New-York tribune., 1911-02-01
ATTACK ON EXCISE LAW
MCCue introduces Bill to Relieve
Saloon Men of Bonds.
ADVOCATES OTHER CHANGES
Proposed Measures Will Not
Favor Sunday Opening or
Longer Hours, However
(By Telegraph 70 The Tribune.


Albany, Jan. 3l.-The campaign 10 break
down the excise law regulations which was
expected when il was learned that John
Hackett had been made chairman OF the
Assembly Excise Committee and Marty
Mocue the ranking member was begun TO-
day. with Mr.. N1cCue as the leading spirit.
McCue introduced a bill repeating that
section Of the liquor tax law requiring those
holding liquor licenses 70 give a bono lol
the proper observance OF the law OF from
800 to $500. according to the locality. lie
then announced that this was the hrst oi
eight excise law amendments which ne Is
now preparing. Among the others VIII De
a bill TO permit the transfer Of license
from one borough 20 another in New VOTE
City. and also one to permit q person leas-
ing a hotel TO transfer his hotel license
without the consent Of the owner.
The State Excise Department oflcials
lcok upon these measures. particularly the
ore introduced today as the means Il
they are enacted, OF removing many neces-
ssry restrictions on the saloonkeepers' en-
abiing them TO do pretty much as tne!
please. One OF the excise officials sald that
without the bond provision II would be
practically impossible to enforce the ex-
else law. Bond actions are the principal
thing feared by saloonkeepers who Violate
or intend 70 violate the law.
Mr.. McCue. on the other hand, said that
he can't see why a bond should make q
saloonkesper pay more attention TO the Id"
when he IS already amenable undeG tHe
regulations Of license
Bonding companies alone, he says oehe-
fl by the giving OF bonds. He says ne
does not believe that the saloonkeepers'
after giving the state and counties sIs'-
o)o.010 in excise money. should be reauireu
10 hand over njre than another million
dollars to the bonding companies.
However, the state last year col!ectea
about 100000 from tie bonding companies
bet suse OF violations of the excise law
by persons holding licenses For TINS
reason there Is some question whether the
c,overror who has started out on cam
naign OF economy, will sign bill deprlV-
ing the state Of such considerable m
come. Mr McCue said that none OK the
bills he intends to introduce will PROVIDE
for Sunday opening or longer hours
u do not believe that the people wan-
Sunday openIng," he said, land conSe-
ouently such a measure would only be de-
feated."
Another biz which will meet with strong
opnosItion from the excise department ofl-
cials was introduced to-day by Assembly
man Hoey. it provides that whenever
violation Of the liquor tax law is charged oy
the department a notice briefly stating the
nature of the violation must be served
within thirty days on the holder OF the
license on the premises. Failure to serve
such a notice shall be complete defence
in any subsequent action brought tor the
alleged violation.
This bill would merely put the saloon
keeper on guard said an excise depart
ment official, "and give him chance l"
prepare his defence. We send inspectors
10 get certain details ot supposed vio-
lation and may not send another TO COM
p,ete an investigation fer month or 30
later. II we served notice OF what was
found out By the FIRST inspectors We could
only get half our evidence. the saloon
keerer would know that he was being
watched and be on his good behavior after
that"