New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-12
SENATOR HILL ON EXCISE.
HE WRITES TWO EXTREMELY DEMA-
GOCIC LETTERS.

ATTACKS THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW HERE
AND ASSUMES THAT THE REPUBLICANS WILL
NOT PASS MORE LIBERAL MEASURES
TRANSPARENT ATTEMPT TO PRE-
JUDGE THE PUBLIC AGAINST
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES
FOR THE LEGISLATURE
AND SECURE HIS RE-
ELECTION TO THE
SENATE.
David b. Hill in two letters the Excise
question in this city. which were made public
yesterday. has made a iemagogues appeal for
the purpose Of aiding his own reelection to the
United States Senate. This appeal was re-
garded intended to befog the issues upon
which the representative of the Empire State in
the upper branch Of Congress should be chosen
Mr. Hill hopes to elect a Democratic majority
In the Legislature. 1t would seem. by arousing
the prejudices and anmosities of one class OF
people against another. The letters referred to
were written to Theodore NJ. Roche. president
OF the New-York Young Mems Democratic
Union. and to Benjamin Hoffman, OF New-York.
who had asked the Senator's opinion as to the
probability OF obtaining more liberal Excise
laws through the reassembling Of the Legsla-
ture
Mr. Hilrs bitter attack In his answers upon the
Republican Governor and Legislature and the
reform municipal administration Of this city was
plainly intended for other purpose In the view
OF politicians generally. than to array the ad-
vocates OF more liberal Sunday and excise laws
against Republican candidates for the Legs-
lature this fall. not much for the purpose OF
changing the excise laws to secure his own
return to the Senate
WHAT THE ROCHE LETTER SAYS
In his letter to Mr.. Roche. which was dated
Normandie by the Sea. July II. Mr. Hill says:
Normandie-by- -the-Sea. July II. 1895.
Mr.. Theodore NJ. Roche. President Young Mems
Democratic Union. New-York
Dear Sir: Your letter recent date. directed to
Albany. has finally reached me here. and hasten
to reply.
You ask for my opinion TO the propriety
Of the friends OF the more liberal excise law re-
ques.ing the Governor 10 convene an extra session
OF the Legislature for the purpose OF enacting such
legislation.
Permit me to say in reply that should certainly
favor such a suggestion II believed that II would
result In any practical relief. / realize the arbi-
trary. harsh and technical manner in which the law
| Is being enforced by the busybody ana noto-
| riety-seeklng Police Commissioners OF your city.
and Appreciate tie annoyaEces and hardships which
| the people must suffer under such narro" ana
strained construction as the Commissioners are IN
yoklng at this time. but fail to discover any ef-
fcctuaI remedy in the suggestion OF an appeal 10
| the Governor and the present Legislature In the
| hfst place. IT is evident that Governor Morton
would not grant the application. and IN the second
| place II granted the present Legislature would
| not afford the relief desired Those who are urging
a legislative session seem 10 overlook the fact that
| the Puriians ARE In the saddle" now. both In
| Albany and New-York CITY Governor Morton was wa
born In Vermont. aud apparently Ihnerils .ns 49,, st
dencies and prejudices the excise question wnch
characterze the rabd Republicans OF the sta,e ,nrs
An executive who approved ana me Legls.a.uhe !h
| wacf enacted this very year law requiring teach
In our schools to specially ihS'sus Icanor drnks
and dd 50 In the face OF the pr2tes, OF ,nr M
| of The State In order 10 crafty the whlms OF a
| few misguided temperance cranks whose votes they
| desired hereafter to secure cannot be renei upon
"a Dnact 4 more liberal excise law and II Is fol.y
| 10 expect It, We shall probably mex nave NV, mM
| -,ouriug special instruction as TO the ,ai results
| ~ Inc u.e OF corsc,s and bicycles and the playing
o' In NV judgment the present reform Legislature
| II convened would be more likely. II II dared 10
nc old blue laws o bsn or IN mey
| lis xsiing restrictions. Relief can ony l antc-
,,ure 10 b" chosen next fall, with Democratic
majority sufficient TO pass hoera measure over a
| Governors veto. slight or bare majority VIII
That Is the only practical method OF procedure
and any one Who advises to the contrary deceives
| the people The history OF excise legislation IN
| this State shows that ever since the enactment OF
| the Republican Excise law In iS' when was a a
strict narrow and Puranical act. all the efforts to
nol; and ieerze IT'S proys'Shs6 ,,6 oIept R~pnb
| lean opposition and have always been supported
| by III. Democracy.
| Whatever improvements have been made in that
act whatever unnecessary restrictions have have been been
| cratic party therefor.
| busiiy engaged In attempting to stem the tide Oh
| public opinion against their party upon this ex-
| provisions OF the present Excise law were enacted
| by u Democratic legislature That Is true IN one ne
"a
Legislature In 1892 II Is true revised ana conineu !,
the then existing excise laws ana oera1en
| changes, but II did not disturb the SUNDAY pro-
sIS"S wer oeqmited to remain just as the Republicans
had enacted them. not because the democracy .p- AZ
.%' es in q the h"ssat1res Of 1892 and 1898 not
sufficiently large to enable the party to make sucn @
| a radical change. The public VIII recall the iact
that during those years the Democrats in the Sen
ate had but seventeen votes just enough 10
pass bill-and single detection was suincten' 'n
TO defeat measure. Nor have the people pg no tor,
gotten that the effort in those years to mody 'no5e nose
| certed howl Of denunciation from the whole Re
e%Scfn sSaay paSfs Hna and ~s
The responsibility for the Existing % Suns tbe%
and they cannot escape from 1t or evade It, They
| will refuse to change them In the future as they
rue to " New York city and they viii not grant
1t in excise matters any more than IN anything else.
plain. Il is to send a united Democratic delegation
10 the next Lesisature pledged to genuine nome ,w
thirds majority. by which liberal excise b. can De
| passed the veto OF me kepuollcan HoVerhor,
In the mean time instead. OF vain enort TO con-
the present corrupt legislature which mas & az
ready forfeited public confidence friends or nberai
Excise should seek to create still greater pup-
| llc sentiment in the metropolis in FAVOR or such
legislation The Democratic press Is unitedly In favor
| OF IT, The Independent press Is upon the same slde
The oppostlo comes from Republican sources alone
| Mass-meetngs should be called and continued from
| time to time all during the summer and fall In ai-
vocacy OF home rue In excise matters. SO that pub
lie sentiment may be well aroused and find adequa e
expression in November next. to be followed by the
| cf,, ~ d.
vice is "Agltate! Agitate Agitater ! reman; very
| truly yours. DAVID b HILL.
| THE LETTER TO MIR. HOFFMAN.
The letter to Mr.. Hoffman reads, In part, as
| follows:
When the people shall elect a Democratic Legis'
iature not with a bare majority OF one In the sen
ate. but with a two-thlrds majority, whereby
liberal excise measure may be passed over the veto