New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-13
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
THE POLICE AND THE EXCISE LAW.


REPLY OF THE COMMISSIONERS TO THE QUESTIONS
! OF THE CITIZENS CoMMTTEE-THE DIFFICULTY
OF ENFORCING THE LAW.
s. The Police Commissioners yesterday sent to John
Jay n communication, prepared by Chief CLERK
Hawley containing answers to the questions pro
pounded March 20 BY the commtee Oh cl' lens Gi
nm jmputation delicattly expressed, that some OF
the auesslons asked too silly to deserve an an
swer but care is taken to put the Commissioners on
Tecord as being ia sympathy with the "avowed
object of the movement which the committee repre-
sents" The principal difficulties in enforcing the
present Excise law stated to be- first the arrest
of offenders second, the proof OF the offence, and
third the punishment inflicted.
, It will not do. the Commissioners think. 10 eend
uniformed policemen into liquor stores to collect
evidence, because the policemen would be corrupted
by the liquor dealers Detectives are TOO busy
with grSver matters TO be employed lot that puIT.
pose The magistrates require strong proof Of guilt
Ito warrant arrests in excise cases, and Onendlng
liuuor dealers are punished too lightly whom founu
uty New on the ,s ss1esS saUp euor
dealers interested agents in preventing unlicensed
traffic. This can be accomplished only by much
higher license fec than sny now required
The police are instructed. the reply says 10 al
REST all persons who violate the Excise law There
is no reason for leaving offending liquor dealers
unmc ested, because they have been arrested anu
held to bail but the frequent dismissal by magls-
trate of charge against an arres.ed dealer is Io
garded an admontion that IN Iaces
are received from the Excise Comm ssioners AZ IT
Regular intervals and the police captains are ar
hished with copies OF these lists Much attenton on
has been paid by the police to the places kept oy
p Billyp McGlory and "Owney" Geoghegan since
the two men were refused licenses, and arrests nave
been made in both places If there has been lall-
nre of n.tice In regard to violations OF law there
the Commissioners think the responsibility does not
rest with Them No policemen are detailed from
PoIics Headquarters to report violations of the Ex
else law but captains of police have been INSTRUCT
ed to make such detailments as may be necessary.
In regard to the Sunday traihc the Com
lpiss
stores are kept open, but liquor Is often
sold unlawfuy on Sunday. ihey nave no
information that the bars attached to the hoffman
House. the White Elephant and other pu9ic PAGES PAGES
are kept open on that day. The Board OF Police
has no authority to confscate the property OF per-
sons who violate the SUNDAY law. Closed front
doors and svndows may often enaole propTietoTs Oh
liauor stores to sell liquor on Sunday without de-
lection. The fact that person Is seen coming out
of store drunk is not regarded as prima acie evil
dence that lie was made drunk IN the place. nor IS
the fact that child is seen carrying liquor from
place regarded sufficient proof that the liquor
WAS purchased by the child there. -
} The police made 81 45l arrests IN iSsZ, OF whch
2O32l we're for ntoXc and 8, 40 were for In
toxication and disorderly conduct. Seventeen per-
sons were arrested for selling nqnor to minors in
the same year There is special dIncusy IN s1S len
LIQUOR was sold bat also that the purchaser was
minor Moral conviction In such cases IS very dli-
ierent from legal evidence. Inc ponce nave DO
authority for arrestng persons because pool Tor
drinks" is advertised IN the liquor stores. Inc
Commissioners think tnat reduction IN the num-
Der of liquor stores to one in 900 OF the population
would have " O most beneicent effect" They also
regard concert halls and dance houses III connection
with liquor shops exceedingly Injurious" / ne
committee is invited to indicate method OF DONG
more under the present Excise law, and II the
method suggested is practicable trial IL promised.
1t IS expected that the committee Will consult
with the Cumi ssivners the subject afer cOnsld-
ering the answer presented. The naming OF a day
will rest with the committee according TO an agree
ment made when the questions were propounded.