New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-08
THE EXCISE AND SUNDAY LAWS.
THE OHIO METHOD OF TAXING SALOONS FAVORED
LATITUDE IN SUNDAY OBSERVANCE.

LATITUDE IN SUNDAY OBSERVANCE.
To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: The citizens Of this State are not likely soon
TO be called to settle questions more important
to their welfare and that Of the State at large than
the excise and Sunday questions. The evil Of the
saloon the one hand and the sacredness OF Sun
day the other involve moral considerations
which ought lift these questions out OF the region
OF party politics. Republicans and Democrats
alike who recognize the evil wrought by the saloon
the breeding place OF crime and disorder; as de-
structive of the home and a bane:ul and per-
nlcous influence in politics. might well unite in ex-
orting their influence in the settlement OF these
questions.
With regard to the saloons. are not only con-
froned with a traffic in which mischief and evil
are inherent. bat one which exercises most harm
ful influence in political affairs. The problem,
therefore, is not only how TO mitigate the evil
wrought by the saloon the parent of crime and
poverty, but how take the saloon out Of politics
Without attempting q discussion OF these subjects
| venture to point ont some important features
which a careful consideration will involve
l. Shall the saloons be regulated ard governed by
State control through the Legislature or shall the
matter be RENTED decision of each particular
locality to exercise ts option? There is danger at
the outset that the subject may become hopelessiy
involved by differences between advocates OF STATE
control the one hand and of local option on the
other While the right OF each locality to the de-
clSlOn or questions Wnlcn reIdte "HOiiS " "e'S'H
of local self government cannot be questioned. IL
is nevertheless true that upon the general subject
OF traffic which is everywhere recognized as ua'l-
gerous IL not absolutely injurious IN its influence
the interest of each citizen in framing pohcy APP
plcabe to the State whole entities every citi-
to a voice in the decision OF the question: "io
spective Of locality.
. Shall the sale of liduor be regulated by tax as
under the Ohio law which gives every one the right
TO engage the sale Of 1t on payment OF speched
tax thus dispensing with excise boards ana Will
drawing State control and interference other than
that applicable 10 other kinds OF business anu
freeing the saloon from political domination; or
shall II be by license as at present involving the
existence OF excise boards and kind OF state pro-
lection 10 be used as a part of the political ma
chinery OF the dominant party?
We have now tried for many years the nce"slns
svste,n through the medium Of excise boards we
have seen licenses granted by system OF laEoi'-
ism We have witnessed saloon prosperity anu inc
effects OF it's worst influences. No candid observer
can deny that these influences have oorhe a rc"
harvest OF crime and poverty, and under the pres
ent law we have had instruction in what corrupt
political organization aided by corrupt ponce anu
a law so framed to admit OF oppression on Inc
one hand and favoritlsm the other. can accom-
plish toward exaiting the saloon 10 the highest
standard of efficiency 4 political agency
The Ohio law presents another method OF dealing
with the matter viz. by tax. and II all accounts OF
providing a revenue. but taking the saloon OUT OF
notifies IL is well worth trial In the State OF New
York I am in favor Of adopting the tax method.
Passing with mere mention the advocates of pro-
hibltion and Of absolute State control, as under
the Ti.lman law in South Carolina. particular notice
should he taken OF the simple and striking plan
suggested BY Bishop Doane. under which he would
leave the liquor traffic. like any other frame 20
care for Itself 10 be regulated by the law OF sup
ply and demand. and subject TO those Sunday laws
which govern the sale OF other commodities II can
not however escape observation that Bishop
Doane's pan involves neither tax nor license. and
in this respect radically defective. inasmuch as
the State would be deprived Of a large and impor-
tant revenue which under any plan ought to be
provided Tor.
The Sunday question it seems to me- derives its
present prominence. not because OF the opening OF
barber shops small groceries and florists establish
ments but because Is involved in the saloon ques-
ton and the legislation affecting the saloons WILL
believe. largely determine the status of Sunday
Sunday with open saloons must be an entirely differ
ent day from Sunday under different conditions. We
hear OF the Continental and the Scotch and English
Sunday and We are able TO know precisely what
they are. No one could desire introduced into
New-York the London Sunday, with It's strictness
in some respects but with It the disgusting scenes
attending the opening of its gin palaces.
or late great deal has been said concerning the
American Sunday. but it would be difficult to de-
scribe IT, differing widely It does in different To-
calities. In mixed population ike ours made up
largely OF foreign and heterogeneous elements, IT is
natural that preponderating element like the Ger
mans should feel aggrleved unless they intro
cuce the German Sunday, with its open beer-Sar-
gems and secular amusements and feel conhdent
comparison, founded on actual experience Of Ger
life Sunday and its family customs and rec
reations with the American Sunday as We have
oar better-governed cities would not result unfa-
vorably to the German Sunday. Other foreign-born
citizens however may also fairly claim equal priv
ileges. so far their peculiar customs and habits
concerned But surely such claims are en-
titled 10 paramount recognition as the basis Of leg
Taking into consideration all these elements. and
ought TO be- WHAT do the interests OF good govern
ment and morality require, in view Of our past
history in the Observance Of Sunday and our Ma,
uonal character? II We are to have excise and
Sunday laws OF such character as TO be oppres
sive or simply in the interests OF political parties
designed TO control the saloon as political factor
and immoral sunday. The character Of our excise
laws Will largely settle the character Of our sun
customed Sunday lay aside secular pursuits
and amusements and assemble In our churches
eminent. But II Is fact that there Is large ele
ment Of foreign citizens. with their descendants to
and this class not prepared By education 9TH
erwise 10 accommodate themselves to the ways OF
several cenerafiSns Of ancestry What are our tene
mcnt-house class who have no homes worth calling
such. TO do on sunday II no provision Is made for
them except % open the churches?
can readily understand how Sunday Is. and
think Is entitled to be- regarded by them. as also
by the clerk saleswoman and wage-earner OF every
description TO whom Sunday is the one day OF
comparative freedom for recreation in various
forms, from different point OF View from those 10
whom churchgong is made easy and whose lives
with respect to Weekday recreation are not so cir
cumscribed. believe In short, that reasonable lat
ltude should be given 70 those who by custom and
education have been led to regard the day from
different point Of view than ourselves.
We may be that the liquor dealers are alive
to the situation. Are the church organizations the
taxpayers and the moral and law-abiding citizens
equally alive? The Catholic Church speaks with
uncertain voice the saloon question in the
interest OF good morals and good government We
ought 10 hear from our various Protestant church
governing bodies well from the many COM
mercial organizations throughout the State II
they 10 voice their sentiments. no Legislature
could would disregard them. An opportunity
such rarely offers itself Is also presented TO our
political leaders in the solution OF these questions
TO confer a great and permanent boon upon this