New-York tribune., 1871-05-30
REPEAL OF THE THEATRICAL LICENSE
LAW

REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TO THE
NEw-YORK CITY COUNCIL OF POLITICAL RE-
FORM on TIE REPEAL or THE LAWS CON
CERNING TIIEATER LICENSES
Since 1889, theaters and equestrian perform
ances in this city have been required to take out licenses
the fees for which to the House Of Refuge This
Institution was also made the exclusive prosecutor and
reeipent of fines imposed neglect to procure these
licenses or for the violation of their provisions The
revenue TO the Refuge from these sources was about
81 900 year. The amount Of the license fees $500
proved not to be an efectual check a low grade Of
theatrical performances that were found to be mere re-
cruing places disguise Of the most outrageous forms
of vice To cheap and obscene scenic performances
were added LIQUORS and female attendance with every
device of the seductive attraction This mischief
had grown 10 such threatening proportions that in 1860
the friends OF public morals aroused to procure
special law against IT. This law was strengthened IN
1852 by more stringent provisions, which had been
found to be necessary to battle the eyaslons
Of the proprietors Of these low haunts. The vo-
laton OF the provisions Of the Licenses or OF the
prohibitions annexed TO them made to Work their Tor
feture and by this these dangerous places were
generally suppressed But under cover OF the present
laxer discipline Of police OF the city, the low theatri
cal establishments have again revived and threaten to
outdo their former vicious During the last
wear the House OF Refuge compelled TO enforce the
laws against some these They carried their case to
the chiefs Of the City Government for redress ana were
advised that there help for them under the pres
but that session Of the next Legislature
| the law would probably he accommodated TO their
wishes This was accordingly attempted. Abill was in-
troduced into the Legislature abolshng all theatrical
licenses This bill was pressed by the Mayor OF this city
and advocated by him in the public journals The out
ragged sentiment Of all virtuous citizens unanimously
protested against this attempt to open again these food
gates OF vice The press secular and eOus denounced
it. 1t Of the measures of pending legislation
that were enumerated objects for public protest
at the public meeting that called by this
COunc at the Cooper Union In April last The lnstu-
tons most interested defeating this bill pressed their
oppostion on the managers of the Legislature. and it
was understood, with Assurances}were given,
by those who assumed TO speak for the Legislature that
the bill should not pass.
The phase in these proceedings was the lnforma-
tion accidenty obtained that the Mayor OF this city
giving out licenses TO these theatrical places under
the following law, which purports to have been passed
by the last egslatre, although, after digent inquiry
no other evidence be found that II has been acted
nature presiding officers and the Governor OF the
state The Ts section Of tne ALLEGED act m runs mus
Az deshe the Of the Corporation Attorney Tue oV OF
Tn, p,opL, oIn, sat Of Ytr- Port do sna a, Jolop,
sEoToS The Corporation Attorney Of the C Of seE.Yort shall
Msy1 XdsfSe" and 6omoay Of city .ny
s1Ssp S s 1 S G @ BE- Ss By as . from
% R c.% o 4cs9 c9 y li md a. & itsSS cocSS ao
deductng Of the recovery bis proper costs and
the credit Of the sinking fund but In
hereafter shall there be charged greater fee than go i the oh
Hg head Of executive department oihs City
Of Sss.lok. rendered obligatory by Law ordnance
IL will be that the title OF this act Is bind rather
than index of its real object, which II the policy that
10 have governed all the ring legislation OF the
last and several of the preceding Legislatures The body
Of the act too, adrOy cOnceHls Its vicious aim frO
those who not Informed Of the situation and history
Of this matter The Oby purpose OF the act Is to re-
rp0nd to the recognized partisan claims of the prOpre.
tors Of these vicious establishments by removing from
them all legal disabilities aud Liabilities The twO-f0d
efect OF the law will be to give absolute Immunity from
legal penalties 10 these recruiting places OF vice. ana tn
cut OF large e from the sDp0rt OF one Of our most