New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-30
SUNDAY EDITION.
DEC. 80, 1883.
CHARGES OF BAD FAITH.
ALMOST A BREAK IN EXCISE MATTERS.
HARSH WORDS USED BY THE COMMITTEES
DANGER OF A MINORITY REPoRT-wILL

DANGER OF A MINORITY REPoRT-WILL
THE LICENSE FEE BE INcREAsEDi
Tho Commissioners for the Revision OF tho Excise
Laws held stormy meeting yesterday
and IL looked at time as though
they would not agree but that several
reports would be submitted to the legislature The
session held usual in the Bible House and tbs
full board were present for the first time In some
weeks Several important questions which had been
left for settlement by tho full board were brought up
The first action taken upon the section previously
adopted relating 70 the admission Of minors TO bar"
At the suggestion Of President Gerry, Of thu
Society for the Prevention Of Cruelty to Children
this section was stricken out. Tho reason was thas
the same provision is contained in the Penal Code,
and Mr. Gerry feared that &c put It into the EXCISE
law might by Implication at least, repeal IL In ths
Penal Code, and his society be thus hampered in Us
work In place Of this section new one was
adopted which provides that any saloon keeper who
shall be convicted under the corresponding section
Of the Penal Code shall forfeit his license.
Dr. Crosby then called up the question OF screens
and shades In baTooms and after some discussion
the following decided upon: The view Of the
Interior Of all licensed places shall be kept unob-
structed during prohibited hours and the Boards OF
Excise shall make suitable rules and regulations to
the enforcement OF this provision" The Inn
portant question OF Sunday sales then again
opened, and lively TIT between DR.. Crosby and
Commissioner Thomann occurred. Mr. Thomann
began by making long argument In favor OF Sunday
sales. He advanced little that he had not before
stated claiming that the strict Observance Of Sunday
was a Purltanical notion which the world had out
grown. He said that Dr. Crosby professed TO give
the lab0res day Of rest, but by
refusing them the privilege of going to beer
gardens and similar places he would compel them
spend the dag cooped up in crowded tenement
houses where they could neither rest enjoy hem-
selves.
obrr Al with xrar
terlzng Mr. Thomanns arguments mere cant, which
had been put forward again and again until he was
sick of hearing them, and declaring that the cooped
up in tenement houses" argument was absurd, for
workingmen could 20 out INTO the parks or out into
the country He instanced the evils OF the lack Of
Observance Of Sunday in European countries and called
attention to the movement In Germany for moro
observance of the day. Mr. Thomann resented IN
vigorous terms the Characterization Of bis arguments
as cant and nonsense and said that he obtained them
from Hume, historian and philosopher.
Mr. Kruse offered resolution which provided that
the right of Sunday selling shall not be extended"
and that the law committee Instructed to 70 ain tho
principles Of the present law in their draft" Mr.
O Brien to the surprise Of present who LOOKED
upon him a supporter Of tho liberal views OF Com
missoners Stern and Thomann, spoke In favor OF Dr.
Crosby's position He said that there was no doubt
that the public sentiment Of the state was opposed to
Sunday sales, and he did not think the Commission
should
fered provision that saloons might be opened
on Sunday at such hours and under
such restrictions as should be determined by local
Boards Of Excise. This was lost-ayes stern ana
Thomann: noes Rollins Crosby o'Bren, Smart and
Kruse Commissioner KuIses resolution was then
adopted by the same vote. Or Crosby then said
in accordance with the notice l gave yesterday,
I now move that we abandon the sliding scale Of
licenses and that the fee for saloon licenses Of tho
first class be fixed absolutely at SiOO, which Is half
way between the maximum and minimum befnrs
agreed upon and that the fees for all other classes
Of licenses be also fixed a. sum halfway between
the minimum aud maximum amounts before adopted"
This the rock upon which the Commission came
near going 10 pieces. Mr. 1homann was obliged to
20 away but before going he said he wished To bo
recorded as voting against Dr. CrOsbys proposition.
He added that he thought the matter had been finally
decided and that their whole work since the fees
were fixed was based upon the understanding that tho
fees be graded and fixed at the figures agreed
upon He also said HAT II the proposition was
adopted he should bring in minority report. Mr.
O'Bnen also said that his understanding Of the mat
ter was the Mr. Thomanns
This was construed by Or Crosby 10 be an I'M
puation of bad faith his part, in again opening
the question after it had been finally decided.
He was evidently annoyed AZ what he CON
sldered an accusation by Messrs Thomann and OBrien
Of dlshonorable conduct his part and said most
emphaticaly that he had always held the actions OF
the Commission 10 be at.ve and had said repeatedly
that he should not consider any action as nnal until 10
had been voted upon by the entire seven commissioners
He said that he had believed the figures adopted
to be high enough and he had not expected that they
would be allowed TO remain so low, when the iuli
board came to vote upon them
Chairman Rollins said thar he did not think the
figures high enough and II he had been present az the
time he would voted for higher ones but as the
commissioners had decided upon the lower ones he did
not think that the point " enough importance In
their report TO run any risk OF disagreement by reopenns
The question. If the fees not high enough the
LEGISLATURE could raise them. Or CrOsbys motion was
defeated he and Commissioner kusc alone voting for
H. Or. Crosby then said:
81 then give notice that shall bring in minority
report upon this question: 10 when Mr. hruse
added That is my position" long talk ensued In
which Mr. O'Brcn disclamed any Intention of mputnS
bad faith 20 DR. Crosby, and Oh the members assured
him that they were certain that MI Ihomann had
not int AIDED any such mpuaiiOn with this assurance
Dr. Crosby -ad. " II that imPiiatOn ~ not made,
there IS nothing in the bill which have agreed upon
to which ! will NOT give my signature
The air being once more cleared the Commission al
iOirned until Wednesday az 10 80 2. m At that iimo
fhe law committee Is expected 10 have the bill put
into legal shape that the commissioners Will be
able finally pass upon it, and prepare their report
to the l. gslature.