New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-20

than n cham. It Is perfectly clear, that
i'm issuing these licenses they have intended 10
eyade and not to obey the law. BUT whac
possibility is there of furnishing themf Mono
at all. Dr. Crosby had as strong case as
could be desired against their predecessors.
They had granted a license to one OF the most
abominable dens in the city, the resort Oh INC
worst men and women, and only OF the worst
These Commissioners knew perfectly wen INC
character of this cesspoOl. Their guilt was
plain. But the jury found them guiltess, ana
any Jury before whom the case of the present
Commissioners can be brought Will do like
wise.
Can anything be clearer than that the Old
"three-bed" law of past generation Is not
supported by public sentiment in this city
If it were it would be possible to punish
those who break it, What progress have we
made under it What possibility is there
in such o city as this, with the
rum interest intrencbed in the very
citadels of politics, to get men IN
Office who will enforce it strictly without fear
or favor The manner in which it has been
broken on all sides year after year has
brought it into utter contempt. 1t would have
ago but that DR.. Crosby and those VINO hoiu
similar views to his strenuOusly opposed u
license law which could be enforced here. IL
there were any possibility of continuing the sale OF
intoxicating liquors in the Metropolis 10 houses
which honestly meet all the requirements that
the word "hotel" properly implies, we should
heartily applaud the attitude of DR.. CROSBY
and his friends concerning excise Legislation
But when shall we be able to purify our par
ties and cleanse our offices from the rum lnflu-
ence sufficiently for that2 Not in this genera
ton, surely. Even with the lavish way III
which licenses are scattered abroad WITHOUT
regard to the law, the unlicensed grog-
shops are hardly interfered with. DR.. Crosby
does not blame the police. But 1t Ii much 10
be feared that he has been deceived by smooth
words from the heads of the force. There is
no place more prolific in promises and more
barren in performance than Police Headquar-
tiers. Long practice has made the officials per-
feet in putting blame on the shoulders of others.
II is certainly somebody's fault that such SINKS
as Convey" GeOgheghan's and the dives
in the Twenty ninth Precinct are allowed
to remain open. The Excise Board declares
that it is not it's fault the Police Board Is sure
that il is not to blame, the Dlstllct-Auofhey
is busy with other matters, and GeOgheghan and
the other keepers of thieves dens thrive I'M
molested One thing Is certain. The Police
and Excise Boards do not act in intelligent
concert. Win they ever do SD under the pres
ent system
Ii will he hard to secure any reform worthy
of the name from the incoming Legislature.
LiGuor-sellers had too much TO do with Sc
lecting the candidates who were successful.
But law that will properly limit the number
of drinking places in this city in proportion to
the population and the demands of household
ers, and will provide for thorough system OF
supervision of those to which licenses are
granted, that will hold officials to
sharp accountability for enforcing il, but will
not include any Anticipated provisions which
cannot be carried out, is an urgent need OF
the times in this community.