New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-22
Az OTERSTIMJLATED BUSINESS.

AN Nv EHSlIMt IIIED BtSINESS.
That was an interesting statement which Mr.
Frederick Il. House made to the Court Of Gen
cral Sessions on Monday. 1t was not exactly
a revelation. for what he said was already known
by everybody at all familiar with the condi-
ton Of the liquor traffic in this city TO be In
a measure true though his statement OF the
straits Of liquorsccrs may he somewhat exas-
gcraed. but 1t was declaration by the liquor
dealers representative which clears up some
points concerning excise law enforcement III
makes II perfectly plain that the objection 10
enforcement because II dcprvcs the citizen or
liberty. and all the talk about blue laws and
nqusitora methods Is largely mere noise
intended to conceal the true nature of the OPP
position. which is greed on the part OF great
capitalists. who wish TO reap unnatural profits
through the enslayement Of the retailers and the
DEGRADATION Of the people. Mr.. House declares
that 1.-THE great ms jority Of liquordeaers in this
"city are in straitencd financial circumstances.
:" Nine-tenths Of the retail liquor-dcalers
are practically bankrupt Many have closed up
their places altogether, as they relied on the
business done en- Sunday TO carry them over.
Why are the liquor-dcalers bankrupt! The
business is one in which there Is naturally
large profit. The brewer the world over Is
traditional type Of the rapid money-makcr, and
his history in this country does not belle his
reputation The percentage Of gain in retailing
is something fabulous. Yet the liquordeacr says
that Sunday selling alone gives him living.
The reason is easy TO find. There are too many
liquOr-secrs. The number Of saloons has for
reasons Of politics and wholesale trade been in
creased largely beyond the legitimate needs Of
the business and the normal traffic TO meet the
spontaneous wants of even the most bbulonsy
inclined population is not sufficient TO keep this
vast number Of places going. and unlawful means
have to be resorted to to avoid failure Nor is
the retail dealer always at liberty to give up an
improbable business. lie is practically pauper
in possession Of saloon by suflcrance Of a
brewer. who owns the fixtures. furnishes the
stock. perhaps holds a debt over him and com
pcs him to make a market for certain brands
Of liquor. lawfully if he can. unlawfuly If hi
must There are not enough drinkers 10 go
around on the six days so on Sunday an extra
effort * made TO bring up the weeks sales TO the
standard required for the brewers profits and
the Keepers living. Any Of the NcwlOrk ave
nucs tcstlnes to this unreasonable kccnncss Of
competition. Block after block shows two and
three places on each side Of the avenue where
are 80 occupied This keen competition * due
not 10 any public demand but Is The ouigrowih
Of the manufacturers determination 10 force
enormous sales and Of the political conditions
which have prevailed here. No consideration Of
good morals nor regard for the prosperity Of
liquor-dcalcrs already established could prevail
on Tammany TO heed protests against granting
an unlimited number Of licenses Every saloon
a..
ject for the cvying Of blackmail. The more
places there were 10 blackmail the better Tam
many was satisfied, and the more precarous Il
dealers living and the greater his need to sell
illegally the more he could be blcd. So every
chance TO open new saloon WAS hailed with
JOY Then in addition to the brewers interest 10
pour beer down peoples threats whether they
wished ii or not was the real estate mans desire
10 have tenants for his stores The liquordcalcr
paid higher rent than the grocer and butcher
could afford 10 pay, and he occupied buildings
for which otherwise there might have been no
demand. So he was encouraged 10 open place
whether there was any business for him or not
The result was ruinous competition and uni
ycrsal lawbrcaking.
One Of the first steps in reform, both for the
benefit Of the legitimate trade and OF the pub
lie, should be reduction in the number Of
places where liquor is sold. The dealers have no
right 10 complain that their lack Of prosperity
is due to legal oppression when they are unable
TO make a living with the same business chances
that are allowed 10 the merchant, the grocer and
to men engaged in every other kind Of trade.
When the number Of retailers is restricted 50
that business Of fair proportions can be built
up by supplying the ordinary demands Of the
population there will be some chance 10 deter
mine what the people really want in the way Of
Ola weekdays and Sundays. The
excise laws should be determined by what the
citizens really require, not by what poll
ticians, brewers and retailers want them TO
have, so that they may get greater share
OF their money. AT present there is rather
too much ground for suspicion that the liquor
trade Is more concerned about the oppression of
the consumer than The consumer himself for
any trustworthy judgment of actual public scni- |
mont 10 be formed. If there were fewer saloons |
and less activity in trying 10 make people drink
those who want 10 drink might have a chance
TO tell us how our laws should be amended if |
at all. ,
DEMOCRATIC TRICKS