The evening world., 1891-11-27
Here's a Queer State Of Affairs
In the Excise Board.
Licenses Regularly Granted in
Opposition to Earnest Protests,
The Vote Upon Them Has Always
the Same Result.
Koch and Fitzpatrick Answer Aye
and MeakIm Records q Nay.

The Excise Board has granted license for
liquor saloon on the northwest corner OF
Sixth avenue and Eleventh street to Daniel
+. Rose. The license had been refused three
times before. A protest had been entered by
the congregation OF the Eleventh Street Uni
versalist Church and by property-owners
President Meakim voted against the license.
This is only one OF several hundred In
stances OF the same kind which have occurred
within the past few months, and which. have
begun to arouse public suspicion that some
OF the doings OF the Board Of Excise will not
bear close inspection.
1t is a fact that since Commissioner Meakim
entered the Excise Board two years AMI half
ago he has been opposed and overraed by his
colleagues in more than two hundred cases
IN which there has been ground for withhold
ing license or rejecting an application for q
renewal, and thattn all these cases the saloon
keepers have come out victorious, In spite OF
the determined opposition Of the President Of
the Board.
In many OF the cases where charges were
brought by President Meakim against the
holders OF licenses and an investigation Or
oered before the Board the charges have been
olsmisseo oy the same vote OF Two to one, the
President in nearly every instance casting
MS vote In favor OF a revocation OF the license
when there was the slightest ground for sub
stantiating the charges against the delin-
quent.
The fact is, that while the relations
OF the mamhara
perfectly fiendly and are harmonious
TO all outward appearances, there is
tacit understanding that President Mea-
kim's Views and wishes shall be disregarded
entirely where any political interests are in
Volved or where other influence equally pow
erful Is brought to bear upon the Commits
sioners by the friends OF the liquor dealers
HOW MEAKtM ACCOUNTS FOR 1T.
President MeaEtms own words may be
quoted in support OF this statement: " No
one ever approaches me in regard to o
hcense," he says, when there is anything
crooked about 1t or the applicant desires some
special favor OF the Board.
"Ihey all know my views upon the sub
)ect TOO well for that They know that will
never consent to the granting OF new license
TO place that Is next door to stme other
liquor store or within 800 feet OF an existing
saloon.
They also know that am opposed to CIV
ing license to any saloon that is to be
located IN the nelghoorhood OF church or a
school-house, and ever since have been in
the Board have voted against such a license
every tlme that an application has been made.
"The reason IS simply this; While am
OH the most friendly terms with my associates
IN the Board am pound by no political ties,
ana can exercise complete independence In
the dlscharge OF my duties.
II an apphcation Tor a renewal or for a
new license comes before the Board and 1t is
all right aud there is no crooked business
apout IL, am always willing to approve It..
There is no need OF applicants in such cases
10 approach members OF the Board privately
ana 10 pring influence to bear, political or
Social to attain their ends.
They know that the application will 60
through all right. i do not wish to discuss
the considerations which may or may not In
nuence my colleagues in opposing me as fire.
quently as they have done. That they hold
dnerent views from mine in many cases is
evident, but Will not say that they are ac-
tuated py any motives that are not sincere
and honest.
mo doubt they have felt 1t to be their
DUTY In all those cases to grant license, in
spite OF my opposition, and even when con-
sldered the objections to such action insuper-
able.
Take the case OF the license to Daniel f.
Rose which was granted the other day. The
place is at the corner OF Eleventh street and
sixth avenue, and there is not q property
owner in that vicinity who did not object to
the granting Of the license.
"Flve or six petitions were sent to the
Board numerously signed and protesting
vigorously against the application. Not only
this, but all the parishioners OF the Univer.
ssiist church on Eleventh street were among
tne petitioners.
THESE OBJECTIONS DIDN'T COUNT.
The objections were not against Rose
himsell, out against the location. There was
ALREADY saloon next door and another in
the same block not thirty feet distant. BE
SIDES this there are two more saloons right.
across the street ON the opposite side OF Sixth
avenue.
~ thought that the nelghborhood was
pretty well supplied, ana there was no de.
mand on the part or the people OF that part