New-York tribune., 1890-03-30
TEMPTING POOR WOMEN.
THEY BUY BEER AND HAVE 1T CHARGED
AS POTATOES,


AS POTATOES
sToREs-x FLAGRANT ABUSE OF THE
EXCISE SYSTEM
The farcical administration, rather maladmms
tration the excise laws In the City OF Ncw-iorK nas
long been standing Joke that reference TO the SUD-
ject has lost the power to elicit a smile. The garIhs
monstrositle, Of this branch Of the citys governments
have been thoroughly ventilated and held up to the
gaze Of the community that the whole matter may Do
regarded being completely threshcd out ana fnrter
discussion futile until the arrival OF the long desye"
but surely approaching day when the tentaclcs OF tho
whsey octopus shall have been torn from the tlroae
of the State There Is. however, one evil growing out
Of linked with the unrcstraned liquor traffic In the
city that to have escaped general notice. fes
this evil Of such magnitude that II Is passing strange
that extended notice Of has not been taken oy
those who laborng with the object Of having proper
restrictions placed upon the selling Of liquor. Tho
question referred to Is the prevalence OF tie places
known as grocery bars"
scattered pretty nearly all over the city and part1c
uarly in the poorer districts small grocery stores
which merely liquor shops under thin disguise.
The casual observer might pass hundred OF these
PAGES without having any Suspicion aroused as 10 their
true character. TO the unnitiated they are grocery
pure and simple. but they afford fine cxempn-
fcaon of the trusm that things are not always whss
they Viewed from the exterior there Is nothing
in sight that does not properly pertain to provision
dealers trade but If the store is entered and tour
rear entirely different condition OF
affairs reveals itself. Regularly fitted up bars.
equipped with all the appcndages Of liquor store. arc
found. and business conducted on exactly the same
prime pies as I'm the ordinary drinking places Once
in the bar which in most IS separated from the
proper By door, there is not the slightest
secrecy observed The visitor walks up to the counter.
orders his drink ard is served just he would be In
any liquor shop which lie had entered by the family
entrance sunday.
II there nothing else open TO censurc In tho
present practically untrammelled excise system, the
existence of the grocery grogshops would In itself
present to the minds of thinking people prma facie
evidence Of the necessity for discriminatory liquor
license law. The evil results brought about by the
grocery bar hardly be overestmated 1t forms in
Itself constant menace to the happiness and pros
pcrity Of the working classes. and the seeds OF
discord among humble homes that otherwise would
be peaceful and contented
A TENEMENT-HOUsE EPISODE.
typical be easily pictured. 4 man goe1
Oft 20 his work in the morning leaving his wife and
little home. some neighbor calls to visit the
wife, and after the usual tenement house gossip has
been exhausted the suggestion is made that OF
beer little whiskey would be highly desirable by
way Of lubricatng the vocal cords. So the stuff Is
sent for child acting the messenger. OF course
The grocery bar Is the place patronized After the
liquor drunk in nine Of there is desira
for further supply but perhaps the supply Of ready
money has been exhausted. 1t is imperative that
another growler7 or flask should be obtained and
the question resolves itself into Of and
1t would never do TO obtain liquor credit and have
it charged In the little pa>sbook the husband might
object when he came TO look the same passbook
AZ he of he 10
grocery bill. But why should the wife not go
TO the grocery, and obtaining the liquor have the
amount requisite 10 pay for 1t charged in the book
potatoes butter nourl This is done, and done re-
pcatcdly until when the husband home and
finds his wife intoxicated. In many such cases the
criminal court records tell the sequel.
Herein lies the evil Of the grocery bar 1t Is a
standing temptation to poor women Of slightly bbuous
tendencies 10 drink Thousands OF women who would
ashamed to enter a liquor shop and call for liquor
always before their eyes the open door Of
the grocery bar where they stink In and drink
while osensiby purchasing household necessares. Tho
craving for drink IS thus easily established. and all
kinds of subteruscs resorted To in order TO mako
the breadwnner OF the family believe that he is paying
for provisions and not for the whskey beer con-
suned by his wife, Little children sent erands to
bring liquor told to have charged groceries, and
thus brought up in an atmosphere Of lying and -
ccpton The storekceper only too glad to aid in the
deceit. the profits the liquors he sells being i'm
mcasurably larger than grocery goods.
the legal aspect of the question. Section
Chapter Of the Excise Law of the state of New
York. 1851, sets forth: In all licenses that may be
granted excepting to inns taverns hotslkeepers)
sell strong spirtuous liquors wines In quantities
Of less than five gallons, there shall be inserted an ex
pres, declaration that such license shall not be deemed
authorize the sale OF strong or spiritnous liquor
wine DO drank in the house or shop OF the person
receiving >uch censc or in any outnouse yard or
gardcn appertaning thereto. connected Herewith"
HOW THE LAW Is VIOLATED.
Yet in open defiance OF these provisions. which
late expressly grocery stores. bars running In full
blast IN these places be found all Manhattan
Island and on almost every block in the downtown
wards. That the excise inspectors can be unaware OF
this state Of things hardly credible. These
official, notorousy arsightcd of course and it
IS suggested that their dmncss OF vision be
tcriay increased for consideration.
The liquor shop keepers naturally enough feel con-
dcrably aSsrcvci at the manner in which their trade
i, caused suffer by the opposition of the grocery
bars They do not. however. dare 10 complain hest
ey should incur The wrath OF the Excise Board with
which they form community OF interest 80 TO speak:
ASSOCIATION speaking of the matter said: Don't print
nv name for BY doing the vias of wrath OF the
don't you think il IS rather unfair that these grocery
bars should be permitted TO run In opposition to the
regularly licensed shops Take my own case, for
instance. Here am | running reputable saloon,
obcyng the laws and paving license OF FOO yearly:
pays 50 year and yet ma. AR resaf osr trade Ihc
other fellow sells the worst hiu "i SUM, on WHICH ne
make, "A larger profit than can on my liquors. and he
ony has to pay about tenth of the lcese fee that
who his pcnses not one tenth as large rs mine.
think il would be only fair TO have all persons
ming bars placed equal footing and ! should be
lad 70 passed which, even II did increase
fees, would insure this.
Before the passage Of the High License law in Penn
sylyania thorc hundreds Of grocery bars In the
larger cities working the same bad effects as those In
New York now but to-day they are entirely extcr
minated When the day comes for New York TO have
properly regulated liquor traffic the results will
undoubtedly follow but under the present obnoxious
parfic
r,mseer will probably continue 10 flourish In his no
f,rlous trade secure from legal interference.
pcI III lNTS