New-York tribune., 1880-01-12
EXCISE LAWS DEFIED.


COMMISSIONERS.
prosident Morrison. of the Excise Board,
commented Yesterday on the statements OF
Superintendent Walling, Dr. CROSBY ana
others. concerning the sale of liquors
in this city. lie took complaceh'
view of the state of affairs, though he
admitted that some improper places
held licenses. But he claimed that
the Excise Commissioners were not
TO. blame. Dr. Crosby differs with
him. and in a letter printed herewith de-
nounces the course of the Excise Board IN very
strong terms. Some results OF an investigation
bv TRIBUNE reporters of infamous dens where
liquor is sold without interference are pre-
sented.
v1tWs OF COMMISSIONER MORRISON.
NO FAULT TO Fund WITH sUPERiN1FNDFNT WALL
rNG-GEANTING As MANY IICENsfS As CAN bf
prorrnry IssurD-coMMrNTs on DR. CRosBY's
STATEMENTS.
Commissioner Morrison, the president OF the EX-
cise BOARD was found yesterday morning at ms
bouse in West Thirty-ninth-st. By tribune re-
nortcr. who had been sent to talk with him on the
Question whether the Pciicc Department or the EN-
else Board is responsible for the Wholesale Yiola-
tons of the Excise laws.
Il suppose Nh Morrison" said the reporter
that Won have read the interviews about ms Qu's-
ton which appear in The TRIBUNE today u
Yes have read them over carefully.
"Do your views, in the main, correspond with
those given by Commissioners Morton and Mer-
klep
"Thcy do think the law provides that we shau
only gran. licenses ard that all the care in regard
to seeing that people do not sell without licenses, or
donot sell at irregular hours with licenses, Is the
duty Of the police. Bat want to say enc thing in
particular. ! have not the slightest fault To ma
with superintendent Wailing; on the contrary
Ibave always found HIM anxious to cooperate WIh
Us.
.Uc saws that the BoaTd does not sire the arrest
of those who are violating the excise law"
"Well. am not in favor of indIscrlminate raids
upon these people, ror IS ANYBODY connected WIN
the Board We know that a request from police
captain goes great way with them; and, there
fore. it is that We have not pressed for arrests III
all ca es but more particularly urged uaI 8dch
people should be induced to take ont licenses
From my own conversation with the ether Com
mssioners il seems to be the principal object OF the
Board to grant as many licenses as rossible|
"Of course. But there are some men who would
neyer take ont licenses, no matter what we may DO
and there are others could not permit to be
licensed under any circumstances"
"But is there not a disposition to strain point in
order to grant q license I"
don't think but thcTe might De- VI course
we license all we can properly license, bccauSe an
the money received from licenses Is ueNo'eu 10
Do YOU instruct the police not arrest offenders,
but 10 persuade them 10 take out llceuSes
III think the law should be enforced against peo-
pie who are unlicensed, but not lndiScflHlIateIy'
do not think, for instance, that the man VINO Gc-
1ss the law. and having an opportunity TO get,
lcense refuses 10 DO So should be permitted to sell.
but there are occasions where man may delay a
little in renewing his license, and IN that case he
should not he trea ed so severely as those who have
never taken out license at all"
But IN tne eye OF the law are they not both on
the same footing
That NAV be-"
''Now as to the disreputable places that are IL
oensed as Commissioner have YOU any knowledge
Of themP ,., -
improper person places IN the CITY, II there are
instances of that kind as you say, the proof has
never been given to us. On the contrary we have
nroof that every place licensed is reputable and
proper place. Ii either from the suggestion OF Il
pnvate individual or from, our own knowledge, we
suspect that any licensed place is an improper place
we ask the advice OF the police IN regard TO IT, ana
We act upon their report"
Then have these dsreputable places ifany, been |
licensed or allowed TO continue licensed, after the |
Ioar4's attention has been drawn 10 them, and upon
tlc rrports Of the police "
"Wrn If we had knowledge that the police re- |
mort was not a true one should not act upon IT, |
but ! know OF no instance IN which 1t has oc-
!" In yonr opinion, are all the disreputable places
On no: don't say that We have not licensed
any improperly, yet / do not deny that there are
such ulaces licensed. | only say that 1t has not
come to my knowledge that any places We have
licensed are improper places to be icensed" ~
81 should like to refer for moment" said Mr.
Morrison at this point, to the statements of DR..
Crosby winch are published in The lRIBUNE this
morning. He says that III regard 10 the number Oi
licenses issued by our Board we lie outTageousy.
and that 1t Is only about 5000 or 5000 Why, last
wear We issued 7,7f1 1t is only an illustration OF
how careless man in his zeal can sometimes be.
Dr. Crosby i entirely wrong, no matter what his
figures are based on. Oar year runs from MAY
Ia MAY. ana the number issued from May, 1873,
10 May. 1879, is, as The TRIBUNE states to-day
, 7A1 Now YOU would suppose that men in Dr.
Crosbv's position, who are making frequent appear
auccs before the public would take care to know
xIaf they are talking about 1t Is not the first time
iDr Crosby has made such utterly wild statements.
The attack on Governor Robinson about DOyies
license was another instance. IL was then proyed
botb by the newspapers and Governor Robins
letters that the statement he made was entirely in
correct. / don't mean TO say that Dr. Crosby will
fully states what is hot true, but he argues from
i.corrcct premises; that's the point.
II see that Mr. Whitney holds the same opinion
as DR.. Crosby in regard 10 The number OF unlicensed
rlaces Mr. Whitney SAYS he knows they more
numerous than we state because of the internal
revenue figures. NOwt the law nTefertnce to internal
revenue licenses does moi require the agents 10 make
any examination into character, and but a small fee
ischarged and a great number of those holding such
licenses could moi obtain a license from our Board.
lie saws that the number OF dealers IN drink Is about
10000. 1t may he tue that there are that number
of reOple licensed by the United states Govern
,lri,t but that includes druggists, wholesale deal
O. of whom there must be a great many III city
Ike New York, and number Of other persons who
could not Obtain a license from us. AS to druggists,
tlc law strictly requires them TO take out state
cnse if they sell by the glass but the great major
.t- refuse To do so; and although they may sell by
tf glass il is difficult to procure evidence against
tbplp because they able TO say that the person
IN whom they sold was sick and needed the drink
- , ,eGicine | don't know the exact figures, but
,iIeve the number of persons mentioned who are
Licensed by the Government and n"t by the EXclse
Board would make up the difference between Mr.
Whitney's figures ana our OWL"
VILE RESORTS THAT DEFY THE LAWS.