that Dc makes DO adequate
provision for enforcing the law. Arrests Tor violations
can only be made warrants Issued bY mdgl-tr1te
The police, under the D,If clothed WIN no authority
charged with duty. except % serve warrants ana
arrest utoxicated persons Sunday violations may
with lmpunIty. sir;itg1 90 uot Lod CuuI Ja On
that dan The police, WuOse dutF d a ~ see mat iLc
laws are Observed preserve thc public peace are
excused 3ud the duy enforcing The Jaw J. deyOiycf
on private cirzeus who have the time 20 dev0e 20
such services nor should they DE required DO Work
for faithful performance " when Puuc oAecls are
elected and pad.
Nav we lot hope that from your commanding position
Of influence will utter your emphatic prot against
the passage OF this Dill IL D. -fELMAN'
NeiC- York, April 20, 1879.