The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-25
IA LIE,' SAYS HAMBURGER.
HOT WORDS AT THE REARING ON
THE LOCAL OPTION BIELS.

Alteration nctween the Asssunblymnn aud
Robert Graham. Secretary OF, the Church
Temperance ssciety-Bishep Dsane Declares
to the Hts AdmiratioK Of Haines.
ALBANY, Feb. pa joint hearing was given
this evening by the Senate Committee on Taxa
tion and Retrcnchment and the Assembly Ex-
else Committee on the Grady Hamburger and
Foley-Maloney excise bills, which propose to
repeal The Raines law and provide for local OPP
ton on Sunday opening. There will BIO no ex-
else legislation this year, and these hearings
are had only TO give Some of the Democratic
members opportunity to make speeches which
they think will help them in their particular dis
tricts' The chief interest attaching TO the hear
ing to-day was due to an alteration between
Assemblyman Julius Hamburger and Robert
Graham, Secretary of tho Church Temperance
Society, and Bishop Doane's strong indorse-
mont Of Senator Raines. Bishop Doane told a
story OF how n man stopped President Lincoln
ono day at the critical period Of the civil war.
grasped his hand, and said:
Il have great faith in God Almighty and
Abraham Lincoln"
And l." continued the Bishop. have great
faith in God Almighty and John Raines. There
is one provision in his law, however, for which
he Is less responsible than is God Almighty. and
that is the Sunday closing feature. We hear O
great deal from the opponents Of the present law
about personal liberty and local option. I in
sist that this bill, IL it allows tho possibility Of
tho abolition of Sunday closing, is q violation
Of the liberty of the individual for two reasons.
1t would compel people to stay behind the bar
and do their dangerous and desperate work en-
the Lords day. 1t is an entering wedge, and
the next step would be for compulsory labor In
other businesses on seven days for six days
wages. Local option is the most preposterous
folly that ever entered the mind Of man. There
can be no option, local or otherwise, as to
whether we should unenact the immemorial law
of Almighty God"
Mr. Graham. in opposing the bills said that
est of the liquor dealers. both in the Legisla.
ture and when he was a New York city Excise
That's a lio!" exclaimed Mr.. Hamburger. e1.
Mr.. Graham didn't hear him and went on
II say that statement is untrue" shouted Mr..
hamburger, and l want you to hear what 1
You are an exceedingly gentlcmanly man."
'I am as much of a gentleman as you are"
retorted Mr.. Harburger, shaking his fist at Mr..
Graham. land l will make you swallow that
your fist is not big enough to make me swal-
low anything" said Mr.. Graham.
Both men were trembling with excitement
and Chairman Krum interposed:
sonable amount will suffice"
A little later Mr.. Hamburger got the floor.
The statement made by Mr.. Graham" he
aSs.aTeSi II II h %n IS a Feniism "nf he s shoSid take e
it back. l have never represented tho liquor
interests. l never took n drink in my life and
never smoked a cigar or used tobacco in any
form. In opposing the Raines law j have
favored morality and Americanisn. Mr.. Ora
ham has said that the Excise board of which I
was n member was a good board because of the
brains Of one member. In this he has insulted
the other members. Is this your fairness. your
Americanism. your Christianity There is no
room on our soil for such Christianity as yours.
This Is the fairness OF the organization you rep.
Nthfp nttnrEG n " A RriRn tfITa nnH
a legislator who is doing his duty AS he under.
stands It,"
MIR. Chairman" interrupted Senator Hum.
phrey, II hope the speakers will contine them
and listen TO Billingsgate."
Mr.. Hamburger then addressed himself brief
ly to the merits of his bill.
Morris Tekulsky said the Raincs bill wasn't
in principle. but what was wanted was more
morality and not revenue only.
There were several other speakers for and
against the bill, and the discussion was closed
by Senator RGincs.
This Maloncy BILL" he said. which is Off.
cially Endorsed by the liquor dealers. would es-
tablish 1000 excise boards. not to be elected,
but to be appointed by the local authorities.
That means that the liquor interests would
move heaven and earth to control the local au-
situation. This bill would create a LIQUOR trust
by restricting the number of saloons to the pres
ent number. instead of giving everybody an
equal chance. l believe in my heart that what
would deprive a man engaged in any other bust
ness of the right to take out a liquor tax Ccrti-
flcate. There could be no more sales of bot
tied goods by grocers or druggists. You pro.
as ! charge, to drive out Of tho business every.
body eNCeDt saloons and hOtels.'