New-York tribune., 1872-07-01
CONCERT SALOONS.
AN EVIL FOR WHICH SOME ONE IS
RESPONSIBLE.

8oARD-sUPFRINTENDE KEISO WILLlNU
TO DO HIS PART-ONE NIGHTS AhhEslS
LIST OF THE PRINCIPAL CONCERT sALOoNo
IN THE CITY.
The concert saloons which disgrace the tWo
leading thoroughfaro this have long been an eye
sore 10 the reputable portion OF the community Co'n-
plants have been made by the press and residents ou'
thus far without effect In fact concert saloons
are increasing rapidly in number. In Broau"ay
thew have doubled in number within the past
two months Some Of these places have been fitted mp
AT an expense OF several thousand dollars eaeh and their
expenses are from 81 900 TO 81 800 weekly In one Dook
alone there are five Of these dens OF vice. radiant Win
gas cts, flowers and fountains and resonant WIN VIM
Instruments There TO be adsposon on the part
of the authorities shift the responsibility from one 10
another and consequence no one VIII acAno"ieuso
that lie should be held accountable.
Tho last Legislature passed an act vesung IN the
Mayor rover TO license all places where plays were
acted or concerts given and 1t was believed tnat tue
provisions OF the act we're broad enough 10 ehaDie INC
authorities to break mp the concert saloons by repeated
raids especially as 1t understood that the Mayor
would in no instance grant license TO proprietors or
lessees II certainly was understood by the Ponce
Board and the superintendent Since the passage OF
the act however, it has been discovered that the bill
was modified and rendered practically worthless
HOW THE RESPONSIBILITY is SHIFTED.
A reporter Of The TRIBUNE called on Superintendent
Keso few days ago aud questioned HIM relative 10 the
| matter The superintendent said that he had made
raid on the Saloons and that when the cases came mp IN
the courts it decided by the magistrates that inc
proprieors these saloons II they obtained regular
licenses and compiled with the terms OF the permits,
wcro entitled to privilege of keeping their saloons
omen and of selling wines and liquors. and that moreover
the dress Of the mattresses matter that concerned
only themselves The dresses worn by them, II was held
we're not indecent than those worn by the members
OF the various ballet troupes who have appeared ON inc
stage at prominent theaters These places could be
| fhp
would refuse 10 license them, he would take measures
against them and necessary would visit them every
| night He wished the public 20 know upon whom the
| responsibility really rested.
The reporter next called the Excise Commissioners
| Commissioner Nachtmann and Inspector OF Licenses
MoBrien licenses issued %" 'no ie0on
mepdation Of tho C,,,ans 90 various precincts.
When the new Board superseded the metropolitan Board
OF Excise OF Police JOurdan consult
ed and was agreed every applicant for leensetO
sell wine liquors. beer should have lis application
ndorsed by the Captain of the precinct in which he
| sided This rule generally carried out. Licenses
had been refused 10 persons whom captains Of police
| had denounced, but the Commissioners had granted
licenses instances, 20 persons whom police cap
tains had refused 70 recommend 1t claimed that
good understanding existed between the Boards OF Po
lice and Excise. Tie Excise Board was not accorded
the same facilities by the Board of Police the old
Metropolitan Board Of Excise haG been, but Of this the
Commissioners did not complain Tle two departments
widely separated than before, the Metro
pOltan Police Commissioners being also members Of the
metropolitan Board Of Excise proprietor or lessee of
concert saloon was never asked how he intended 10
conduct his business. II presumed that the police
| would prevent all disorder
President Smith aud superintendent Kelso deny en-
phaHcay that there any such understanding with the
police as is alleged by the Excise Commissioners. SUI
perntendent KesO says that he has questioned the po
lice captains and that they ali declare that they have
he In
concert saloon keepers President Smith and the Super
nendent say that they held accountable by the pub
lie for any evil which they poweress TO uproot, and
they wish to have the responsibility placed where IL be-
longs At the time they say that If the Board Of
Excise will revoke the licenses they will close the sa-
| looms at once and make the reform permanent one.
Acting under instructions from Superintendent Kelso,
Cant Cnchy on Wednesday arrested Richard S. Camp
beil proprietor Dew Drop Inn" No $50 Broad
! way; Edward Barlow Of the Assembly Rooms" No.
O36 Broadway, and Daniel Perkins of the New Idea,"
No 59s Broadway for selling liquor without licenses.
The prisoners taken before Justice Hogan, at the
Tombs and held TO bail in 500 each Nearly all Of the
concert licensed, however. and unless the
Board Excise reyokes these licenses the police are
pOwerless.
THE INTERIOR OF \ CONCERT SALOON
In order that the public may Judge Of the extent OF this
evil reporters OF TIE TRIBUNE have been visiting for
several evenings past the various concert saloons and
have a-certanc1 by whom they kept the number OF
women employed in each the character OF the
! toners who frequent these places.
The more prctcntous OF these places in Broadway
Perhaps the costly its fittings is the "Canter
bury on the fret oor Of No e32 Broadway 1t is kept
! by Gregory & Hughes, who employ 45 girls. COOred
lights music and Giming signs brought into requi
sitiOn To induce simple 10 enter fountain, lighted
with gasets around the circle, plays in the ves
bule entering the place the visitor finds on either
hand bar with tables in the background. COnversing
| IN nd fro he
girls in bIight-colored Jackets cut very low,
and trimmed with gold and silver tnsel or bright but
tons The iiea seems to DE to have many different
coors aud STYLES possible The girls OF course, are
prostitutes. The customers comprise threo classes
persons from the country anxious for novelties, and
confident that will recognize them young spend
hrfts who willing Ia throw away their their
employers money and finally, sporting men, including
thieves gamblers and rowdes Fights not uncommon.
and persons have recently been followed from this and
adjoining saloons knocked down and robbed. Only
week two ago young Englishman knocked down
front the Canterbury" and robbed OF $50 and
watch and diamond pin. IN the Of the saloon
small apartments known as wine rooms" but used, IL
! is needless 20 say, for the yilest purposes
Is BROADWAY
On the upper floors Of Nos. C32 and 63l Broadway,
above the Canterbury" is Boulevard Hail. keptby
Paul Fax Only seven girls are employed. They dress
rather m0e dccenty than their ssterhood In the saloon
below, and this may account part for the diminished
attendance. The proprietor formerly wealthy
btewe ana has owned or leased half dozen saloons III
The Assembly Rooms on the npper floors of Nos 6ss
ana ts Broadway conducted the loud and vulgar
plan Th' class TO be found here both men and women
are oi tne fSughet class Any respectable man who has
likely 20 repeat the visit. The proprietor is Edward
Sn L1Sg e are W I sa Ss employed IN tne place on
LhE IP.BGNL there were about dozen present.
were professional pickpOckets and thieves Wine