New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-28
DRY DAYS FOR FARMERS.
DROUTH ON LONG ISLAND MADE HARDEt
TO BEAR BY THE RAINES LAW.

DROUTH ON LONG ISLAND MADE HARDER
TO BEAR BY THE RAINEs LAW.
For the last two or three weeks the farmers OF
Long Island have been complaining about the
drouth. Crops have been put In and all the pre-
Urinary work OF early spring farming IS DONE pu'
scarcely drop OF rain has fallen In two or three
weeks and the farmers, in consequence. are COM
planning But this is an old story. III tho spring
OF every year the newspapers have paragraphs
about the carly crops being ruined on Long Island
for wan; OF rain Not that this familiar cry is not
at hand Just now for 1t Is heard with its full in
torsity but 1t IL coupled with an even more serious
complaint. A different sort OF drouth has ap-
peared. II Is impossible TO get drink OF tine
good stuff al the usual places on Sundays THIS
is the complaint that IL heard among the Long
Island farmers 1T is bad enough" said one we'll
known farmer 10 Tribune reporter yesterday
TO 20 several weeks without rains right after our
seeds have been put in. but now. by gosh. this
strict Sunday closing business is case OF 100
much Raines"
The Long Island farmer a rule. IL a thorough
~ respectable and relIgously inclined man. lie
always wants It TO be understood that he rs
church member OF some denomination and he can
listen to the dryest total abstinence
with amazing fortl,ude. for he knows that he has
a barrel OF hard cider tap In his cellar. which
he can 10 home and Sample without becoming
4 lawbreaker. But the recent excise enactments
have disturbe. the serenity OF his Sunday Hard
cider is all right in It's place. but o, late years the
drinking Long Islander has become infatuated with
beer. and he likes II Sunday more than on any
other day because It has been easy to get.
The Long Island farmer goes TO church as
| s,ial on 4 Sunday morning. and. II he has girl.
In the evening; but that calm serenity OF counte-
nance with which he formerly listened to sermon
on total abstinence has given place TO nervous
twitchings OF the fdcal muscles wherever the sub
vsfffa
heavy scowl on his forehead ard some muttered
sentiments show plainly enough that he does not
agree with his pastor.
The state OF things has brought some curl
Gus complications between the several local officials
In different Long Island towns In Setauke;. for
instance, the constable OF the town. Oscar Jayne.
Is at loggerheads with the Law and order Society
as 10 the definition OF his duties Mr.. Jayne's
sympathos evidently. are with the old state OF
things when farmers on Sundays dare not be
seen with n gun In their hands under penalty OF a
heavy fine. but could do they pleased In the
matter OF slipping In side doors OF roadhouses. On
the other hand Mr.. Jayne IS n stanch upholder OF
the law. and Is under heavy bonds to perform his
duty properly. lie has gve3 the boys" fair notice
that he was going to do his duty. and he has said
It In IA way that carried conviction to their hearts
But what are the duties OF town constable?
On that question hinge all the recen; troubles In
many Long Island towns Mr. Howell. active
member OF the Setauket Law and order Society.
insists that Mr.. Jayne must make II his business
TO so around to all the roadhouSes in his dstrc,
on Sundays and assure himself that they
closed Mr.. Jayne Gid not believe that to be his
duty He says that he is not called upon TO leave
his home Sundays and go spying. when he does
not get cent OF pay for IL. The matter has been
referred 10 lawyers and the end is not yet.
The same trouble Is experienced In nearly all the
Long Island towns Just what the duties OF the
oorsiableS are under the new excise laws seems
difficult 10 be determined. The consiables as a
rule get paid only for certain services. Principal
among these are the serving OF warrants and taxi
ing prisoners and from TO Jail. For
each and every such service the constable gets
specified sum Of money. He gets no other pay than
this from the towns. yet some OF the most active
temperance people declare that tho town constable
must make II his business to II that the bar
rooms closed.