New-York tribune., 1895-07-07

tions on to-days ardity and the entire Police De-
partment has been tuned up for grand chorus.
the burden OF which will be: Let no violator Of
the Excise law escape"
The Police Commissioners on last Monday ex
pressed themselves delighted with the work
Of the force in keeping many liquor-stores in
the city closed. but they also declared that the
dryness Of last Sunday would he like summer
shower in comparison with the drouth of to-day.
MAYOR Strong ha, declared that he would stand
ty the Commissioners in the enforcement OF the
law. The CITY Magistrates have conferred with
the Commissioners. and are apparently prepared
to give all possible support TO the police In the Of
fort TO stop the Illegal sale OF liquor. although
they feet that it would not be dignied for them to
make any promises as t. their judicial action.
The police have got their orders and they have
been made to understand that nothing short II
active. jealous and careful work in the enforce
mcnt Of the law to-day will satisfy their superiors.
Under the circumstances the public will expect
more rigorous enforcement Of the Excise law In
the city to-day than has ever been known
CONLINs RESPONSIBILITY.
Upon Acting chief Conlin of the police force
will rest a great responsibility in the enforcement
# the law He de,lared yesterday that ne would
hold to the strictcst accountability the command
cr Of every precinct. and ne would take pains 20
find out how the Ian enforced In every one
81 the precincts The Acting Inspec tors Of the
force will aid him in the work of asccrtaining how
the police OF the precincts perform their duties
President Roosevelt. Of the Police Bosrd yester-
day called Acting Chief Conlir md the Astng In
sp-c,ors before him and said to them:
Chief inspectors: The Law must be enforced to-
morrow precisely as 1t vas last sunday " nnaer
an innkecper's license liquor - sold without meal
%nd no matirr rfsi may be the i.nerencc o, opn
ion among different Magistrate your duty Is ab
solutcy clear and this duty shall r!sdly hold
ing Tor policy or poolsclling. wish you to be care
par, TO the fuli | Win you 70 keep a careful
record Of the failure convict IN any case. OF
any charge FOR excise violation. or for gambling or
for any similar crime 50 nat may b" able to
rests upon the police
COMMISSIONERS AND MAGISTRATES
The Injunction to keep careful records OF the
possible failures Of city Magistrates to hold for
trial the prisoners arrested ior violating the Ex-
else law was understood At the Central Once
10 mean that the Commissioners want 10 have
plenty Of ammunition u they are forced Into "A
fight with the Magistrates upon the question of
enforcing the law. 1t WAS noticed at the con,
ference which Commissioners Roosevelt ana
Parker had with the Magistrates on Friday
evening that some II IN" Magistrates appeared
t. be afraid that the Commissioners desired to
dictate "A policy. \ few Of the Magistrates said
nothing at the conference. and ycsierda? they
wer. unwilling to give any expression II their
views about the character OF evidence which they
would regard as sufficient In Excise cases. one
Of them said to Tribune reporter:
Il would resent any attempt. even on the part
Of my associates to have me commit myself In
advance as 10 any general policy In such cases.
| believe that every Magistrate should decide
each case for himself upon It's own merits.
Whatever caution may have been caused by
fear of possible loss Of dignity. II ~ TO Dc ex-
L. In, hn.r
cord with the Police Commissioners In the en-
forcemen; Of the law. The Commissioners have
dsclamed any intention to dictate to the Magis-
trates, but they have declared that their sole
desire was TO have such understanding as
would enable them to work in harmony with the
Magistrates.
MR. ROOsEvELTs STATEMENT
Commissioner Roosevelt yesterday dictated to
reporters the following statement on the subject:
Commissioner Parker and | went 10 have an In
formal talk with The Magistrates simply 50 that
certain points Of the Excise law that are 10 cTne
work in harmony with them. and were bound that
no petty considerations Of dignity should prevent
Sinnding which a so essential to the working out
OF good government. We consider ourselves only
for the administration Of laws and justice. and In
seeking the Interview We had an. eye single to the
small punctllos q executive or judicial dignity:
II any o, ,he % hs spi nv s %n, p"' ~
ours for every one who Will take the trouble to
think that the only possible object was TO
and the Police Board In the interest OF good gov
eminent. The Commissioners would have been de-
lighted Say all that was said In public And our
only reason for not requesting public interview
was because in the course OF the meeting wished
10 discuss and did discuss, at ler n or two de-
cisions o. some OF the Magistrates.
The expressed opinions ,some OF the Magistrates
refused to take any part in the d.scusslon) OF tho
MAGISTRATES in the interview were substantially the
same a all important points II any OF the
Magistrates had different opinions they left them
i'm emphatic terms with Mr. Parker and myself
that under innkeepcrs license liquor could not
be sold on Sunday except with meal served to a
guest OF a hotel, and tnat this meal must be
bona nde meal 4 fake" meal taken excuse
for getting the drink IL not bona -fde meal. A
guest is "A person who has room or orders a meal
Exactly what constitutes bona-hde meal Is
question Of fact which must be determined In each
case. ! have directed III" 'hief and Inspectors TO
proceed precisely we proceeded last Sunday.
have full confidence that the other officers OF the
with their oaths Of office In any event the police
Will do their duty And the saloonkeeper who vo-
lates the aw viii be arrested Any nnkeeper who
evades the law by giving liquor with fake meal.
or who gives lqlior without "A meal. will be
rested II the police can get evidence TO this erect
To take concrete case OF what happened last sun
day, a glass Of beer Is ordered and Is brought by
Innkeeper, and with II Is brought q cracker
which was not ordered the nnkeeper will be ar
rested. In words. the position that the Police
Board has taken Is In our Judgment the only pos,
that position should certainly adhere unless
there is an authoritative decision by frll bench
against us
commanders Of precincts before him In the after
noon and laid down the law to them In language
that was unrnistakabe. a number Of the precinct
captains had previously declared that they were