New-York tribune., 1871-04-07
THEATRICAL LICENSES.


MAYOR HALLS NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR In THE TRIBUNE of to-day you pub-
lished letter in which Mayor Hall asserts that it was
ut his suggestion that the managers OF the city theatcrs
united in petition to the Legislature TO exempt them
from taking out licenses the ices for which 90 to the
House OF Refuge on the ground that profession
business should be burdcned with special charge to
this end. His communication further states that the
bill In question does not contemplate repeal OF the law
Of 1862 but far back 1859, and that 1t does
not touch existing regulations as TO concert saloons but
simply confined to theatrical and equestrian perform
ances The bill in question s sufficiently explicit IL
epac,s that all provisions OF law which authorize the
Mayor OF the City of New York to ISSUE which require
any manager proprietor of any theatrical OF egues-
trian performance within said city to obtain license
permitting such performance, are hereby repealed
am glad that Mayor Hall assumes the responsibility in
this case The managers OF respectable theatcrs
would never we confident, OF their own accord have
asked for the proposed. The facts show that it
is in the interests not OF reputable tleaters but Of
places Of amusement OF the lowest and most demOral
iZng character.
The just these: Ten ago theaters OF
very low character and similar entertainments, had null
tiped to alarming extent in tins city Their most
crowded performances were held OH Sunday, where
hundreds Of the youth OF both were gathered to
hear low and often indecent plays while liquor and
lagerbcer were served out by pretty Mattresses"
Several OF these theaters gave two, three, aud even
four performances Sunday, and especially on Sun
day they throngcd to their utmost capacity
The charge for admission was small, and men and
women full OF liquor lager not fastidOus
10 the quality 10 cent drama More than 20 Of these
places were open at 1t was In view OF the disas
trous effects OF such that the law Of l0
and afterward that OF 1867 passed. prohibiting
Sunday performances and the selling OF liquor, and the
employment of female attendants IN any such place OF
amusement and making the violation OF these provisions
"A nisdemeunOr, punishable by fine and imprisonment.
But had been found almost inpraccabe Ia prosecute
10 conviction any such case OF mSccahOr or 10 recover
the penalty, no man knows better tlan Mayor HAN
The law OF 1862 therefore, provided further that heaters
should take out licenses the fees Of which should be paid
the House OF Refuge and that In case oi violation Oh
these prOhbi tOns the license should Do annued Tnc
reason for king the license payable the House
Refuge not to cast reprOach upon the reputable
thcaers but to provide the eectuay for enforc-
ing the law against the dsrepnabe ones, and making 1t
license clause OF the law OF 1861 these dsreputabe
hcaers were to very large extent closed by writs of
injunction. Recently they have been muplyln again,
and advertise their theatrical performances Sun
| day. with liquor, and Lager, and walter girls.
The House OF Refuge managers, as they receive the
fees have the responsibility OF acting against
| Establishments, and have already sued out iIiunctOns
against some " them that were exhibiting without H.
ccnse, while Others liable TO have their licenses
yoked Here is where the shoe pinches II IL In the in
teress of this class that worthy Mayor aud Senator
Tweed are acting Our respectable theaers have no in
crest In fayOrng the but much the contrary.
The repeal OF the license clause would multiply cheap
theaers OF the lowest character and thus bring odun
upon the whole class OF entertainments. The measure
proposed Will be disastrous IN its effects the public
morals and earnestly protest against It, II II must
become law, let the Democratic majority In the Legis-
ature take the responsibility aud have all the credit OF
It, Let them first. however for c0nsistency's sake,
amend To apply To the whole State Tor II II s
Just and wholesome for this city, IL Is equally
for every other city and village of the state In all of
which heaers are required by the same statute to
Hep York, March 81. 1871