New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-04
PASSING THE EXCISE BILL.
SOLID DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION IN THA
SENATE.
MR., FAssETT's REJcdNDER TO STANDING
CRIrICIsM-oNLY ONE REPUBLICAN VOTE
AGAINST THE MEASURE.
BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TErBUNE.I

AGAINST THE MEASURE
rsr TELEGRAPH TO THE TEIBuSEI
Albany, April 3-The Republican Senate per>
formed another notable service to the people this
morning by passing the Hendricks Excise bill.
Mr.. Stadler, the Democratic champion of the
brewers, was understood 10 favor the measure in
committee, but on the floor he united with his
minority associates in opposing it, As it was, ow-
ing to the detection of Mr.. Laughlin, the Repub-
lican Senator from Buffalo, there were only seven
teen votes in its favor bare majority of all
the Senator's, and just enough to pass it, Mr..
Stader vainly attempted 10 secure the substitu-
ton of the Commission bill. Mr.. Cantor made
the usual Democratic demonstration as to the in
sincerity of the Republicans This evoked from
Mr.. Fassett singing reioinder, which correctly
defines the Republican position and may be taken
final answer to all such false accusations
lie said:
The only excuse that any Democratic orator
can ever give for not supporting the great reforms
in which this Legislature has been engaged for
the last five years is that the Republicans do not
mean it, We passed the SaXtOn bill three times
in succession and they declared it was iuggery.
We have passed liquor license bill three times
and they say that's farcical We endeavored
to secure educational reform and they cry out
that we're insinccre. We passed the vedder
Tax bill and they said that was all pretence.
We are insincere all the time A very respect
able, but, in my opinion, a somewhat erratic mi
n0rlty OF the people want TO vote as to whether
the organic law Shall be so amended that the
liquor traffic Shall be totally prohibited. We
vote to give them that privilege, then the mi
nority accuse of being Prohbtionists If we
had refused to do SO they would have
accused us of juggling to deceive the people Sim
cerity is shown, not by words but by deeds, and
we have stamped every one of those measures
with all the sincerity of an earnest undertaking
purpose. With the Executive in control we may
he baked. We may come up TO the line again
and again, and be driven back by his vctoes.
But this is Gods universe and the right will pre-
vail; it may not be this year, nor next year, or
in my lifetime But the Republican party stands
facing the future like young man facing the
morning. Our purpose in supporting these re-
(orms is earnest and is answering, and I be-
lieve that all efforts to misrepresent attitude
on these great questions will be swept away by
the rising tide of public opinion.
When the bill came up Mr.. Hendricks secured
the incorporation of an amendment, suggested by
Mr.. Saxton, providing that Excise Commissioners
shall not meet oftencr than once month, unless
additional meetings shall he necessary for the ex-
animation of witnesses on question of granting
or revokng a license. Mr.. Linson offered an
amendment requiring the granting of additional,
licenses as follows:
Licenses to social incorporated clubs permitting the
in club ROOFS spIrituous liquors. vines
az Deer TO be drunk the pf51nses, for which he
fees shah DO not less an $3.50. where the club neahe
ship exceed 100 and $3.50 for each additlonai
100 members. fraction thereof
This was defeated Mr.. Laughlin subsequently
announced that he should vote against the BIZ
on account Of its lack of this similar pro-
vision for the taxing of clubs. Mr. Stadler said
that some of the New-York clubs retail $500
worth of liquor year.
why do you charge a higher fee to saloon-
keeper than to q hotel-keeper?' ~ asked Mr.. McCar-
rem That isn't fair. l move TO strike Out
the section requiring that an innkeeper shall
provide a certain number Of beds. It's revival
Of a very old law"
That is one of the best features of the BILL
said Mr. Saxton. The old law of 1857 was
easily evaded, but this provision that hotel
keeper in a large city shall have fifteen bedrooms
with beds for the accommodation OF guests could
not possibly be eyaded. Landlords couldn't al
ford TO evade 1t. They couldn't pay high rents
for empty rooms merely 10 save few hundred
dollars q license
AS 10 sal0on-keepcrs' fees.7 said Mr.. Roesch.
why should they be fixed at from $500 to
$500, while those of hotel-keepers are only from
-" Won raise the fees if you WISH" said Mr..
O'Connor With a hotclkeerer the bar is only
an incident of his business. not It's main feature;
That's begging the question. SAID Mr.. loosen.
Il move to equalize the iisures. uona.;o,.,
In reply TO questions, Mr., Hendricks
said tlat the minimum license fec
in New-lork is now $50, and the maAlmun 500
MIR Roeschs amendment and Mr. McCarrens
amendment were both lost Mr.. Roesch: however,
WAS ready with another Obstructive motion. Inc
provision forbidding the sale OF hquor on eAcur-
Sion boats is improper. he declared " IL amounts
10 prohibition. Charitable bodies and Grand
ARMY posts sometimes go on excursions IN New
York llarbor, and why should they be forbidden
From What I've heard" said Mr.. O'Connor,
Il believe if we asked to have licenses issued on
excursion boats. we should be asking III many
cases to have immortality licensed
~Oh you're trying to force the bill through
without respect TO the merits Of amendments
cried Mr. Roesch. with great show of lndigna-
tion. " see we Democrats can get lalr play.
| withdraw my notion
Mr. Sadlcr was not 50 easily discouraged and
moved 10 strike out the section relating 10 the
raising the screens in bar-rOom windows during
prohibited hours. This section the saloon-keepers
regard with especial dsfavor. Think of the IN
saioon-keepers, Mr.. Stadler protested is
it fair that they should be asked to
move their scrccns?' The Senate evidently
thought it was for the motion shared the fate OF
its predecessors. Other trivial amendments were
acted on Then Mr. Sadler with great
solcmnity. ." Mr.. President, he said impressivey,
move to substitute for this bill what is known
as last years Commission bill. IL had been
understood that the concessions made in committee
to Mr. Stadler and the brewers with regard TO tho
Hendricks bill had cured them of their con-
suming fondncss for the Commission bill. Bus
the allegations of insincerty that are SO con-
stanty launched against the Republicans are
evidently suggested by the experience of their
originators The motion. of course, was defeated.
The vote stood ; to .. Mr. Laughlin upheld tie
traditions of his district by voting with the
minority Mr.. Cocgeshall by accident was not
recorded but would have voted against the
substitution.
On the final passage of the bill Mr. Veddet
said he did not believe in the principle of licensing.
and that the true solution OF the problem lay in
the adoption of a tax law. At the same time. lie
regarded the Hendricks bill better than nothing.
Mr. Cantor declared that the Republicans should
enforce the present laws rather than invent new
ones and scolded them for not throwing away
their labor and stultifying themselves by accept
inc The nhligng SUGGESTION as 10 thc Commission