New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-03-09
LIOUOR-SHOPS IN THE CITY.
CONFERENCE WITH THE EXCISE BOARD

TIE coN,ffssrONERs DEFEND THE FRENCH MA
DAMEn AND PRONOUNCE HER RESPECTABLE
The committee appointed at the temperance meet
ing IN Steinw Hall last week to confer WIN 'no
LxcIse Commissioners regarding the NUMBER vi
licensed and unlicensed places where liquor
is sold, the license, etc., met az
the Board of Excise rooms yesteIuaS'
There were present John Jay, the rev. III. o.
ireneus Prime, ID. Willis James, ex-Judge CnaiI e
A. Peabody, Henry c. Pellew, The Rev. Dr. De T. 10
Costa r. b. Coddington and Robert Granain' .io
secretary of the Church Temperance society nc
meeting lasted about an hour ana ha"'
and was informal in lts cnara''e''
Mr. jaw read hrlef address, in which he
referred to former letters that had passed
between him and the president of the Excise Board
aud then asked several questions, which Dir.
Mitchell the president If the Board. said would DC
answered by letter in a few days.
In his address Mr. Jay thanked the Commission
ers for he prompt iess with which they had replied
to he request of tae committee. and appointed an
early interview In their letter the Commissioners
had iate1 that tn " had licensed 20 frst-class no.
tells 80 s.cond-cass hotels, 1881 smaller hotels
boarding houses etc. $50 sOrekeepers, and $685.
ale and beer saloons and that there were
about 100 places where liquor was sold
without license. 1t was said that there were 3OO
wholesale dealers in the city who had United
States revenue license Mr.. Jaw sad that he granted
tha the duties of the Commissioners were onerous-
in replying to another part of the letter-out ne
knew that the evils OF the liquor trafhc were very
great. AID were made still crater by the tempta-
lions offered by the great number of places whrre
liquor was sold. He asked them what changes In
the existing Excise law they desired in order
TO effect the reforms they wish to ac-
l. A naaA 1-clQS
hotels are not LARGE in excess Of the num-
Der needed for the benefit of travellers whether
licenses bave not been issued under this head to
places which did not accord with the actual re-
qurements of be law as 10 what should constitute
a hotel. He also asked whether OF the 1886 ale
and l,per saloons a large number did not sell spir-
iIuOus liquors whether II 80, q line could not be
Imposed for the violation OF the law, ana ,whas
steps were neces ary tn secure the ylndlca ION ot
the law. IL was also asked where complaint should
be made of ny known supposed vlolations OF the
law. In referring 10 The SUGGESTIONS OF me Con-
msslOners hat they did not feel authorized TO Gre
ate monopoly by refusing licenses to certain per-
of moral character which would DE me
case if he number OF licenses was limited. MT jay
i'd that the argument was plausible but ground
less.
Commissioner Friedsam replied al great length to
Mr. Jays address, defrn ling the action OF the Com
mitsIoncrs IN granting and reVokIng heen-
ses and gave illus raiIons OF cases showing
how their power limited. lie SAID that
the Board had not the power OF the Unit 81 STATES
X venue DepaI tment, or there would not be any
place where liquor could be sold without license
" / he other day" continued Mr.. Fuedsam, " q case
came up which shows the lmIta ION OF our power.
We granle.i a license 10 place which had visited
and found + staurani; four NEATLY dressed men as
WATERS, win neat ittls liquor bar opposite Tue
restauran bar In a hort lime . again visited
the place. Instead of the two bars there
was one-whrre hqqor was Sold the
from the tables and instead of men there were lady
CASH rs one at each aolr. carrying drlnks There
was no power for y 10 revoke that mans license.
We have refused 264 aDpiica IONS for licenses and
revO Ied go licenses IN the last YEAR.
Dr. PTlme-That Is all very instructive, Mr.. Com
mi ,sloner, but will you explain the case OF The
French Madame" recently rcpOr g III HE lRIB-
UNEf How did she get her license r.
Mr. Friedsam The pre- iden will tell you that.
Mr.. Mitchell rose 10 answer DR.. Primes question,
BEGINNING by censu1ng The speakers AZ the Stelnway
Hall meeting and then said that tue pr sent lessee
o the place IN question was not the real " French
per ,ccuted. Alter Mr.. Mundy was proved black
mailer" SAID Slr. Mitchell! We thought 1t proper
TO grant er a license.
Mr.. Grahan--YOu have not vet come 70 the point
ami explained M TgIBUSEs statement about
A. sisIant DIstrict-Atto Dey O'Byrne's connection
Mr. Mi. cheli-Mr Hart will explain that
Mr.. Hart, beIng the only one left upon whom the
responsibility If answering the question could De
aced rose. ana ~ a whisp Proceeded 10 tell
,out Mr. Mundy and his matchmaking schemes,
and then sad wv sent 10 Captain Be;gbo,d
with reference To the ma ter. and lac said that he
saw gentlemen gong there every night. ana t'ht
he Thought we were dong her an injustice. Mr..
O'Byrno had been intere-trd III he suIIs brought
agains the lady by Mandy, and he asked why she
sIonid not have license he urged rs [ send
10 her and see II She would not close her place
a. the rcqu ed time Il. m.-li the license were
given her. WIth the frank manner of woman,
sac sal /, " How can I My business begins about
that ime."
Dr Prime lin a low voicel-Enough said.
MI. ilarI-lue Lady finally sent "a letter IN which
sue agreed 10 close her house at clock. and the
license was granted. She has been blackmailed
from the beginning.
Air. Grahaln-Dy Mr.. Mundy2
Nj Hardy hun and othe r. forgot to say that
we sent 10 Cap am Williams, and he too, said that
lac saw no reason why license should be refused.
De- Prrme-Do you now consider her a respectable
wOmanf
Mr.. MITCHELL DO.
The question of a conflict between the Police and
Excise Boards was then discussed, and the commit
t-e adjourned TO meet to-day at the Office oi the
Police commissioners.