New-York tribune., 1896-01-16
AGAINST SUNDAY SELLING.
THE STATE SENATE TAKES A STAND ON
THE QUESTION.

THE STATE SENATE TAKES n olA.>D O.>
THE QUESTION.
1T REFUSES TO REFER THE CHAMBER OF CON-
MERGE BILL TO THE CITIES COMMITTEE, AND
ALLOWS 1T TO BE SENT TO HOSTILE
CoMMITTEE-FoRD AND PAvEY VOTE
WITH THE MINORITY
TFRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
Albany jan 15.-The Republican Senators to-
dav committed to the Committee on Taxation
a bill which provides for the taking of a vote
in New-York. Brooklyn and Buffalo in regard
to the sale Of liquor Sunday. This action
while not apparently hostile to the bill, in the
Judgment OF many Senators. was really so. as
the Committee on Taxation has as its leading
members men who are opposed to the Sunday
sale of liquor and who think the Raines Liquor
Tax BILL which contains Sunday clause, the
only excise bill which should be passed this
year.
THE Democratic Senator's" said Senator Can
tor afterward. stood ready to vote for bill
for the opening OF saloons on Sunday in New
York Brooklyn and Buffalo, and also for a bill
giving the voters of the cities l have named
the decision Of the question. Both of these
measures, in my judgment. are now dead. and
the Republicans have taken definite stand
against liberal Sunday laws"
One of the reasons why this statement Of
Senator Cantor is interesting is that hitherto
prominent Democrats have hestated to come
out squarely in favor of opening saloons on
Sunday. Mr.. Cantor is the Democratic leader
in the Senate. The Democratic state Conven-
ton OF 1895 did not frankly declare that It's
members favored the sale of liquor on Sunday
AS for Republican Senator'S. most of them
appear to stand by the declaration Of the Re-
publican State Convention Of 1895: I'VE favor
the maintenance Of the Sunday laws in the in
terests Of labor and morality" To-day. at least,
they Indicated that they did not intend to give
any special favor to a Sunday liquor BILL and It
may be inferred from what they said that their
action was Intentionally hostile to 1t.
WHAT THE BILL IS.
The bill which thus resulted in disclosing the
attitude of the Senate on the Sunday liquor
question was introduced by Senator Ford, a
Republican, Of Ncw-York. 1t is the measure
prepared by the Excise Committee of the Cham
ber OF Commerce OF New-York and the Excise
Reform Association of NewYork. 1t reads in
part as follows:
special election shall be- held in each city Of the
first class on Tuesday April % 1895: ana at sugn
fed electors in each such city the following ques-
tion: Shall spirituous liquors wine. ale ana beer
and 10 p. M" II II shall appear that there is =
majority Of votes cast I'm any such fty IN favor OF
be lawful IN such city for any person now or mere
after holding a license permitting tne sdle oe
them. to be drunk on or off the premises, to sell
spiritnous liquors, wine, al" ana peer on SuHidS
i"rt S ali the provisons of the Excise law as to
the sale OF srr!iuous liquors wine, ale or Deer AZ
other times.
Senator Ellsworth. the President pro tenn.
said he would commit this bill 70 the Committee
on Taxation. Senator Cantor protested against
this disposition Of the BILL aud moved that it be
referred to the Committee on Cities. 1T has
nothing 70 do with taxation" he said, and
everything to 10 with city government. and there
fore It should be assigned t. the Committee on
cities"
THE REPUBLICAN POLICY.
Senator Higgins. who is the chairman OF the
Committee on Taxation. said that 1t had been
the policy thrs far" to send all excise bills TO
his committee. To II had been committed the
Ralnes Liquor Tax bill. general excise measure
II other excise bills should be committed To other
committees excise legislation would be thrown
into a state of great confusion
The speech OF Senator Higgins was Of especial
interest because 1t showed that the policy OF the
Republican leaders was t. concentrate all excise
measures In the hands of the Committee on
Taxation. II also disclosed the fact that the
Ranes bill IS considered the great excise measure
Of the session. IT does not contain word about
the Sunday sale of liquor. except OF condemha-
tory character. senator Raincs Is outspOheh III
his opposition t. Sunday selling tie says the
Republican party might gain lOOOOo votes III
New-York by passing bill authorizing me sun
dav sal. of lidlor but IL would lose 2OO.vOO votes
north of the Harlem River" Senator Ralnes
supported Senator Higgins In his demand that
the bin should go to the Committee on Taxation
REPUBLICAN DIssENTERs
Senator Lcxow, to the amazement OF his fel-
low-Republicans. said he thought Senator cantor
was right In his contention that the bill ought 10
20 t. the Committee on Cities. This drew from
MIR Ralnes the remark: Il would suggest 10
Senator I.exow that after he has tackled the
Greater New-Yor< problem. he will find the JOB
SO big that he Will not care to bother with
Sunday liquor problem at the same time. ime..,.,~,o,
Senator paVey Of N'w-Nork. also support.u
Senator Cantor Il regret" he said. that Mr'
Rnines wishes TO tie NJ this sunday liquor
question with that OF imposing tax ON the
sale Of liquor They have no relation lhey
should be kept separate The oH,,ge t1~ n"
cities ought u consider dispassiohateiy tnc
question OF the sale Of liquor On sunday III
cities. and | would warn the members OF thls
Senate that the Sunday liquor question Is ~
politics and l. going to remain in pontlcs uhtii
il is settled In the right way. The thanper Oh
Commerce of New-York and the Excise reform
Association Of that city wish to have this ques-
tion considered In a harmonious way, apart from
the Raines bill Possibly we can all agree on
the Raines bill 1t is certain We shall disagree
on the Sunday liquor Dill.
This bill relates to only one subject. said
Senator Ford. land that t. the simple one or oD-
tanning the sentiments of the people or Ne"-fo orK
citv IN the Sunday sale OF liquor. | hope the
measure will not be cntangled with the general
excise question for | am afraid, In view or the
multitude of excise bills, that II might De iost III
the shuttle" 49,,
Senator Coggeshall said he would support Presi-
dent Ellsworth in his assignment Of the bill. be-
cause among other things. he was "a strong l'e-
publican"
What party do you belong to?" inquired Sena-
tor McCarren.
.rI haIorg ,o the Independent Republican