New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-21

have an exact measurement and diagram made
81 the saloon and its proximity 70 the church or
school Besides that are compelled to go
through the excise records back TO April, 1892.
and look up the licenses affected by the Court
= Appeals decision. The clerks in the Excise
Deparime engaged now upon this work"
The Excise Commissioners have been exas-
Terated by what they consider unwarranted per-
sistence the par, OF the various law and order
societies In the city Commissioner Weles. in
Speaking OF this feature ot the situation. said
yesterday:
The law and order people zee only one side of
this question. Their representatives, come here
and make absurd demands They contend that
we must Immediately and peremptorily close all
the saloons in the city falling within the pro-
visions Of the law. As matter of fact. the law
does not authorize any such harsh measures,
and they have no reason whatever for making
any such wild claims upon us. In many in
stances. the law works downright hardship
with well-meanlng and honest people. who for
years have conducted liquor selling businesses
IN quiet and legal manner. The temperance
people take not the slightest account Of any
palliating circumstances. but on the other hand
demand that the law be executed with rigor and
haste. Under the provisions Of the law IT
stands to-day with the decision Of the Court OF
Appeals. strange things are possible. For in
stance. a can conduct a saloon business
until he Is old Methuseah. but let him die,
and let his wife try TO succeed him In the bust
ness. and she has no claim whatever In the
eyes Of the law to continuation of occupancy
OF the premises. provided they are within the
200-foot limit No matter whether the widow is
deserving and has children 10 support and
educate she must needs shut up shop.
The temperance people 10 want all
these closures done In the most sensational
manner. They do not seem to be willing that
we should do II In such manner as to be
sure Of our ground. and in such a way as to
make ineffective any appeals from our de-
cison. They want it done at once. Yesterday
Mr. fully OF one Of the law enforcement socIe-
ties. came in here and demanded the immediate
closing Of all the saloons In the city affected
by the decision. That the Board was acting In
executive capacity upon the cases at the time
he called made no difference to him. am free
TO say that all extravagant and sensational de-
mands of this kind will be disregarded by the
Board of Excise The Board is unit in be-
leving that the closure OF saloons under the
new decision shall be effected without undue
severity or haste The Commissioners believe
, that taking away the license Is hardship enough.
without going to any further extremes, ana
acting In a manner To indicate that we had
| personal prejudces against the saloon men ana
| their business The Commissioners believe
that. In many cases, the saloon men are ehtitieu
| TO deliberate consideration In view or the fact
| that they have paid their money to the cry
and that the city has used ii. ana practlcaiiy
guaranteed to them a continuance Of their bus-
ness without molestation from the clvii au-
thorities. The sooner the temperance psopie u So
derstand that all nordinate DEMANDS ihaoe
| by them will not be compiled Win the pet'er
II Will be for all hands , co,o,.
ludicrous story is reportSd from one ha
Island. where II Is said the 2Oo-foot decision mas
| helped the African Methodist Church Of Coney
Island to a considerable sum Of money the
| church. II is said, liz a small frame building anu
| originally stood close to prosperous saiooI''
| Sooner than shut Up his place tne saioon-
keeper agreed to pay all the debts OF the church
II the trustees would move 1t outside OF the the
2e0-foot limit The pastor agreed. and got MS
! money and II is said moved into the limits OF
another saloon, and once more handsomely
/ paid by the saloonkeeper TO move beyond the
| limit. The church has now site fuily as good
| as its old one and several hundred dollars be-
! sides. Many saloonkeepers on the island.
| however are said to be fearful that they will
wake up some morning and hnd the church
| within 200 feet OF their places Of business.