New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-25
SMALL RESPITE FOR SALOONkEEPERS
THE EXCISE BOARD WILL GRANT LICENSES 10
RIM THROUGH APRfL-MR. HAIR
BURGERS VIEWS

III Hirfk > Nlf.NH'
Doub, uncertainty fear and rage. All these feel
ings were plainly written on the faces OF the men
who hronged the Offices OF the Excise Board yester
d., IN md out lust how much the Raines Liquor
law meant 10 them To say that the Offices were
thronged Is not putting the matter any too strongly
From a. m until y. M. crowd OF anxious me"
surged to and fro IN the outer once IN 'he'r en-
deavor to get at the Commissioners. Inc new ana
obnoxious law had set them all on edge. and they
wero In hurry TO have the matter strengthened out
During The dav more than two hundred men visited
tho otpcc Of the Board In the Criminal Courts Build
ing and most OF them were men whose licenses
either RAJ, out yesterday or Will run out IN DAY OF
two.
For while the excitement ran high. There were
muttered curses and mprecatons on the admins
tration that would allow such bill to become law
There were heard on every hand anxious Inquiries
as TO whether the present Commissioners had the
power 10 renew the licenses that had already eH-
plred. Elbowng. pushing. talking. the men seemed
fairly daft until the decision giYcn by julius NJ
Mayer the Boards attorney. and UNANIMOUSLY &C
cepted by the Commissioners. was made known 10
them. The decision was AZ follows
You have asked my opinion a. to your power and
authority as IN eve Of the
passage of Chapter ll2 OF the laws Of 1896. known
and authority vested you By the Excise laws Of
1872 and 1898 DAVIS Of 1892. Chapter 4ol as amended
authority 70 grant licenses Is limited to the grant.
ing OF licenses to extend not beyond TIE 21th day OF
aw vas to continue boards OF Excise until April 30.
1896 with all the powers vested IN them under the
lawa nv yirruo Of which they were appointed.
The act provides: From and after the Goth day Of
April 1896 all Boards OF Excise In the state OF New
York are abolished and the rights duties and
powers of all Boards Of Excise and OF all Commits
sioners OF Excise and OF the clerks ana an other EN-
it thus appears that the powers OF boards OF Excise
tod in Boards OF Excise pursuant to
previous excise laws. and such powers as your
honorable Board has are by virtue Of excise ia laws
The laws OF 1876 and therefore, the granting reius-
accordance with the laws existing prior to the pas
sage OF the Liquor Tax law, except where specii-
Say h ehnnSd ny Of sq the to Continue the
power of Boards OF Excise until April 80. 1876. under
Whole plan Of the Liquor Tax law That is to say.
than so far as Boards OF Excise exercise any author
ity in granting refusing. transferring or revolving
licenses they DO under the provisions OF previous
exstns excise LAYS % Wy hpr soysr a 70 be-
paid an taxes under the liquor tax law are as
sessed yearly commencing on the hrst day OF May.
licensed between this date and April 80 1896 will be
on the basis Of the rates fixed by the present Board
The provision of the previous existing Excise
laws relating to the revocation or transfer or a
license are retained under Section ~ OF the Liquor
In brief. therefore, 1t appears to me that from
tho present date until April co. 1896 the Board of
Excise has the authority to Issue licenses TO extend
not beyond the thirtieth day OF April. 1886. under
and pursuant to the laws OF 1897 as amended by
the laws OF 1888
When the men found out that the Board would
renew their licenses until April So they were re-
lieved of heavy load OF anxiety and departed
thankful for the brief respite. Those who have
licenses that do not expire until after June 80 are
safe until that date. when all OF the old licenses
become void but what will be done with those
whose licenses expire between April 30 and June 30
10 otill an open question About fifty licenses that
expired yesterday were renewed by the Commits
sioners until April ~ It 10 estimated that nearly