New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-10-08
QUEER EXCISE METHODS.
TESTIMONY EEFORE THE FASSEIT COM
MlTTEE
MR. KOCH ANSWERS QUESTIONS, But FIGHTS
SHY OF suGGEsTIoNS-Two COM
NISSIONERS SICK.

The conmittc has not dismissed Mr. FitzlhficK'
and Il a, expected ha; his examination "ouiu NC
continued but he word that he was sick MT Much
was also as he Informed the committee. in bad health
though he was well enough to testify. Mt Meahlhi,
the president Of EAcise Board, will report Tor duy
In the witness chair to-day. and the committee VIII
give the two sick men q rest
But Mr.. Koch, evidence like Mr.. Fitzpa'rick's.
showed that the Excise Department is mu'h scRer
than any of its Dcmbcrs Its entire system hceds
purgng followed by toning up: and questions pm
and hints made by Senator Fassett. as well as sug'
gestons offered by the commissioners themselves IN
dictate that the work of The committee IN reeatu 70
the department that ought to. but cannot and docs
not properly regulate The liquor trahc, VIII ne lol
lowed Iy the RECOMMENDATION Of thorough measures
Of reorganization and reform to the legislature
Much of Mr. ko,hs testimony covered the Same
ground Mr.. Tzpatiok>, and with the indication
of It's patuie all the opening part of 1t may be
dismissed. 1t coveryd the method of appointments.
freely admitted by Mr. Koch to Ike conducted on tie
principle that ito the victor lin this case Tamnlany
Hall belong, the spOls'
As to the work done ly the inspectors. Mr.. Koch
told Mr. Wins that competent inspector conld make
from eighteen to twenty four inspections week
Then your force of six'ydve Inspectors must be two
or three times rs large as il should be- sad MT.
WINS.
senator Fas>ctt did little quiet figuring in private,
and showed, the rc.ult 10 The Tribune reporter.
sixty-lve inspectors. each making four inspections
make total Of l,lco inspections in year. A. a
matter Of fact. the number Of inspections made EtS,
year by the EXCISE Boards siAty live men was ONLY
IL 900.
Mr. Koch expressed his preference for the licensing
Of the place rather than the person lie agreed "t
Mr.. WINS when the latter suggested that IT Would
be a good thing TO have a landlord act as sort OF
assistant the authorities He was asked is
your view based upon the difficulty OF making
proper inspection of persons character lie re-
piled: "Yes, sir. 1t is based on that very areu
nent."
The existing rules, which senator FaSSeu charac-
terized a. q sort Of Chinese matter. had. Mr. k"h
said come down from former Boards. and II was not
his fault that they were not changed lie was asked
II 1t would not be better for the city II the board
asked the Board Of Estimate and Apportonment i'r
appropriations for many regular inspectors who
would DO employed all the time, and for certain
number OF extra men, who should he employed only
when there was work for them Whereas ten years
ago tho expenditure for the Excise Department was
forty Or fifty thousand dollars. was now Fl"oo0
Mr. Koch said that II they had the right TO appoint
temporary Inspectors. he would be In favor OF H.
This line of inquiry brought ont the Interesting iat
that twelve inspectors have boon serving the B'aru
as clerks although inspectors appointed after non
competitive examination and clerks are supposed u
be admitted to the service by competitive examination
Mr. Koch said that he had been in favor Of licensing
the Sixth Avenue Hotel hcrause Police Captain Kiea
gentlemen whose names Nr. Koch felt bashul about
Giving, had advocated it before the Board. The an
vice Of these estimsblc gentlemen. however dd hof
have any effect HIS Judgment as Commissioner.
He would have granted tie license ANYWAY on what
the police captain reported. Mr. Koch thought il
would be an improvement II inspectors were required
in their reports to state their -! information
Mr. Ivin, asked him: DO ycu. ~ a COMMISSIONER.
feel satisfied far the essential matter OF charar
ter concerned that the inspections as they are nac
to-day. are really efficiently. thoroughly and salts
factorily made. do you agree with MIR. Fitzpatrick
In regard to the important part Of 1t. that II IS
mere matter Of form 7"
Il don't think it should bc matter Of FORM said
the witness.
"Eut the system rs it actually is, Mr.. KOCH said
Mr.. Fassctt
The reply was: Il think the mode o.
inspection might be made NOR critical and
moro satisfactory to the Lizard of Excise
and 10 the people generally.
This change for the better. NJ. Koch went On U
say, could b. 1mpsh'd WIKI i.r >anie INSPECTORS
as the BoaI hat row, if tiIc rules we've changed
The witness held thai there VA, 10 reason for eXsrt
ing andavi,s a. 10 transfers IL fixtures, etc. when
LIQUOR stare, changed hands AMI az or tho bond, "a
acted Mr. Koch declared TINT tics ar H"' worth IA"
paper they arc written on This frank adin'Ss"A
landed him presently III al awkward situation. "a, h"
was forced TO acknowledge tina: II was a waste Of
time to draw up the bonds lie deni'd positively
however that any fees wcre e14ced or that anybody
made money On those hoEds.
The rules of the Board in regard to vicinity and
the other plysca7 aspects Of license graphing next
came under review. The phrase immediate vicinity
was alluded by Senator F4>,ctt a. an elastic phrase
"Why, certainly" said Mr. koch II Is all elastic
phrase
The rules themselves said Mr. WINS. after some
further Conversation fall into the category with nuch
Of tho other documentary WORK. etc, a. something
to be read and looked at aud not very much 70 be
relied on
Il have always found that much said Mr.
Koch.
Now" SAID Mr. WINS. the law says uay
not have than license in the city iio" d"
you evade that law =
We don't cva.Ic it,"
Then how docs TIC other !cllowa cvatc it,
But Mr. Koch ccai t. the word "evadc' MI.
Wins put IT 70 him whethor Mr. stoke, and other
men DID not have than one place licensed
The Law says sad Mr. Koch. that tao licenses
can't be gwen the same person, but 1t does not
prevent d man being Interested with another pasts
In another place
The examination then went on a. follows:
senator Fa.sc,t-Therc j, nothing In the law To pre-
'' o.-Is it not a fac, That brcwnies inter
cstcd in the majority Of places? 40, ar. lHcl
DO hold chattc mortgages on nlnlcr oi places but
the parties in them "%n tne places: j., ,,,r ,ro.
ment a, an ENc,c Commas !oer, cijiAcn and an cA
sSsa u, S EH s sew "a" s@ not p rcn an"
more than for Why t":Is should h3 b. cy p"pT d S
any any r;on wh? TIA, law a5u, lcr',c~ ~aoud exi'
Senator Fasset,ls It not easier TO ot'hn sn,ailrr
numh.r Of responsible pcr>pns To- carr Oh Iaf-c
number OF saloon, Ayes.
EN- Judge l5rDwnc-That would be monopoly.
Senator Fasscit-lf IT resulted III rncy ana llN
and order /, would be a good thing ii there could
be a monopoly.
Elk Judge I;rOwne- They would form a trust.
Senator Fassctt-T!ry don't trust i'll this bn'i
meas
The witness said substantially that nonop1l'
could practically De sccur under The prcscn' law
and that there nothing to prevent commits
sioncrs from limiting the number II liquor stores t'
one for only so many persons III The population Of
the city But he added that tic laws VERY
crude He did not thnl: they required the Com
nssioners keep surveillance Of places after grant
Ing licenses. The law might permit them To do 50
but it was a matter of extreme doubt. lie thought