New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-22
AGAINST SUNDAY OPENING.
A HEARING ON MR.. KEMPNERS EXCISE
BILL
ROBERT GRAHAM MRS. BURT AND OTHERS oP
POSE TIE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
uEWITT,S VIEWS.


POSE TIE MEAsURE-EXMAYoR
HEwITT's VIEWS.
Albany. Feb. o1.-An interesting hearing was held
this afternoon before the Assembly Excise Commit
tee Mr. Kcmpner's bill providing for the subm.s
sion to vote Of the people Of NcwYOrk City OF the
question OF allowing liquor shops to be Kept open
on sundays after p. m. Robert Graham, or New
York; the Rev. Dr. Mcleod OF Albany, and Mary T.
Burt president OF the state w. G. T. T.. appeared In
opposition to the bill. Among those who appeared
In Its favor Assemblynan Kempncr. J. y. smith,
OF "Thc Wine and Spirit Gazette;' Henry Flegen-
hcimcr president Of the German American Cleveland
tnion and representatives OF several German So
cielcs. Mr. Graham asked for further hearing, when
he would bring up here many reputable citizens OF
the metropolis who arc opposed to the bill. lie said
that this not the way In which, this question
should BE- settled. He opposed the extension OF any
facilities to the liquor dealers. The American sab
bath should not be German.zcd but should be Kept
essentially American.
Assemblyman Kempner said this question woiid
never DO disposed of unless settled I'm the manner pro
vIded TO- In tx. bill There was a public camOr for
Sunday opening, and under n Democratic form OF
Government the voice Of the people should receive
consideration. This was Il Just and reasonable de-
mand II the people vote against II this trouble
some question would be disposed OF for many years
to come. He read letter fIom eX-Mayor Abram >.
Hewitt, In which the latter said
regard the saloon OF the most serious cNiis
with which modern society has TO deal. II APP
pears however, TO be necessary evil, because all at
tcmpts at prohibition have failed. There Is large
class I'm the community which demands comfortable
plac in which TO pass the leisure hoars OF
the sabbath Day. The churches do not appear as ut
present constituted meet the requirements OF this
class think they could do 80 by providing
comfortable coffee saloons where according TO the Rev
D,fn f.rt' it.a hear
And until such places OF resort have been provided,
10 left but authorize the opening OF the
saloons on the Sabbath Day for the sale OF beer and
light wines only. Your bill, however, goes much
further and would authorize the ac OF strong drinks
to which am cmphatcaDy and absolutely opposed
truS therefore. that you will your way clear 10
modify the bill. so to amend the licenses to be
granted 10 hc sale of beer and light wines, contain
Ing not more than 3 per cent OF alcohol"
The Rev. Or. Mcleod said that in the fight on the
liquor question In the Assembly last year iie most
obnoxious feature had been stricken from the DILL
and now they found II coming before the Leg-l'ture
n gain. DR.. Mcleod then attacked the l9u1r uafhc'
with It's attempt to influence the Legislature for un-
worthy ends ppd the evils that always followed In
It's train. the Of all good c,iLcis, he pro
tested against the passage Of this bill.
J. y. smith, Editor OF The Wine and Spirit Va
zette7 said that this bill not to open the liquor
shops on sunday. many OF the speakers seemed
to take for granted. 1t was merelc To allow the
prople to expcs, their WILL
Mrs. Burt president OF the ". G. T. T.. said that
this was very spccious argument. II tive question
was to De- submitted to vote o! the peDple, the
women. half OF all the population. would have no
voice in the matter. The reason the liquor dealers
wanted TO keep open SUNDAY was that the working
people paid of on saturday night aud hid their
money ~ spend The sabbath.
James II. Bronson president OF the New-lork
state Temperance Society. said the legislation was
mainly for tile benefit OF the liquor dealers. the
majority of whom, even by the admission OF the
friends IT this hill. were lawbreakers.
Lewis j. Klcinboh. president Of the German
American Cleveland Union OF the With Assembly
District presented resolutions adopted by that body
IA oring the passage OF the bill.
This closed the hearing on the bill for the day.
Mrs Burt asked permission say word In reference
to Mr. Hands Local option bin. She represented
0cO women. and they all urged the Legislature nov to
pnnct hi, hill into a law. The committee then went
INTO executive session. but took action on the BILL