New-York tribune., 1899-01-15
uoRK1NG OFTHELIQUORLAW
~c1sr COMMISSIONER LYMANs AN
NUAL REPORT.
,xcv OF THE MEASURE PROVED
No IMPORTANT CHANGES
RECOMMENDED

RECOMMENDS
Albany. Jan. r-s;ate Connissione' VI HAe.se
AoNny, rv,an has submitted his annual report
Hen legislature The statistics connected win
70 ~ ..o,se collections are as follows
'"' ,o,r, received Cor hquor-tax certificates,
Toi2l anrS Nnes Sis e4o.TlS OIL County Treasurers
ransfssiT sio " Al net balance for fiscal year N2Sse
fees Cf this amount the STAG reys1ssu sa s''N'
- a. towr, NJ uouor-tax certificates of all kinds
Toi9 @ number Of certificates IN tSree os1G- sp
ssT ls 2 81 total aa foI HImesa nssato S' 4cas
reIdsrsS reIis1,es paid during fiscal year %i9SS 90 e@-
kses'of es ~ the Department s9aSl1 "a -. ,,o,
Verified rd referred to district-artorneys. ISL civil
agtnrs brought AGAINST parties TO enforce payment
sc1.D.sse taxes forfeited bonds, ETC. III
-. Department has also been defendant IN sew
~" c,vn actions relative to the issuance of
cav .,s.,,es paymenis Of rebates. etc IL mas
o',ed during the year two cities, three incor-
s".oa villages and thirty unincorporated villages
p0''n ,,rnose OF fixing the liquor tax 10 be col
- J" Tho enumeration made under the Village
:, oaroelv. Chapter 4i4 Of the Laws of 1897. had
70 h.ar,ng upon the price OF certificates
10 General observance and enforcement OF the
-. has been quite as good as expected ana ma"
81 Improvement on the preceding years me III
nsr.nce of public officials charged with its execu-
- s-relv disappeared. The higher courts
"' s,at,ed the law and given strength TO It's
".-.,,s h, favorable decisions in most OF the
P h,ourht before them for adjudication Wheth-
= ,.e supoosec political advantages derived from
-. nart,san issue OF the laws proposed repeai
= more Or less than expected by It's advocates
- no, be discussed. but II is certain that the re-
-, - the thorough discussion thus brought ABOUT
-, hsan 10 give the people a much De''er uhuei-
10" 10" 49,, ~ the question and much better opinion
:, the law. The inclination Of dealers 10 Kho"
- and observe the law and the disposition Of
.s'.t,vs -. thereto have already become noticeable.
TENDENCY IN LOCAL OPTION.
,,.ssr the head Of local option the Commissioners
.axs the tendency under the new system which
srsbles the people squarely upon the merits
:, ,Aa several propositions Il TO recognize the pro-
,o,v q, the sale Of liquors by hotels and pharma-
..,s in many communities where they Will not by
.1A,r votes. approve the sale by saloons and gro
ceres. g.
The tables showing results by counties for
,,a poroughs OF Manhattan and The Bronx for the
year ending september 80 are as follows;
The number Of certificates in force in New-York;
ron the issue OF certificates. Transfers ana nlles
was xii7 ~ IS. rebates paid. $500 2 al net rev
snnes & Al So S. citys two-thirds share OF SANE
a. eo~ -,s q9 states one-third share SlS3Sf6 20 On
he Sssis Of tho equalization table Of 1898 prepared
nv the state Board OF Assessors, the city mas Dehe-
Ed Nv reduction IN State taxes due 70 the State
sxcse revenue Of s. $50 545 making total behent
he oi+, -
-1s, - tho cifv from the State Treasury, over
and above what II pays 10 the state amounting 10
N6eSN o.
r,e ,e,o-. further states that no suitable rooms
,or the transaction Of the Departments business at
lbanv have ever been assigned, that those now oc-
cpr,sd are over-rowded and lacking in ventilation:
that as a consequence. much sickness has oc-
,r-rsd on an cverage disabling one-sixth OF the
employes with ailments occasioned by the unsani-
.arv conditions and that this condition is seri-
ous obstacle 10 Efficient work and consequent
waste Of public funds
NO RADICAL CHANGES RECOMMENDED.
The Commissioner says:
have TO amendments 20 suggest which Will IN
IN any way change the general scope or present
features OF the law. believing what II most % nesus @
is fair and unpreiudiced enforcement ,he same
as Is given other laws Of the State; and that II
IS in the interest OF the law as well as those who
do business under II. that frequent changes WHICH
disturb business should not be made.
The only amendments recommended relate 10
minor details IN the laws administration, namely,
providing for notice u motion upon an application
for the remission of fines; providing for the en-
forcement OF judgments. providing for the account
INK for witness fees received by special agents
when under pay Of the State. and reducing the
number Of agents from sixty 20 nifty.
In suggesting this reduction the Commissioner
among other things says that the special agent
force is not a police force. and was never intended
10 relieve the regular police, constabuiary' peace
and prosecuting officials of the State from the duty
os enforcing the criminal provisions Of this. as
well as all other laws. Special agents duties are
much the same as those OF the United states rev
enue special agents, namely. 70 detect and pre-
vent evasons OF the law which impair the revenue,
and TO assist In the collection OF the taxes and
fines and penalties for ts transgression. II is the
policy OF the State that the enforcement of all laws
designed 10 promote law and order and 10 punish
criminals devolves upon the local police and prose-
cutting officers, and he adds that no other policy
is practicable and that the enforcement or the
liquor Tax law is not and was not intended as
A. exception 10 this general policy