The New York herald., 1879-01-03
THE PROPOSED LIQUOR BILL.

EXPLANATIONS OF ITS fRovIsIoys-Eow THE
BILL Is REGARDED By HOTEL. PEOPLE, RES
TAURATEUIs AND TAxPAYERs.
The publication in the HERALD Of the new Liquor
bill known now as the "Dittcnhoefcr-Langbcn
bill," attracted universal attention in temper
ancc and liquor dealing circles and elected
comments both favorable and unfavorable. A
meeting OF representative of both
interest held in the brunswick last evening at
which ex-Judge Ditenhoefer explained by request
the pecularies and from his stand point the excel
lencies OF the proposed law. He showed that
this law repeals all prior excise laws only SO
far they relate to the city all existing laws remain
operative in the rest OF the State, while the act
will be the only Excise law for the city CT New
York. He also claimed that the Excise law
i'll operation is not to be found in
any single act but must be sought for
in the acts OF 1857 and 1870 amended by the act Of
1873, and then it be ascertaned only by dis
covering what parts of these several acts conss-
tent and not in conflict with each other. II.
the other hand the proposed BIZ becomes statute
the law of excise this city is concerned, will
be found and can easily be asccrtained in its pro-
visions
PROVISIONS.
The new BILL according to its author, contains all
the stringent provisions of the act Of 1857 rendered
in better and intclligble language This is an
important point in view of the opinion of the
Court of Appeals that "the law of 1857 is very
carelessly drawn and betrays want of consideration
The same bonds on obtaining license. are to be
given are required in the act of 1851 Licenses
are for one year only and no liquors are to be
sold on Sunday election days. any
day, between and five in the morning. section
more stringent than the corresponding provision in
the act of 1857. No liquors be sold
or given to an apprentice minor habtnal
ton. Then. too, in the act of 1857 only a
license have sign. indicating that liquors are
sold or given away, in front OF his premises, and
person can recover for any liquor sold credit in
quantities less than five gallons to be drunk the
premises.
lures in the proposed bill that would commend it
desirable public measure; Ex-Judge Dittenhoefer.
compelled to act on. all applications within
fifteen days. This and the provision requiring no
payment of the fee until the license is granted will at
once put end to the scandal of payment and
receipts pending the consideration OF applica-
tons for months by the Boaad Of Excise All actions
and fee is to be required for putting them on the
calendars 1t is provided that no recovery can be
This is in the direct interest of all honest
dealers, makes the law selfenforcing, and Of
sity will put end TO unlicensed selling, which,
is always largely in excess of legitimate selling
under most rigid enforcement of the
law. standard Of purity Is to be estab-
tho of S25.000 each. Under the BILL If passed.
motive for flight can arise with future commits
piled funds will be finally settled.
REGARDED.
There are three distinct interests involved
in the consideration of new bill-hotel pro
prietors, rcstaurateurs and saloon keepers. At
present none but hotel, inn and tavern
keepers entitled to licenses, and this it is
commended is not in the interest of law and order but
rather impractcable and 'unwise. 1t being evident
that tho publication in the HERALD Of Wednes-
day had stirred the several factions to thought
and action reporters called representative parties
to ascertain how the proposed bill was regarded by
them.
-Four of the largest dealers agreed in saying, eve
favor law Of some kind. and this of Judge Dit
could be enforced. The dificuity is that
while honest dealers believe in law, support
laws pay license fees and in every way do their duty
Us reputable citizens. they know perfectly well that
all about them unlicensed rivals, who pay
fees. pay no taxes and sell quite as much. il not
more. liquor than who conform in every way to
the demand of the law"
'How about the hotel clause?'
"That hotel clause is farce Why, just look at ii.
About one-haf of the million people living in tho
Empire city aw-abiding citizens Of foreign BIRTH
They with large percentage of native Americans
which. confining the right to sell liquors TO aris
tocracy of hotel keepers becomes really prohibitory
That law is not enforced, it be, be-
cause it is obnoxious to the people. and the
result is that larger amount of liquor is sold in de-
fiance OF law than would ba sold in obe
dience TO just and equitable law. A large
proportion of residents live miles away
from their places of business. Many of these
take meals down town il restaurants. Mast they
hunt mp hotel before they dine aud drink? No.
that hotel section is big frauda double fraud for
while it cheats the city it also annoys and argcrs the
people,
.Do you care about the Sunday clause ?"
"It is always well 10 stoop to conquer. We don't
believe any than thousands of others believe
there is any greater harm in serving the pub
lie on Sunday than on any other day, but there
are thousands of honest, well meaning who
do so think. and i'll Difference to a public scnti-
1nent created by Them yield that point.
What chance is there OF getting the bill made q
law q
"rnder ordinary circumstances there would be
fair chance because the more temperate republicans
favor a law that is certain TO bring money
| the Treasury and settle the continual auarrels
between the Board the police and the dealers. What
effect the next fall election will have is the question
Some afraid to speak ont lest they injurc the
political chances OF their friend and hacker j. &. j.
| Ianpbcin, who is 20 introduce new hin in the
Assembly. is disposed TO question the advisabilty
| oc the clause that imposes the Endorsement of
twelve frecholders before party obtain Iiccncc
| but rs the other hand that Is one OF the sine
| qua non clauses with the temperance people Sfr
Langbein win probably yield his views and take his
chance ut having amendment introduced after the
| bill il on its way"
| The managers of the Windsor Deinionico's. tho
Brunswick tho Fifth Avenue. the Gcnhan, the Hoff-
| man, the Union Place. the Union squarr. the Bre-
wort, tho Continental. the Astor frcnchs, Mata-
rams the Commercial and the United States Hotels
agreed that sensible excise law IL necessity
| for New York and. with occasional EXCEPTIONS
| as to details, prepared to indorsc any bill
that will bring order ont OF tho present
| chaos Judge Dttenhoefcr declines TO say wiNthcr
| he will personally superiniend the passage of the
bill IN the Legislature, and contentcd himself
| with saying, "As ~ republican aud O slawycr. as "a
| taxpayer and voter. approve the bill. It is
stricter than IL need be. but IL is better ia
common sense had something TO do with excise mat
ters in this great metropolis, and rather think II
| viii succeed this time.