New-York tribune., 1891-02-06
UHISKEY'S ASSEMBLY.

The Democrats control the Assembly Of this
State and in turn are controlled by the saloons
The lat Of these facts is Us obvious as the
first On Wednesday the Democratic majority
of that body had the alternative presented to
il either of treating the other branch OF the
Legislature with marked and wc-nigh unex-
ampcd diScourtesy or of diSpleasing the sa-
looms. The Senate had made the perfectly
legitimate request Of the Assembly for the re-
turn OF a bill II was a bill which had been
passed by the Senate hastily and, so far as
some of the Senator'S were concerned. without
proper consideration. Nay, more members of
that body had voted for it under msappre-
hcnsion, into which they had been led by the
Senator introducing it. These facts were
brought ont in the debate which was Occasloned
by the resolution asking for the bills return.
Nevertheless at a wink from the liquor lobby
and from the Governor the Assembly decided
that the Senate should be sacrificed to the
saloons. that the bill should not 60 back. This
decision was reached by a vote of 81 to 81.
| Of the 81 votes to snub the Senate 60 were
cast by Democrats: of the - votes to respect
the ScnateS wishes 81 were cast by Repub
licans.
w nat IL JHlN UtdSuIc NUlCu tup DtluV'ihVih
Assembly majority was so determined not to
surrender? 1t is distinctly in the interest Of
the saloons. 1t is bill which while OstcnSibly
regulatingr the sale OF liquor in reality pro-
yide> for removing some Of the much needed
restrictions which already cxiSt--a regulation
by IctroglpsSlOn Us it were. il is a bill which
while ostenSiby providing for special license
in reality provides for one general enough to
be good for 4 year at time. II is a bill which
while oSten,ibly drafted in the interest Of Il
few respectable social organizations is in effect
IA bill to turn every dive in the city into an
all-nicht scene of dcbauchcIy. 1t is bili
which has encountered the opposition OF al the
leading bodies in the State which are designed
70 prevent the spread of immortality and TO
conserve genuine moral progress. All the
same. the Assembly could not be induced to
return it t. the Senate. The saloons demanded
tha, Speaker Shcchan and his Democratic aSSo-
ciatcs should refuse TO give the Scnatc an op-
r0rtunity of amending j. in any particular, but
should pass it a, il WAS and send II to the COY
crnor It goc, withou; saying that the saloons
realized that if il eyer reached the LXecuuve
Chamber il would be signed.
Now that the Democratic Assembly has de-
monStratcd in this extraordinary manner It's
contempt for public opinion and It's readiness
10 serve the rum power at all hazards 1t be-
hooyc, the Rcpul iic;in Senate TO be especially
yieilant If all the Republican Senators stand
together they can prevent the passage of any
If the many pcrniciouS measures which the Sa-
looms count upon pushing through the other
house The passage Of the Stadlcr bill was Il
serious mistake; the refusal of the Assembly
TO return it is dcplorable. But these things
will be productive Of good if they serve 10 unite
the Republican senators in the determination
70 defeat tho enemies of Excise reform in all
,hcr ASSAULT, during the session on the exist
ing laws.