New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-12
FIGHTING THE EXCISE BILL.
VIGOROUS SPEECHES AGAINST IT AT The
ASSEMBLY, COMMITTEE HEARING.
EARNEST PLEAS MADE BY FATHER wALwORTH.
MR. RoOME AND OIHERS-w S. ANDREWS
THE CHIEF APOLoGIsT FOR
THE MEASURE.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TKIBUSE.y

sunday, which bill is now before the Legislature,
shown this afternoon Enthusiastically in the Assembly
Chamber. A hearing was given the measure,
which was attended by The largest number of per-
sons who have YET gathered n Albany at legs-
lative hearing THIS winter Every seat in the As
sembly Chamber was taken by some person in at
tendance at the hearing. and large number OF spec
iatOrs stood back Of the seats. The Excise Com
mittee gave the hearing 1t the chairman OF
that committee, Mr. Foley, who introduced the meas
IRE. Among those present opposing the bill were
Bishop Doane, of Albany; Robert Graham and e1
Judge ". ii. ArnouX, representing the Church TEN
perance Society; William II. RoOmc. o: the City Re
form Club; the Rev. j. II. Knowles, Of tho sabbath
Union DR.. A. W. LOzier OF the West eide Protective
League; John Jay Chapman. of the Excise Reform
Association Frank Moss Of the Society for the Pre-
vention of Crime. and Mrs. Mary r. Burt president
OF the Womans Christian Temperance Union Of New
York state.
1t sens that the retail grocers opposed to
the BILL because it prohibits the sale of NGuor except
in the original packages The retail liquor dealers have
mt this section In the bill, because they think tie
grocers are njuriousy competing with their business
Henry A. Never the Republican candidate for Mayor in
Brooklyn last fall headed the delegation of srocerymen
opposing the bill. There from the Central Asso-
citation of the state Of New York. representing the retail
grocers of the state L. j. Callan H. Martins and D. v"
Callahan: from the New-YOrk Retail GTocers' Union,
President Duger Vice President Fowler and eAPIeSl-
dent Bussing FROM the United Retail Grocers ASSo-
citation OF BROOKLYN F. ID. Williams vicepresident. ana
j. IIennonlotter The bill supported by the State
Ale. Wine and Beer Dealers Association. which was
represented by its president, Robert W Oliver Of Brook
Iyn; John MorIissey. OF syracuse George H. Mead OF
Troy Morris TelIulsky. of NewYOrk. and David New
Ill., Of Saratoga Tic counsel of the association Rec r'er
Hessberg. of Albany also present The chief drgu-
ment in behalf of the bill was made by W. > Andrews
former Excise Commissioner Of New-Nork
Mr.. Foley said. in opening the meeting: ." / would
like TO state that the rmors that the Excise Com
mittee intends to railroad this bill through are un-
true. We intend to give it careful consideration. Our
aim is 10 correct abuses in the excise laws, which
every will admit exist
Ex-Judge ArnOux the first of the speakers. lie
said that there had been fear on The part OF the
opponents Of the bill that it would be "iallroadcd'
AZ the close Of his remarks Ire introduced Father Wal
worth as the representative Of the largest religious
denomination In the state.
Il am not at all surprised at The remarks Of As
scmblyman Foley. the chairman Of this committee"
said Father Walwor;h. He continued "Tms Excise
bill is gross too shameless. to pass. 1t seems
TO me that one could expect that this bill could
pass. The American people are not 50 degraded and
deadened to the love of country, the necessary de-
nands OF law and Order pass such bill this in
the full shame Of its entire nakcdncss. But after
ALL there are other ways OF doing mischief. There
are ways OF hiding shame under beautiful words which
perfectly well understood by the leading men in
liquor trade which through Legislature
is what we fear. These hquor-deaers say what we
need is codfoation Of the excise laws. This has
good sound but | believe that all lawyers would tell
us that nothing would cause much confusion rs
codihcation.
-Nhat I fear is that notwithstanding oppo-
sition, changes will be made iii the Excise law, not
brought about by high moral considerations OF any
kind but by appeals to fear. Who doesn't know
that there are in power, or men who surround
those in power. who follow secret forces, who de-
termined to pass this bll But l would have you
consider there is strong power watching you-a
power which punish, power which Can re"AFu'
The liquor traffic comes before you and demands this
law 1t comes before you 10000 votes strong ana
SAWS we the balance OF power in the state ana
woe TO the member OF the Legislature, woe TO the
Governor who opposes us. We are the stronger ana
we shall control you.' Shall submit TO such a
mower as that or to anything else that In the
eome company? A geneman Mr.. Croker. has wit
ien an article in THE North American eXtoling the
strength of the Tammany Hall organizaiIon lie
saws it rewards its followers mat Is WnaU 'he
uouo-.dealers say. If this bill, or some alleged
COMPROMISE filed with rOttenDess, passes THIS Legs
Iatire then God help and protect the poor drlkaIds
wife. God help the little children! God give them
some means OF education! God help 10 M'ie 'neih
good citizens! II all the barriers against TINS uduo
are 70 be swept away if sunday IS u exist no longer
Il uguor is to be sold from p. III. TO miuhisN y"
sunday. then one knows that the remainder OF INC
dav will soon 90. II policemen are TO be puh>hcl
Cor unfolding the law God help the land 1t IS an
the same way: every good feature Of the present EA-
else laws is abolished by this proposed law
~ made as a vow, when young man. 70 1oi!o"
the King Of Glory. Who is the King Of Glory hah :
L II Billy McGIory If the Equordeaers are the
s,ronrest i'm the land, then life has been laufc
bilieve vet in the people Of the State. We Sliii
soc other revolutions The time Is coming "hc' 'n'
Infamous trade Will be swept away or redtcco ~
decency by high restrictions ana In 'hiS o'""u'"'0
/ leave this question: ~,
Mr. Roome Of the City Reform Club Of New oFh'
ext sualvzed the measure in behalf OF al
the societies. He said in substance ""''o
this BILL IN Superse'ins many VI W"
present provisions will make the IL" 0'e''o'
ON certain points. the same lime IL - a me"sui :
which will greatly increase the safe OF liquor anu
which destroys safeguards TO the pubhc lhV'eH,'
IL mist therefore be opposed In It's entirety Inc oS
proceedings which can be started against the i'e"
are. the criminal actions or the application " '"o
Board OF Excise for revocation of the license i"e'o
nrovlsions are incomplete. The provisions in the pro-
poscd bill which concern tho granting OF licenses u "
called eating houses are extremely faulty The pro
poscd licensing Of saloons between and O'CLOCK III
The morning is outrageous provision In we" oi
total absence of restriction the granting OF Auch
licenses Experience has shown that this Section
vouId allow the sale OF liquor in all sorts OF oaice-
houses ard cOncert-lIas during the entire ngh' Inc
bill is also faulty in not providing that the hcehSee
shall be guilty Of n misdemeanor. and shall also have
his ncense revoked, In many cases where the law
might be violated by his employc or agent
The practical repeal Of the civil Damage
act is entirely unwaranted. The bill IS
foulty in u0t requiring that saloons
shall be kept closed daring those hours when the Ge
q, uouor Is gal The provision which prevents the
agent OF society police officer from entering a
saloon and obtaining drink without using any deceit
in connection Herewith j. an extreme atack on the
efforts which are being made by public spirited Or
ranizatlols to procure the enforcement OF the laws
!, ALI The saloonkcepcrs in New-York City compiled
with the present law, they would not raise the plea Of
blockmaiL II f. confession Of their guilt Inc
hill should Also contain provision Which VIII prevent