New-York tribune., 1896-01-30
FIGHTING THE RAINES BILL.
BUFFALO EXCISE OFFICIALS ARG' T.
AGAINST ITS ENACTMENT
THE UNITED SOCIETIES For LIBERAL s'N'"'
LAWS PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT-TEMfEh-
ANcE SOCIETIES OPPOSE SUNDAY
OPENING - ANOTHER HEAR

ANCE SOCIETIES OPPOSE sUNpAi
OPENING ANOTHER HEAR
ING TODAY
Albany Ian 2o-The fourth hearing given to the
onnonents of the Ranes excise bill was given III
the Senate Chamber this afternoon hear''s va"
asked for Mr. Butts's bill relieving those saioo"-
keepers who suffer because OF the decision OF '"e
Court OF Appeals In relation to the eNis''iic' VI
saloons within 200 feet OF church or schoo'"o"'N'
The hearing was given before the Assembly ON
mittee on Excise. the b.ll not being before the "'"
ate committee. .
Mr.. Butts spoke first in favor OF Senator Fords
bill for the submission OF the Sunday opening qu's
ton to the voters Of New-York. Brooklyn anu
Buffalo. The bill prepared by the 'hai'"'' ~
Commerce OF New York city. Mr.. Butts ufe'u 'i''
propricty Of submitting the question to the P'"i''
No one knew how the citizens would vote. Inc nv
Dr. Parkhurst favored the bill. When Mr. bn'.S
reached the point whore he proposed TO DISCUSS "''
2oo-foot limit bill. Chairman Higgins said that 'here
were several present from Iunalo to discuss INC
Raincs bill and that IT would be unfair to de'@h
them. Mr.. Butts gave way.
Charles a. Rupp. an Excise Commissioner OF
Buffalo. appeared TO oppose the Raines bill lie sau
his Board granted no license unless adjoining poP
erty-owners approved by petition.
"po YOU think there would be more licenses IN
Buffalo under the Raines bill?" asked Senator
Ralnes
.rf will roduce the number" said Mr.. Rupp. We
get $4,000 in revenue from licenses nov" com
pu.e that under the Kaines bill our revenue "ou'd
be reduced $1,000
Continuing Mr.. Rupp said: We are trying 70
purify the saloons and reduce their number. We
meant TO raise the license but found that n We
raised the fee from sle5 to s2'N revenue would be
greatly reduced The entire press Of BunaIo J.
against this Ralncs bill. and 80 is the Board "i
Excise because tho bill is unjust and unfair Ihe
bin IS unjust because IT takes city money FOR inc
State and puts too few restrictions on the saloons
The Mayor Of Buffalo. too. is strcnuously opposed
the bill"
Mr. Bronson asked II Buffalo saloons We're open
on the Sabbath.
Mr. Rupp said h- thought some Of them were.
Mr. Bronson. for the state Temperance Society.
spoke next lie said. The llquor-dcaling class are
yiola,ors Of law yet they have appeared here hy
attorney and presume dictate To yog the Kind oi
laws to hc passed You may SO here for year ana
try TO suit the nquor-lealcr- but they Will violate
the laws You make. even their own suggested
amendments 10 the measure. They are not law
abiding class"
Tn. U1uor-!ca.efs are notion trial here" inter
rup'ed Senator Higgins I'VE are considering the
Rainrs bill"
'Ler's consider that. then" answered Mr.. Bran-
son The Kaiuos h!a does not - FAR enough
Diminish the number 4 saloons where 3rnnkaris
criminals and Anarchists .oitef Licenses has" been
gr.U'fl from fhrr" - IN" N'i''n@ u y i'hN'' 'f
lofes, r- la~s. cut the lql0r inn N until
there is nothing left Of H. Close al ''.N"",
places"
pr A,,orhury. q the Ncw-York Sabbath Commit
tee was called on. and said h' IA not ~-A 20 i's-
GUS, the Ra.n,s bAi. hu' 20 oppose ihe .ora-oPuon
ana Sunlay-op'ninr bills
81, is no, local option" said ~. Auerhury. TO
make the upper ani more respectable pof'. ms %
Now-York Ci'y submit % having their opinions
svampol ny votes - those rcslllng n the l'n''ly
populated districts"
Mr. Rupp was called IN for Information hy Sona-
tor Ra.ncs. AMI SAID he Raines bll would reduce
the number q licenses in BuNao two-,hlrds
'"Thc bI would not throw tie lquor trade wide
open In buffalo then" asked Senator Ranes.
1T would throw Buffalo open as TO location -
saloons" replied Mr. Rupp.
Senator Ralnes said that II tho same number ~
places as AT present would exist under the Raines
bill the whole receipts would be over N.o'oo"D. and
II one-half II the present number. dcducrng tho
States share Of the tax. Buffalo woui receive
s343959
Alderman Butter. rcprosonting Bunao's Common
Council. appeared - oppose the Rancs bill
/ "Do you think it would he desirable 90 have B1f-
fao's saloons reduced one-haf?" asked Senator
Raines
mo. I DON'T" replied Alderman Butter "Buf-
falo is prosperous city. and the number o, IL
ccnses issued are needed The people would not
approve Of our having onc-half Of the number Of
saloons. II the city received the same amount
| OF revenue"
| Alderman Walsh broke in: Il am surprised to soc
| you gentlemen urge this BIZ. It's all right for
those OF you who can I'll your cellars. but the poor
man must have place TO get hIs p.nt Of beer at
night You should lcgisate for the people. This Is
| like the Railroad Commission AT this end of the
State telling Buffalo people what they need"
| Alderman Walsh called to order
Dr. John Friedrich. representing the German
| American Reform Union. the next speaker. lie
| said that American Institutions should not bc re
| strlcted by narrow Purtanlcal notions Are not
the people to be trusted to behave on Sunday
asked Dr Friedrich. why not prohibit balls par
| ties and other pcasurc-secking week days? The
Sunday question is not a religious one 1t IL qucs-
tion Of personal Liberty. The rich enjoy themselves
| in c.ubhouses and hotels Sunday. The poor work.
ing people also have rights They should be allowed
pleasure-seeens Sunday. NO Raines bill can
prevent that"
| "Wnl the liquor-dealers violate the law?' asked
| Senator Ra'nos.
| Il do not say they should. bu, they will" an
| swcred DR.. Friedrich.
"Thcn they VIII be punished" remarked Senator
| Raines.
Dr. Friedrich closed his speech by appealing for
more liberal Sunday laws
| Edward Crosse. Of New-York CITY. representing
the same organization and the United Societies for
| Liberal Sunday Laws. was next called. and spoke
as follows: "Our proposition provides for the ex-
| tension to restaurants - 10 Sunday selling priv
ileges which :hc present aw grants. and waich
the Raincs bill intends to grant. to hotelkeepers.
We submit and urge this proposition behalf OF
the great consuming public. and not on behalf Of
the nquor-dealers. our orga zatlons not dl-
rectly or indirectly Interested ID the liquor brew
Ing trade. nor are We retained or PAID by any one
| tradesman to appear before you. We offer the pro
| posed change OF the law AZ measure OF good gov.
ernment in the Interest OF peace comfort and good
| order OF the Commonwealth
mo provision OF the excise Ia" mas IN tnc phS'
| and AT the present time been the OF such
great trouble. excitement. annoyance and chcanery
| az the section which provides for the closing OF tne
saloons on sundays. Take this provision out or the
/ law and courts Will have TO deal with very rev
excise cases. and the difficult problem how to take
the liquor question out OF politics VIII be thereby
| solved without fail. .
80 far we nave neither seen nor heard any oppo-
sition to our proposed amendments or the law llr.
| Parkhurst has indorsed II IN a most emphatic