New-York tribune., 1896-11-29
PAINES AND HIS COMMITTEE.
HERE TO INVESTIGATE THE WORKINGS OF
THE LIQUOR-TAX LAW-HE STANDS
nv HIS STATEMENT.


Senator John Raincs who is here with the Senate
committee TO investigate the workings OF the
IIduor Tax law which Sears his name. was seen
at the Fifth Avenue Hotel yesterday. Mr. Raines
at a meeting OF the Senate committee In Albany
recently declared that there were i"o places IN
this city where the Excise law was violated daily.
The president Of the Police Board has Issued "A
statement in reply to Mr.. Raines. and II IS SAID
that Chicr Conn is also preparing one. which may
come ont at tho session OF Mr.. Raines's committee
to- morrow.
When a Tribune reporter yesterday asked MI
Raincs what he had to say about the police officials
reply and the work he expected his committee 10
accomplish he replied;
Il would rather not say anything now. but the
time for talking will come In due time Nh'n !
made the statement that 4on places In New-York
were violating the Excise law It was with no
thought OF having the remark gain publicity, and
did not intend 1t for publication"
"Bu. do you stick TO the assertion Senator
Ranes was asked.
"Ccrtainy do" he replied forcihiy i don't sec
that It IS hard for any to verify that remark
II IS as plain can Do. At this committee meet
ing called attention to the fact that under the
old law there wcro abou, f2co places In the state
that had Government excise certificates and about
% ccD that had State licenses / remarked that It
WAS probable that under the law since the
State tax Is grcater there were many places In fh'
State selling liquor with only 'of'rnn'ni ''rNn-
Gates and that there were probably about 'cr such
places I'm Ncw-York city. They are not saloons or
hotels. The law is violated in disorderly houses
gambling houses, and so on. We have a list Of
many OF them"
"Do the police know a. these places
NO" said tho Senator IN 20 this query. and
added: we managed 70 get II list OF places with
only Government certificates, however. and We can
lay our hands right upon them"
E8a ,,4l sk.i o 80
imply any lioa Of police corruption when he said
fhat these places were left open. He seemed sur
prlsed al the question and replied In an emphatic
tone: "Who said anything about that; IL - i'm
possible. The police simply ignorant Of tno loct-
ton OF these 400 places. II is hardly their business
20 find out. The result IT, however that Nnpi.'rl
that should come 10 the STATE each year Is going TO
waste The complaint under the old law that
the police were able TO get the lGuor-d.ai'r by the
throat. The idea Of IN" new law "is 10 frnpN" TINS
possibility and the claim has been made Tor u tnat
long man abliei ny ~" law nothing coNid o''
done with him. This LAST is true. but n man violate s.
throat Just the same? Think that over"
When attempt was made 10 get senator idin's
became rcticent To question as 10 "lnt nm
mens ne would prOpcrc 10 the present IL" u" st'l
that ne could say nothing until tn" committee met
When asked II the Raines law hotels were To come
| in for drastic treatment. ne sa.d .-. ,.,.. ..
"Thaf IL The point on which our present law mas
come in FOR the greatest amount OF criticism. lh'
present law Is the most stringent that v" .dV. ever
h ma ,mhc otiicers the police the Attorney
| and the grand jures have worked together IN en-.
forcing the law Il has been sncces,, & nav, gum r,
sundays mp in the country Ihey hoh care 10 run
| the risk OF opening fake hotels Tnat question wa
settled thirty years oso ago. dnn, n%9 m afrcs 81" the p
Attorneys don't prosecute. and the grand Juries hoh
ndict you can hardly expect ~" law 10 r oTs
10 a combine OF liquor men the law mas not been en-,
forced there but the people are "1Ns "p 1 ,hc
| there promises 20 be proper se'''e'"'"' oi '"'
|