The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-05

Nothing new IS revealed by the present
complaints that the poles rse the Of
portunities afforded by the E"c'ss law
for tho purpose Of extorting money from
liquor dealers. Inasmuch rs great many
saloons are kept open on Sunday without
molestation while other liquor sellers are
arrested for the same offence, the assu'nr-
t!on has been always that there was an in-
tcrested motive for the discrimination.
Our police are remarkable for their vigil
lance and efficiency. No other great city in
the world has better police force; but 1t
would 10 wonderful II they were not cor
rupted by tho temptation OF an Excise law
which Is kept on the statute books as a mere
pretence to humbug religious and temper
ancc sentiment, and with no expectation
that 1t will be enforced in earnest.
1t never has been so enforced. except spas
medically. Public sentiment derides 1t, ana
the police know very well that all that it Is
requisite for them to do Is TO make some
show OF compelling obedience 10 IL. They
arrest enough Of the barkeepers every Sun
day to give business for the Grand jury; but
they pass by many more open saloons with
out making any effort to disturb the selling.
not merely because It may be profitable to
them to make the discrimination, but be-
cause they understand that the enforcement
of tho law Is to be and can be no more than
a prctence in this community. No police
force in the world would be safe against cor
ruption under such circumstances.
Tho saloons are open ON Sunday because
the public demand the opening, not the
drunkards SO much as the orderly. temper
ate, and respectable citizens who assist In
the violation OF the law in utter contempt OF
its provisions. Even the law itself sets the
police an example OF discrimination by
permitting the sale in some cases. clubs, for
instance. and forbidding 1t in others.
The law. therefore. tends to corrupt the
police force and to lessen public respect for
all law; and 1t offers no compensating adj
vantages, II any compensation for evils SO
grev0us were possible 1t does not promote
temperance by closing the saloons, II such
closing tends to the promotion OF temper
anco, for tho Sunday liquor selling goes Oh
with practical impunity.
This state OF things has continued under
every municipal administration for many
years past. 1t Is no worse under Mayor
GRANT than it was under Mayor HEWITT
under the present Police Commissioners
department; aud it would be no better who.
ever might be put in their places. Mayor
HEWITT made a vigorous effort to reform
the evil, but he was obliged TO give up the
tusk as impossible, with the law and public
sentiment as they IRE. AS the law cannot be
enforced with persistence, uniformity, and
equality, the inevitable consequence Is gross
injustice to many OF the dealers, outrageous
persecution in some cases. Partially In
many Others and perhaps blackmaillng. as
their organ describes it. on an extensive
scale. II will not prevent the sale OF liquor
on Sunday, as long experience has shown,
but by making the selling illegal it encour-
ages extortion, spying, malicious charges,
aud browbeating
Mayor HEWITT. Mayor GRANT, and the
Grand Jury have all come to the same con-
clusion after observing its effects. They
agree that both temperance and respect for
law would be promoted and increased. and
that tho police would DO saved from inevl-
table and Irresistible temptations to cor
ruption II the pretence Of closing the saloons
entirely on Sunday were abandoned, and
opening during certain hours and under
special restrictions were made legal. Such
a measure would be supported by public
opinion, it could be enforced, and the re-
spectacle liquor dealers themselves would
combine to see that it was Obeyed. But the
Republicans prefer to keep up the humbus,
thinking that they make party capital out
OF 1t by hoodwinking the temperance people.
Tho LIQUOR dealers need have no trouble in
fixing the responsibility for the injustice
against which they complain so reasonably.