New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-12
DLAvSHOP INSOLENCE.

The liquor-lealers of this city are filled with
( the conviction that they furnish the bone anu
sinew of the great Democratic majority IN ms
metropolis In his they are perfectly right ana
if the dramshcps we're closed permanently, and
| the vice ignorance and evil which cluster about
| them and follow alout in their train were dmln-
ished so extensively as they surely would be II
these sources of degradation and wrongdOlng
were abolished, New FORK City would be Re-
publican Satisfied as hey are that the Demo-
cratic party in this city and State could by no
possibility triumph at any election without their
assistance and support, TIN liquor sellers are de
ermined to secure a big Price for their political
services now that the Democratic Governor has
q Democratic Senate (stOlel from the Repub-
cans) and a Democratic assembly to act in
harmony with him. Consequently the liquor
dealers are preparing for submission to the Legis-
Iatnre an Excise bill which is Most extraordinary
and amazing in its audacity andeffrOntely.
The keepers of the dramShoIs propose that
Sunday liquor-selling shall be Permitted from
/ o'clock in the afternoon until midnight, and
then the saloons shall be allowed t. remain open
one hour longer, until 1 o'clock Monday morn
ing. If they can secure this TREMENDOUS con-
cession they say that they will grant in return
tho strict closing Of the dramshops from mid
night on Saturday until l o'clock on Sunday. In
order to maze their grip on the Excse Board
stronger than it is now, they demand that tho
terms Of the Excise Commissioners shal termi-
nate with the terms Of office Of the Mayos who
appoint them. They insist that the Excise Com
missioners shall have discretion to license cetain
saloons to keep open all night in certain parS OF
the city. They propose to abolish the require
ment of real estate security on bonds given COR
licenses. They ask that special licenses shall &c
granted to associations that give balls in Orda
that such associations shall have the privilege OF
selling wine after 1 o'clock in the morning.
The boundless impudence of some Of these
propositions is enough to stupcfy any person Of
solf-respect and tccency. But the liquor-deal-
CTS go even further. They want the Legislature
to enact that it slab be a misdcmeanOr for any
person to enter a aloon during the hours when
10 is supposed TO be closed in obedience 10 tho
requirements of tho law, in order 70 secure evil
dcnce upon which to obtain convictions of saloon
keepers or bartender who violate the law. In
this way tho liquor-Sller propose to make il
impossible for The police or any one else to en-
fore the excise law AID to prevent the sale Of
liquors at hours when such sale is illegal.
Every reasonable person admits the enormous
evils of the liquor traffic as it is now conducted
in our great cities. The excise law proposed by
tho liquor-de dealers would multiply these evils
many times, and innict the most appalling in !
juries upon the people generally. One hardly |
knows how 10 characterize In terms Of sufficient |
force the insolence of the Geaers who venture 70
put forth such propositions Is are embodied In tho |
bill which their lawyers have been drawing up. |
But the dealers feel secure OF the support of |
Tammany Hall and OF all ne worst elements
of the Democratic party, no natter how inordi-
nate and indefensible their SCHEMES may be. If
tho Democrats should continue to win victories
in this State it would not be surprising if ere
long the liquor dealers should lot only insist
upon the abolition OF all licenses, he removal of
all restrictions upon their traffic, bIt should also
demand that every man who sarh dramshOp
should receive a bonus out Of the public funds
for the injury which he thereby nihts upon So
ciety. If ever there was a measure conceived
in sin born in iniquty, and devised lOg the most
vile and abominable purposes, it is the proposed
law Of the liquor dealers. And yet orr friends
the Prohibitonsts do all in their power to
strengthen the Democrats by weakening the only
party which can be trusted 10 do anything flee
tive to stem the tide Of liquor decentralization and
corruption.