New-York tribune., 1890-05-26
EXCISE ENBARR4SSDENIS.

In exposing the mOckery which is called
in this city an excise system. the FaSSett Com
mttee has performed another excellent public
service. The exposures lose something of their
force upon the public imagination because they
are not new They simply confirm and place
ON record what have been matters of public
notoriety for years. If the people of New
York were not SO dull to their interests and
their duty, the evils thus glaringly revealed
nv Senator Fassett would long ago have gone.
There are two reasons why the general ex-
nenditure of S1ii.00O. which goes 10 main
tain the Excise Commission, is spent TO no
avail The hrst is because tho Commission
meyer intends TO do It's work honestly and in
the spirt of the laws. The second is because
if would only be partially successful in cleans
ing the city of Illicit traffic and vile resorts if
if did do its faithful utmost.
There is 10 doabt at all that with half its
present force the Excise Commission, If d.
yorced from politics, could practically rid
the city of infamous resorts These are
concert halls, the character of which Is al
yvavs evident. II is within the CommiS-
sion's power to, refuse them Il license and
thus to throw the burden Of their existence
The Commission could if il would, deprive
all the lawbnakcrs Of their privilege" and thus
fully discharge It's own responsibility If II
did so much it would do great deal. and the
burden Of dealing a final blow 10 those who
defantlv kent open without license would be
thrown npon the Police Department, the Dis
trict-AttDrncv and the criminal courts. II is
sheer impotence for the Commission, when
taxed with neglect of duty, To answer that II
wouldlhc of no avail 10 enforce the law because
no prosecutions would follow. II Is not charged
with the duty of prosecution. lis business j.
IN withhold licenses from dl,ordcrly characters
and disordcrly places
What the city requires j. an Excise Court.
The Excise Commission should hc abolished.
It's functions should be transferred 10 th"
Board Of Police, who should be non-partiNan
body. Every penny spent upon an hNclNc Com
mission is worse than wasted II simply per
pctuates a dangerous political machine and
affords an extensive opportunity To class oi
political "bummcr-," for lcyyIng blachmall
The Police Department ha, tho facilities for
doing all the work Of saloon inspection. and
the policemen, il frail, arc under far better
discipline than tho Excise inspectors. The
money saved by the abolition of the ENcl>"
Commission would more than provide for
new court having jurisdiction over kNclNe
cases The existence Ol such a branch OF our
judicial system would leave no further excuse
for failures ii justice. Under present cond-
rions. il is scarcely possible 10 ny indictments
for Violations of the Excise laws. We DO not
doubt that The diIicultc, in the way OF trying
them are exaggerated but still they exist III
large measure and il Is So hard 10 say where
they begin and where they end that The blame
in the matter cannot we'll bee fixed. That this
situation is perfectly understood ly senator
Fa,>ctt and hi, colleagues has appeared from
their frequent remarks during the inNcStlga-
ton. They may bee relied upon. we doubt not,
after the Police Department has been exam
ned TO find a way for il reformation upon
lines that will give il charge Of Excise inspcc-
ton. and also for such an enlargement of the
court, as will enable the Excise business 10 be
disposed of promptly.