New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-08
THE PAINES LAW SOUABBLE.

II would be too much TO hope that any Legs
lature elected under existing conditions would
bring to the treatment Of the excise question
considerations only Of the public welfare, re-
gardess Of political exped'ency and partisan
advantage So long as saloons are centres OF
political influence. saoonkeepers political lead
ers and legislators, and rum, whskey or beer
n chief stimulant Of political enthusiasm, II
would be idle to expect any legislation regulat-
ing the traffic in liquors that had sole regard FOR
the public welfare and did not hinge largely
upon the effect 1t might have upon party poll
tics And vet the very fact that the traiilc IN
LIQUORS IS made the subject Of special legis,a-
ton. by which 1t is placed under certain linz
itations and restrictions and compelled to pay
tribute to the common treasury in the form OF
license fees which are not eXactod from other
mercantile pursuits, is sufficient proof thar in
the general Judgment considerations Of public
morality affecting the welfare OF the com
munity are involved which should not be dis
regarded. II the granting of licenses for the
sale Of liquor is not essentially a question Of
public morals, and indeed, of the safety Of the
community, then there is not, or ought not to
be- any excise question at all. The liquor traf-
fic ought 10 be open to all, like any other busl-
In this state Of things it might be supposed
that if the Legislature did not make the public
welfare the sole consideration in excise legisla-
ton it would at least not leave it out altogether
But whoever has followed the discussions at Al
bany and elsewhere of proposed amendments to
the Raines law must have been struck by the
fact that all the arguments on either side for or
against the amendments have been addressed,
purely and simply, to the effect that they might
have upon the party in power in future cleo
lions The advocates of the amendments pro-
posed by Senator Raines insist that their adop-
ton is demanded by Republicans in the interior,
and that there will be serious defections from
the marty at the next election If they are de-
feated. On the other hand Mr. Lauterbach and
Mr. Gruber aver no less strenuously that IL the
changes are made which the up-theState Re
pubcans demand, there Will be trouble in this
city; that the saloon vote and the Germans VIII
be lost and in consequence Greater New-1ork,
and possibly the State, will fall under the con-
troll Of the Tammany Democracy. Senator
Thomas c. Plat has been appealed to TO decide
between these conflicting claims. To decide, not
whether the proposed amendments are in the
interest OF good morals and consistent with the
public welfare. but whether their adoption will
or will not be for the advantage of the Repub
lcan party and the men now in control of the
organization.
But is that really worth while? Is IT so GER
tain that the results will follow which either
Of these Republican factions look for in case
their counsels are followed? Are the men who
urge the amendments authorized 10 speak for
the up-the-State Republicans: Are they Ger
tain that Republican supremacy in the State
turns upon the passage or defeat Of these amend
ments of the excise law? Or is Mr.. Lautcrbach
empowered to speak for the Germans and the
saloonkeepers. who. he says, will give Greater
New York to Tammany il the amendments are
adopted? Why wouldn't 1t be well, on the
whole, to drop the consideration of mere par
tIsan advantage as an argument for or against
the amendments and give a little thought to
their effect upon the common veal? If 1t Is moi
too late, The Tribune ventures 10 make that sug
gestlon TO the gentlemen at Albany who are
worrying over the excise question. The sue
cess of the party is desirable, of course, but II Il
/ well TO remember that he serves his party bcs
who serves the public best.