The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-30
rHE Q D r.
Explanation Of the Attitude Of the COM
mItteeN OF Fourteen.

To THE EDIToR OF THE SUN-Sr; you
very properly call attention TO the faot tnat
the State has never undertaken seriously
and in good faith to enforce the provisionso OF
the llnuor tax law as II reads to-day, and l
cordially thank you for doing SO: but you
further proceed to imply that the law as "
exists Is satisfactory and that the attempts
of those who would introduce amendments
simplifying the law or rendering 1t ENFORCE
able, such as the efforts now being MADE py
the Committee OF Fourteen TO suppress tn9
Raines law hotels" are undesirable uhth
effort has been made really to enforce tne
law.
The Raines law was passed in 1900, ana !
and others with whom / am now assoclateo
In efforts to secure an amendment 10 this law
have labored for ten years In what you can
| the very prosaic and commonplace methou
OF attempting 10 secure Its enforcemehI'
It IL because we have found that the law can.
not be enforced In, its present condition ana
| that 1t Ia a creator Of vice that we desire W
amend 1t.
Thu law as 1t now stands has. as / presume
no one will question, created ana Iostereu tpo
Raines law hotels. By actual count IN buhalo
and this city two out Of every three -hoteiS
are Infamous resorts, conducted In violation
Of the law. The genesis Of these resorts ana
their character and influence on the commu-
| nifty " ere made plain by the Investigations Oh
the Committee of Fifteen, OF which the late
William H.. Baldwin. Jr., was chairman ana
any one who wishes to understand the ihIa-
NOUS character OF these resorts and the great
evil they have wrought in the community mas
but to turn TO the report of that committee.
published under the title OF THE Social EVIL.
In 1902.
Under the LIQUOR tax law as II exists o
hotel permit must be issued to any man VINO
swears that his place conforms to the hotel
provisions Of the law. The Excise Depart
1000 Ia, mn lIaoration Go vpluahl0 Ia the
hotel permit, on account OF the practical
license which It gives to sell liquor on Sun
days, that this provision Of the law allures
men to commit perjury, and, as stated. the
large majority Of hotel permits In this city
have been issued on perjured statements.
As these permits are Issued on perJured
statements II would at first sight seem posi-
bic to prosecute the projectors for perjury
however, these false afidavlts do not con;
shSeu SsyidsneeSS Which the courts require, The
Excise Department has always malntalhed
insi authorities and that revocation Of the
license should ensue only as the result %
S o]rsntIsa Of ? f tSe confts. not nes oni Sef n regard fP 20
the evidence for perjury. but also In regard
to the evidence required In the case OF other
to convict the proprietors, Of these places
under the criminal proyisi9hs Of the laaK
Sho have aVef ever r. attempted to secure the en-
foroem ent Of these provisions agree In say
ing that they are practically useless SO Iar
as our larger cities are concerned, and espe-
deed. tho criminal, provisions Of the LIQUOR tag
i innGGusose5 s snd enable them to levy bi Ia cR%aii. N'A
The law does: however, provide Z much so1
% Re or e%tls sSfHro. Snd : W RIH.i t SSle 9 He eiRfi p fSr
sedure. either by ths indiyidpa I. OF orr by ths
a ~ poss.S part Of TIE law is that which pro-
Excisse Department through civil procedure
for false statements In securing said license
or for breach 4Sh.S Of the s,I law after bers 1t n naS 6ee IN
practice entirely enforceable and very effeo-
tive where enforced. But as you have indi-
The Excise Department Is compelled. t is
any one who makes the requisite afadavit;
but the license or hotel permit once issued,
the State CommIssioner OF Excise may in in
used the power which this provision Of the
peyeT have reached its present pr92portiopSs;
6 6St The s.r EssIsS R IlssGif @sreiy has as an f1o sses aes
for the sale Of licenses. It has been an ex.
ii ssaslE Ie]sS as e : t 6ssye rsveu HssnS SE t fnd st ass
and Of indtvidual. localities BY. It's .effoienoy
IL s z hIas laIG au1e. LICENSES sas rea fEd to o0 eefoPpe permits s
law by Supervising the saloons, and hotels to
which Licenses rave been sold In order to
the law the Excise Department would prob
ably haye required many more inspectors
than i b hss at pTesent and consequently a
The legislature has never made a proper
financial provision for the enforcement, Of
the the s I a % Go S"g rSSat' ever asked for such a
provision both by that fact approving and
pretatton of itS functions.
the outset, the evil Of the Raines law hotels
that even were the Ezcise Department to be
administered with a view not merely to SELL
1TS itdie ind itself quite unable to cope With
and most commonsense modification Of IRE
would prevent most Of these infamous resorts
a afp provision isf%1' That ali hotels shall be inspest'esd
by the Building Department or corresponding
local IF 9%fa9isls to ascertain Y, Whether sbD hnf., they hey CON- tHSmn.
provisions be fled with the Excise Depart.
only to places so listed which have been
proved by in,yestig9tion t. comply with the
P Provision to OF the tine ild 7aS: tax ae'f Law Sa6 6st no mercy neE
Il stops q very evident leak in the law. +
Tffheee Gommittse OF Fourteen Believes asa
ieewSu, that Ra this ounce u OF fi prevent lon ,no viii be
worth many pounds Of attempted cure after
the permits have b been issued; ,ro ho. o,u,rs
latins for the enforcement Of the LIQUOR
ttbRee case this Year; We did not ind i so
We We found It sG to Be e the he e o 1ss DtSIs T pssa a1"' nave
Chairman Committee OF Fourteen.