New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-11-21
OITY CRIMINALS.

WHAT SUPERINTENDENT KELSO WILL DO.
CONCERT SALOONS TO BE sUPPREssED-GAM-
pTING uTLLS TO REMAIN UNDISTURBED-
THE CANTERBURY TO BE OPENED AS THE
AFTER.
Accompanied by counsel, the proprietor OF
tho notorious Canterbury" Concert Saloon which so
long dsgraced Broadway and outraged public deeehcy
in spite OF the police called upon superintendent heso
yesterday afternoon and informed him that no hau as
charged his As or so "waiter girls" ana III
tended TO transform his saloon into theater
He exhibited q theatrical license, granted by
Mayor Hall last May. He also produced his excise
license and announced his determination to continue inc
liquor traffic, but without the employment Oh "ohen
The superintendent after examining the two licenses
informed their holder that 80 long as his licenses re-
manned evoked no would ba exempt from poHce III
reference provided that his theatrical saloon be con-
Quoted in an orderly manner and regular admlttance
fee charged but that If he should attempt to conduct
the place rs hitherto his doors should be summary
closed
The superintendent subsequently remarked 10 IRIB
UNE reporter, that he had been sustaining Mmsen oy
main force and almost entirely without authority OF
law in making raids upon the concert saloons. But"
he continued 81 viii keep it up and wherever ma
an indecenty conducted concert saloon, where
women are employed walters shal
close it," He also stated that he should close all saloons
of this nature found unlicensed no matter now orderly
they might be- Many Of the saloons recently ataeheu
he said we're found be duly licensed and, therefore,
legally beyond his further interference, unless they be
continued in q manifestly aud Extensively disordery
manner so far the arrest OF patrons Of the concert
saloons Is concerned he stated that he wholly with
ont authority of law; that, though ne might eject mem
for attendance without an arbitrary assumption oil pow
which neither he nor any one else legally possessed
A great difficulty under which he had abOred, he SAD,
had been the fact that he had been almost entirely un
able lind citizens who own or occupy property on
tn tai
the saloons and follow up the complaints IN tho courts
The only citizens he ha9 been ape 10 induce 70 taho
and Luce, the druggist. The main obstacle, however,
existed IN the Effectiveness of the present Excise law
The Legislature, IN abrOgating tue old Metropolitan
Excise SYSTEM had taken away the power formerly hed
by the police OF holding Objectionable places in check,
by refusing licenses or rcy0kng Tor nfractons OF
their provisions. Under tho old system IL was necessary
for applicants to receive the Endorsement OF captains
OF Their respective precincts, before Obtaniug licenses,
but under the present system the police hau no control
These obstacles combined with the lack OF proper coop
Grafton ON the part Of magistrates had Initiated against
the efficiency OF police and impaired their ability to
close or control disOrdery places
Gambling hes, the superintendent said, were always
seized upon any seemingly weltOunded complaint, aud
Their projectors arrested; but he did not feel mpeled
by sense of duty make ndiscrimnate dcscens upon
them. Citizens would, nevertheless, mad nun always
readv 10 take prompt action in any case cases
wherein they should make specific complaints
backed by sufficient evidence to give reasona1e assur
ance of the conviction OF offenders before impartial and
honest judges But he had become weary OF pulling"
gambling bells and attaining no more satisfactory results
IMAM the numbering OF Police Headquarters with gaming
implements and the arrangement Of their owners, only
to mud the same men beginning anew, with fresh STOCK
Of mpcmeut in less than - hours alter seizure and
arrest He had never been able to secure
a single conviction among the many COM
plaiut he had caused TO be against arrested
or keeping gambling heus, and, therefore, had no Gu
courdgement to take further action, except under CIR
cumstances already intimatcd. lie had several IN
finished cases before the courts and preferred To- await
Their result II they should terminate IN convictions,
and the infection Of sufficient penalties, the suDeSi
would then assume new phase, under when nc SHOULD
act accordingly. - IT,. III,
Meanwhile some Of tho worst dens In the city conu
ned i'm fun and defiant operation under the very shaGOW
of the imposing marble Police Headquarters, III Mul
berry-st Capt. Byrucs OF the Fifteenth IRE
cinct expressed opinions similar 10 th03e uttered
by the superintendent, whJm he believed t1
H. making earnest eudeayor TO suppress the
Concert saloons lie had always had much trouble
with tuem in his precinct, but could suppress
mart OF The Police Justices. The captains generally eX
press themselves in full accord WIN tue SupetlhtelU
nt and seem satisfied in the good faith OF their supe
nor officer The patrOlmen and in fact some or tht
subordinate officers OF the force are increduous on ts
point and ridcule IL dodge to secure IayOr IN tue
inlpcndiug REORGANIZATION OF the commissions.