New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-07
TIE AMENDED LIQUOR BILL.

Tho report OF the EXCISE Noh'hC',o VA ~
Liquor bill, which has been pending for several
weeks, looks very much like an assault on inc
measure with intent to kill. For the committee
can hardly expect that Democratic members from
the country, representing districts in when the
local option principle is in OPERATION VIII de-
lberately commit political suicide by voting ior
n Gn,or bill which declines to provide for local
ontion. But whatever may have been the COM
mttees intention, the fact remains that the IT,
vsed and amended bill, although not so DIS
gracefully bad as when it was introduced is sui
outrageous. The section providing for open bars
free liouor and high old carousal on Sunday
has been dropped, as have also one or two Cther
objectionable features. In its present shape 1t
nav command the support of the city members.
II is possble. but not probable that it may be
made party measure, and that by vigorous
usc Ct the caucus whip country members may
be coerced into lending themselves to It's passage
We assume, however, that all the Republican
mombers of the Legislature Will employ their
votes and their influence to defeat this pcs'iier-
ous piece of legislation, and we would fam nope
that they will have the support OF not a few OF
the reputable Democratic members For al
though the reported bill, rs we have said Is not
50 nagrantly bad as was the original one inc
fact remains that no lawmaler who has the
slightest regard for tho common welfare can
record himself in its favor. 1t is still serious
monaco to the good order and prosperity OF the
State. Il is still a shameless attempt to PROVIDE
for an increase Of grogshops, and therefore ior
an increase OF intempcrancc and Of the countless
evils. small and great, which arc 50 many Logical
consequences of intempcnnce. Among the pro-
visions retained there is one which has only 10
he enacted to render tho detection Of those who
break the excise laws practically impossible.
We refer to what is known rs the pohce-Sl!
section. Pass that and the saoonkccpes OF
this town can snap their fingers al the laws
placing Wholesome restraints upon the liquor
traffic Other glazing faults OF the amended Oil
arc lis rcpca of the most Salu,ary Civil Damage
Act lis reduction Of license fees. its provision Tor
all-nicbt bars. and as already noted, its cxclu-
sion of local option. 1t is still well entitled
"a bo called an act for the encouragement OF INC
forces which mako for the common adversely.
l. would be interesting T. know what the
more intelligent Of the rumsecIS think OF The
surrender of the provision for selling on sunday
II is shrewdly suspected at Albany that the
Democratic bosses ordered this provision out Of
the bill, not because they desired " TO pandcr to
the better element" but because they desired
70 retain their hold on the saloon for political
purposes. On this point our Albany correspond
ent had this to say last Friday:
The sunday clause was not stricken out because
the Democratic leaders feared they coud not pass tho
bill with It in An Assembly that will pass the notorious
-uuclcbcrry~ bill can be depended upon 20 pass ans
mcasur, that Ill., Murphy. Croker. Mclaughlin co.
want 10 get through II was bccau.c the passage ~
the bin with that clause I'm il would take the liquor
hunc,s out o. politics that the Democratic bosses
,rrred that II would DE master SrOhe again ~ 1901
c louor dealers and keep them In position for further
Matchmaking when tho fall campaign opens. From
he 20 900 or 10000 saloons In th, state the leaders
- the democratic party have for the lnt six years col
lectod large sums Of money annually for election eN
nenses This money has been paid with the under
standing that when the Democrats obtainci control IN
tho legislature and at the time Trad the Cover
nor an excise bin would be sscd that would gave
IN them all sorts Of freedom from what they considered
~, he the lrlsome and Purltanical laws upon the
statute books.
II is not alone the Republican critics of tho
Legislature who are talking in this vein. "Thc
Wine and Spirit Gazette one OF the leading
organs OF the saloons, has been frankly saying
Of late that there was reason TO fear that they
were going to get fooled at Albany. The gem
eral public however, is not concerned as to the
attitude Of the Democratic leaders toward the
saloonkeepcrs II is anayed against the bill be-
cause the bill is arraycd against the public wei
forn