New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-22
YORK OF THE EXCISE COMMISSION.
VARIOUS PLANS CONTINUE TO BE SUGGESTED


A LARGE NUMBER TESTIFY.
The Commission for the Revision of the Excise Laws
continued their hearings yesterday morning Dr.
Crosby again occupied the chair The first ono 10
be heard was the Rev. Dr. W. w. Atterbury, secretary
of the New-York Sabbath Observance Association lie
opposed the petition Of the Personal Liberty League
In regard the assertion that the sunday law cannot
be enforced he referred TO the Metropolitan EXCISE
law of 1867 TO 1870. Before that law the sunday
arrests were eb Der cent greater than those on an
average week day. while during the three years OF us
enforcement the Sunday arrests were Al per cent less
than on an average week day, and the number OF
saloons was reduced in this city over 2Ooo Inc Only
suggestion he made that tho name OF the owner
of the building TO be licensed should appear IN INC
license T. B. Milllken, of the Kings County saooa'h
Observance Society, next heard lie thought
that the difficulty was not in thelaw, but in the en-
forcement of t. The experience Of such towns as
STONY Point where no licenses have been granted
for years showed that the law could be enforced Inc
Commission should look first for method of en-
forcing the law. There was he said no such thing
as a vested right to sell liquor. 1t must be soid oy
permit He ridiculed the present laws OF evidence
which say that the sight of buying liquor Is not
enouyb hut that the witness must have tasted the
LIQUOR himself The Commission he thought, should
provide for the enforcement of the law and Tor the
reduction Of the number of saloons.
Mr. Stearns Of the same association advocated the
fixing Of bonds and penalties as of more importance
even than high license In restricting the taIhc
Adolph Nelson, of the State Liquor Dealers Asso
caon that his association objected to all special
laws They wanted one clear, concise law largo
enough in its scope for all to work under In the sale OF
liquors. One main fact was necessary, ana ua'
was the legal Sunday hour He opposed the grahuhs
of separate licenses for distilled spirits and for beer a.
impraccable and said that of $500 beer licenses Is
sued in this city onehaf had already been caugh'
IIo .ofJ thof
law was passed there would be more complaint
of the saloons In politics." g don't think We pay
the license he said, because we are nuisance al
all. 1t is bccsuse ou business Is something VI
luxury. and luxury should be taxed. Make good
law and of the 900 and saloonkcepers In Now
York, 1000 will assist IN carrying 1t out"
F. McCloskey, formerly legal adviser OF the
Brookyp Excise Board, made few suggestions re-
gsrdng the Civil Damage act and the right Of manda
mus. and at / o'clock the Commission took recess
until g. At that hour La sale A Maynard, OF Inc
New-York Observer" the first to speak lie
thought that the burden of proof should be thrown on
the seller In cases of complaint. IL men were seen
buying LIQUOR over bar In illegal hours that should
be considered evidence that intoxicating liquor was
being sold Under the present law conviction could
not be secured without resort TO means from which
honorable men revolted. He also favored the Tor
bidding of the of screens and blinds Coierdge a.
Hart Prohibitionist, suggested that on
sunday screens and blinds be kept open
and during hours Of prohibition be Kept
locked, and no one allowed insIde that the
license with the name Of the censee and the owner
of the building, be placed outside each barroom thai
a special court be established for the trial OF excs
cases that each election district be allowed to decide
for itself by vote whether any licenses be granted ID
It's limits: that licenses he limited In each dlstrc'
which did not abolish them altogether.
william G. Ross of the Wholesale Liquor Dealers
Association, presented form for BILL the main
features of which that there should be TWO
classes of licenses of 800 for places where liquor
was to be drunk the premises and one OF $50 FOR
places sell IN quantities less than five gallons not
TO be drunk on the premises, and that they be al
lowed to be open from / p. m. Sunday TO a. m Mon
day, with closed screens and blinds. EXRecorde s
James NJ. Smith spoke tho necessity OF clearly de-
fnng a public building in which liquor could not
sold James Morton, a PrOhibitionist. advocated
system of bonds, limit IN proportion 10 populaton
and local option for the election districts The las
one TO be heard eXJudgc shannon. who advocated
the fixing of a bond of more than nominal sum ana
one that could be enforced, and spoke OF the need
of the regulation Of sale on steamboats, ana Watei
transports. He also favored high license and The
Insertion of the owners name In the license The
Commission will the consideration OF the ques-
ton at their rooms I'm the Bible House at 10 80 this
morning.