New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-02
vopx DAILY TRIBUNE WEDNESDAY, IssarEN PAGES

mission to effect tho same. Tho commissioners were
named I'm the bill itself, and although this was an
cncroachment upon the usually recognized prerogatIve
az the Executive TO nominate such commissioners,
vet nevertheless approved the measure rather than
lmrerl the Success OF the proposed codlhcatlon Tho
commissioners originally named In the bill were changed
during rs progress In the Legislature, and strong
partisan character given the commission by the sub
stituton Of other names deemed moro acceptable TO
tho majority Of the Legislature. This was unfortn-
nate as 1t may injurlousy affect the nature and valnc
OF the work of the commission and possibly imperIl
| It's final success
The bill also provided that the commissioners
might submit a excise system, II in their judg-
ment existing statutes could not be so revised as 10
provide for system adapted to The requirements
II f. understood although / have official IN
formation upon the subject. that the commission mas
decided not to report simple revision or codIh
OF existing laws but instead thereof to submit Oil en-
II this IS true 1t is to be regretted because the sub
mission of both revision and a proposed new law
would be more acceptable and would enable the Lcg-
islaturc 10 choose between them, and other%i W
/ act more niclllgenty and satisfactorily. Neither
| am ] possessed Of any official information as 10 tne
details of the measure lkcy to DC plc>en'uu 10 nc
Legislature bv the commissions and, until IFS report
made any discussion of its merits Is premature ana
''' fc,r general Suggestions however, upon the
whole subject OF excise legislation may nc pertinent
II is believed that the people Of this state are OPP
posed TO absolute prohibition the one hand and to
the unrestricted sale OF liquors on the other they
favor & & ana G eu ba such laws should be uni
! form I'm their operation Throughout the sate, anu
2oa 561 b eT a%s %hsh public sentiment viii
not support, and which they know VIII not 20 IN, IN
10 o ro9nnes To- be the policy of The state the
license fees should be reasonable IN amount ana IKE
All Other proper local revenues should go into local
-rea,cs rather than into the treasury Of the state
They recognize the evils Of ntempeIance, ana WISH
IN every proper way to do all in their power
/ riti IN
also appreciate The fact that laws alone can aecopsn
1ha Distinguished statesman H9rsto .. sey can%a
once well said: Men may be persuadcdu ca'ino'
~ qp" nconlo demand honest excise legislation, not
toa,ieranco legislation Intended only. for political
cGcct mpractlcable and Incapable OF enforcement,
Tberc +. mo- great difficulty in framing prorer excise
laws II the subject IS approached IN ~ ts" I do
frce from hypocrisy and snam, anu with inc Sole uc
sign of correcting abuses.
LICENSE FEES
II sbonld he borne in mind that so long as IL Is
| tho policy Of the state TO regulate The sale OF III
toxcang drinks ~ excise laws, the rates hNed shon'
be reasonable in amount. They should not DC 81
modcrat, as TO accomplish no substantial restriction
,or should they be exorbitant as to amount u
practical prohibition anywhere in the state. IL IS
not good pocy TO attempt to do indirectly what the
| s,ate Is unwilling to do directly. In Whatever
measure that may be proposed the minimum sum per
mtted to be charged for licenses should not exceed
that which would be regarded as fair throughout inc
! STATE leaving the maximum sum TO DO fixed by inc
excise commissioners of the respective localities al
,ucb sums as local public sentiment may demand ana
! win support limited, however, by some dhhi'e hs
ure not deemed exorbant. This TO some eXiehp
would be local option or nome RUE, 10 VII" mn %
the principal political parlles arg Iho,I u VS. h
mtcd and to which NJ reason able ODleclioh eau VI
offered II would yeSt npaa eSGeon 70 mani
excise boards and enable punhc sehtiHcHt ~ I i
! fest itself such a statute would be unhOiin, lcaV'
each locality to determine Tor ise Tin red
sonahle restrictions, the amounts desired 10 Do 1I
for licenses and, although the amounts a. ac.laly
fixed by The excise boards m RG vary of umom
! lty c0ntendnd for Tho great State of New-York
containing within its borders some twenty-nn' e int
and hnndrcds Of largo VILLAGES ls "u nS
co2oap in G no T nssrsG Which and %nnscdS
sadly interfere with the reasonable customs ana ana
habs Of any considerable portion Of our citizens but
there should be the arget pero9a moeyS
With these general principles In view. tho framing
Of satisfactory excise law Is not dhicut task, II
! Tho tempcrancr question ought not to be party
question and It has recently been demonstrated thai
the eitcmpt to mako political capital cut VI IL Will
If Will be found difficult to force legislation upon the
people in advance of public sentiment, ana III UNI
connection n is interesting TO observe the o|erat0n Oh
he present excise laws OF the state IL mas pee.
stouty urged thl tine people are clamoIing i2r ;
The cyccpon Of one single locality there not charged
for licenses by the local officials anywhere the iu
anount. prrmiited to be charged under existing laws
ana A. NV rroperly be suggested that If one-half OF
lie effort made By those who are so persstently az
voc ting additional license HHlSdtloh o"v' ~ "
,d ovarl enforcing the provisions Of existing laws
and pcsuading the people and officials to avail uei-
| Give ~ their benz fits, something more plactca
would undoubtedly be accomplished, ana lheH sooo
! faith Viudicatel. ,,.,, ,,-,a,,or
! The pressing necessity for additional lc2islaliot
permitting higher license rates to be charged Is hol :.
| SnnTrcnf when Is known that the pe0nle alIOS
uniformly decline TO avail themselves OF the prVllegs
Of charging the highest rates authorized uoer eAs
Under the present excise laws the following license
fec. are directed and authorized 70 be charged 10 ""
/
more, ilan $3.50: and IN towns and villages NOT les
Iau $40 and not more than $50: and for salooh &s
| and beer licenses not. less than SO
/ have caused 10 bc prepared from reliable lnior
nation furnished for official use and believed TO u
Substantially corrccD the following two tables shown!
,Ln amounts now charged under existing laws for Il
cr,.os I'm the various cities Of the state. ana also II
| ne country towns and villages IN the various coun
1 ties Of the State:
I