New-York tribune., 1884-02-04

THE QUESTION OF HIGH LICENSES.
We hope that the combined influence OF
Prohibitionists and liquor sellers VIII not DE
successful in defeating the hish-license bill now
before the Legislature. 1t is extremely uhlOrt-
innate that the most earnest opponents OF the
liquor traffic should lend their aid to the lowest
classes engaged in that traffic In order 10
prevent the passage of this measure Ihey
shut their eyes to the obvious fact that any plan
which lessons the quantity of liquor sold, and
confines the traffic 10 places where some respect
is paid to the laws, is gain for good order and
public morals. They insist on all OF nothing
refusing to acknowledge, what is perfectly pam
to everyone else that if 1t were possible TO pass
q prohibtory law In this State, Its enforcement
in the large cities would be out OF the question.
A high license fee would necessarily reduce
the number of dram-shops and would cut Oh the
worst ones. The dealers. having more at stake
in their business, and with competition rendered
less keen and unscrupulOus by the decrease III the
number of their rivals, would be more ready to
obey the law. The police, having smaller
number of places to watch could be held 10
strictcr accountability, and the Excise boaru
could be forced with less difficulty to exercise
DroDer discrimination in the issue OF licenses
There would be less selling of liquor to drunken
persons and to minors; there would be fewer
bars oDen on Sunday and after l O'Clock III the
morning: and all the abuses in the traffic which
have risen to SO serious proportions could be
greatly diminished. 1t has been said that the
number of unlicensed bar-roOms would be
immensely increased. There will be no danger
of this. if the Excise Board and the Police
Department show any desire to do their duty,
and the temptations to negligence and over
sight would be much less alluring under tho
high-license system. The keepers OF the
unlicensed dens would not possess nearly so
much political influence as the licensed dealers,
and there would be a constantly growing pres
sure of public sentiment upon the Excise Board
and Police Department to close the Illicit places.
One or two judicious presentments by Grand
Juries, followed by indictments IN case the pre-
sentiments did not S cure prompt results would
secure from the Police and Excise Comms-
siOners the liveliest kind of activity. The
General Sessions Grand Jury on Thursday by
simple presentment scared the Excise Com
missioners into state of virtue that was refresh
ing TO see, and they straightway set to work at
putting affairs in better shape. Since the special
Grand Jury of the Oyer and Terminer has been
carrying on its Investigations, many OF the
departments have felt fine moral impulse that
did them great good. \ Grand Jury is great
clearer of the atmosphere.
Some of the liquor dealers have worked them
selves into state OF noisy and offensive Ggi-
tation, and boast of the votes they control
and of what they can accomplish in elections.
We do not believe that these blatant fellows
represent the more respectable dealers. They
are certainly making a great mistake. The
temper of the times is distinctly favorable to a
careful and judiciOus limitation of the traffic
limitation that shall go further than the present
system. If they stand out against this, they are
simply inviting a severer policy.