New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-24
INJURIOUS EXCISE LEGISLATION.

INJURIOUS EACISE LEuIcLdd 1V@''
The Assembly acted wisely yesterday In de-
Gliding that final adjournment should not be de-
layed leyond May 9. In fixing upon May To-
the Senate was evidently governed by desire
to extend the session as long as possible. The
Senate devoted less than two hours yesterday
to the work before it. which is ample proof that
it does not lack for time to pass all neehed
measures. 1t is clear that the anxiety to pro-
long the session does not spring from any
special regard for the public interests.
"Jmmy Oliver and the other members VINO
voted in the Assembly against in early adjourn
ment are the same persons who were RESPONSE
bic fOl taking up the time of that body IN legls-
lating for the benefit of the liquor dealers. The
friends of the watcr-meter job, comprising
nearly all the Democrats and a few Republl-
cans, apparently Joined hands with the whiskey
men in aiding that legislation. The rapidity
with which they have pushed their "whlSkey
code to a third reading shows what can be
done by Legislators who are determined to serve
their masters. The Oliver Committee was APP
pointed only week ago at a conference oil
members VINO were strongly impressed with the
hardships under which the innocent vendors oil
liauor labor. 1t held no public sessions and
offered no opportunity for any one to appear
before it. No person had asked for any such ex-
else legislation, but the liberal handed whlskey
dealers were apparently pot slow in accepting
the services of Mr.. divers committee. The re-
suit is shown in the prompt report of bill III
their interests, which the Assembly quickly
ordered to third reading. Fortunately there
was q majority of ouly one vote for 1t yeSter-
day, and had Speaker Erwin voted, it would no
doubt have been killed. Hence, there is hope
that when the bill comes up for final passage
it will be defeated
The measure practically does away with the
Civil Damage act, and it repeats the tavern
clause, which now applies to all the rural dis
tricts. 1t permits children to remain in whiskey
shops with the consent of their parents, and
prohibits arrests for violations of the law with
out a warrant. except for selling liquor on sun
day and in unlicensed places. Under such law
the police would have to hunt up justice and
get out a variant before they could make an
arrest. Another provision OF the bill practically
repeats the Local Option act, ana will compel
the licensing of liquor shops. The power to re-
woke licenses is also greatly restricted In fact,
the bill is entirely in the interest OF the
vendors of whlshey
1t is scandaOus that such measure could be
brought in so late in the session, and be favor
ably acted upon while the Adirondack, the
Bridge, the Buildings, the Tax and other i'm
portant bills, along with the proposed constitu-
tional amendments in regard to special legisla-
ton and for the regulation of elections, are
awaiting consideration. The LcgislatlIe Is
only to be judged by It's final acts, and as this
bill received yesterday only one more vote than
the number of Democrats in the Assembly, al
though Il few Republicans supported it, there is
good reason to believe that it will fail. 1t GER
tainly will if the Republicans do their duty.
But it is not reassurng work after The passage
of another Democratic measure on the previous
day aimed at the Civil Service law.