Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-17
THE SALOON IN POLITICS.

HARPER's Weekly: The decision will have
the further important effect of elevating the
| temperance agitation into national issue. 1t
now ceases to be local question. IL prohibit
tion be the true temperance policy it can now
be reached only by law of Congress recog-
nizing the validity of State laws upon the sub
ject But the extreme difficulty of obtaining
such law is evident. 1t Is also questionable
whether the decision does not equally affect
State license laws. They are condemned under
the decision as regulations of interstate COM
merce, which are reserved exclusively to Con-
gress.
NEW YORK Observer: If the principle of
the decision is maintained then any State may
be flooded with liquor from another State and
no State law of any kind can prevent its sale
and distribution. This decision, as announced,
is so revolutionary in its operation that it is
difficult to realize that it is reasonable or Just.
1t is fatal to the idea of any relief from any
evil by the use of local option. If the Supreme
Court has found that this is the law then, as
in other cases where the court has made de-
clsions repugnant to the moral sense Of the
nation, there is no remedy except in some modi-
ication of the general law.
NEW YORK Press: Senator Wilson, of Iowa,
a most able lawyer, by the way, and a member
of the Senate Judiciary Committee, discovers
contends that 1t practically robs the States of
all police power and control over the liquor
traffic. 1t removes even the scant barriers of
license. He claims that under the decision a
person IN New York City who wants to avoid
the payment of license can make arrangements
to get his liquor from New Jersey in the pack
ages desired and then sell them here with per-
feet freedom privileged commodity under
the Federal Interstate law, which supersedes
any and all laws of the State on that subject.
NEW YORK Voice: There is no good reason
why a saloon should not still be closed up as a
nuisance. The mere fact of the sale of liquor
cannot be taken now as proof of a nuisance,
but the congregation OF men around a bar,
boIsterous talking or singing, fight, any dis
turbance in connection with 1t, is sufficient
proof still. The rights still left TO the State
authorities, as we understand the case are
these: First-The right to prohibit the manu-
facture of liquor within the limits of the State.
Second-The right to prevent all sales of liquor
brought from other States except the first sale
in unbroken packages. Three-The right
(which is possessed equally over other kinds of
business) to prevent even these sales from be-
ing carried on under conditions likely TO DIS
turb or endanger the peace of the community.
NEW YORK Herald: See where this decis-
ion leaves New York. A liquor dealer Of this
city mas only TO Senu q truck 10 Jersey lily lor
a supply Of whisky in TASKS or to Hoboken for
load of beer in bottles. He is free to sell this
in the metropolis without an excise license and
without the payment of any tax. The State has
no power to stop him, nor the Excise Commis-
sioners any authority to interfere with him. 1t
may be that the State may prevent regular sa-
loon traffic in such case by prohibiting the
drinking of such liquors on the premises where
sold. This is an amazing turn of affairs, not
only for New York, but every State in the
Union. 1t enables liquor dealers to evade and
defy local prohibition, tax or license laws. 1t
paralyzes the power of the State to deal with
the liquor traffic. The only remedy is Congress
sional action.