New-York tribune., 1883-12-10
W4RINESS AMoNG LIQU0R DEALERS.
THE EXCISE LAW oBEYED MORE GENERALLY THAN
UsUAL-INsTANCEs OF EYAsIoN

THE EXCISE LAW oBEYED MORE GENERALLY THAN
UsUAL-INsTANCEs OF EVASION.
The provisions of the Excise law were much
more generally observed yesterday throughout the city
than on any previous Sunday since the police abstaned
from closing all places Of business several
months ago. Heretofore there has been only a pre-
tence Of closing the dram shops and barrooms of the
hotels on Sunday The front doors closed there
was never any difficulty in entering by the side
door. Once inside, liquors and beer could be had as
readily as on weekdays In fact there drinking
on Sunday than on any other day Of the week
The proposition advanced by Inspector Thorne while
acting Superintendent OF Police and accepted by large
majority OF the Police Justices and the DisrictAoney
as good law that conviction for violating any Of the
provisions OF the Excise law forfeited the license Of the OF
fender yesterday worked wonderful change. There
no shops even in the poorest portions OF the city, where
intoxicating drinks sold without attempt at
cenoealment No front doors were open, and In many
cases the side doors were locked and only opened to we'll
known regular customers other cases the side doors
were open, but all newcomers closely scanned.
There was less attempt at concealment the part Of
the large hotels These places relied the fact that they
are allowed TO sell to guests and their pre-
sumed in the absence of evidence to the contrary to be
guests. At the Astor House, the bar in the large
dningroom was closed. Those who asked for
drinks told that they would have to go to smaller
room on the second floor, where anything sprituous
ordered was served The barrOOm OF the Fifth Avenue
Hotel closed Guests and others could what
they needed IN O small room the main
floor There pretence at concealment in
the gaudy and garsh barroom OF the Hoffman House.
The bar in full blast full corps of bartenders
mixing drinks which conveyed by walters to
the thirsty customers, who filed all tho tables in the
large room. stream OF customers constantly pour
ing in and out Of the place. much the or1i
nary week-night.
The same condition Of things observable at the
Victoria Hotel At the St. james Hotel there feeble
attempt to comply with the law white cloth
stretched I'm front Of the When reporter
"A bottle OF champagne TOr guest Within the barrOOm
attendant was mixing milk punch for young man
wel-hlled glasses I'm front OF them
These fair samples Of what observable at var
other hotels of the better sort.
The restaurants with bars attached were well patron
tied. Here drinks could be ordered with food without
amy danger of interference by the police and the result
large increase in the number OF customers, while
there was not proporonate increase in the amount Of
food consumed.
No special instructions had been issued to the police in
reference tO the enforcement of the Excise law,
any special effort made Dy them 10 enforce IT, IN al the
precincts, however were detailed In citizens clothes
TO look for violations OF the ordinance and arrest
offending liquor sellers In the precincts downtown the day
passed with unusual quiet. The arrests made were re-
markably few "a compared with former Sundays. The
lquordcalers, while they did in every keep
open doors, exceedingly cautious 20 whom they
their vigilance somewhat relaxed, and they suffered the
penalty Of their negligence slight increase in the
Headquarters Justice Duffy had only III which
10 grant bail, that Of llquorseller named August
Ulrich, who found selling beer by patrolman ia
plain Clothes at his place, No. 107 Delancey-st.
The ncighbOrhOod Of Police Headquarters, which lies
between Broadway and the BOwery, Is infested with
halls, beer gardens and dives" II is the Resort OF
pzctghtcrs, "sugsers,' "plug ugies" and rutans OF
the deprayed type Here TO be found the eStab
slmcnts OF The" Allen, SANDY" Spencer, " Harry"
Hill and others Generally on sunday evening the side
walks I'm fIOnt OF these places impossible for
the mixed crowds " low and women
cOngrrgated before them. Last night there was
no CrpWu before The " Aliens In BleeckCr-at..
and dim yellow light fickerng through the closed
above doors alone gave evidence that II
occupied. The sacred concert" given rs usual
Hlls but there fewer than usual OF the short
haired" men and frOwsy women 10 witness IL.