, 1874-05-10

Tha action OF the A8soclatlon OF L1befai-
Minded Citizens (Veren Fre;senniger Burger),
in entering protest against tina 'pretty waiter
girl !" saloons, will meet the appreciation Of our
citizens. Coming from the quarter it does. it
will be ell tho moro e1ective,-much more SO
than il it came from IN equal number Of clergy
men or church members. The President OF
the Association, Mr.. 6. L. Korn, introduced tho
question, What measures should be taken to
have the licenses Of the ''p1ctty waiter-Eirl
aa1oons revoked? he argues that they are an
outrage on the community and 3 municipal dis
craco. Most OF the members OF this Association
are zaloon-keepers themselves, and their war on
tho "pre:ty waiter~girl" beer-shops may not be
altogether in the interests OF morality and of
municipal honor, hut the protest is timely all
the same. II tile saloon-keepers themselves
regard tho "pretty waitor-eir1" saloons Is
disgrace to them, the disgrace to the city
at large is all the more conspicuous.
Mr. Zeuieschea, one Of the members Of the
Association, related an instance of tho practices
Of these places which came under his obserya-
ton. 4 stranger went into one OF these saloons
With two young men, $2o3, aud several pieces OF
silver in bis pocket. Ayoung girl waited On the
party. They drank two glasses OF vine, and the
stranger fell asleep, BE returned to conscious
ness in the "gutter." having paid S203 and some
pieces Of silver for his evenings entertainment.
Now, it is not an heroic act Of virtue to visita
"prctty waltcr-girl" saloon, and If q stranger
loses his S203 in currency he is not entitled to
much sympathy in tho promises. No tears will
be shed over his loss; and il every one who at
tends similar places we're left to sleep and dream
in the gutter every time he goes We think it
would be in the interest OF public morals.
These places are neither more nor less than pub
lie puisances, aud should not be tolerated
They are moral pest~houses. and should not be
licensed. Mr.. Zenioschek ia very much afraid
that, ii not suppressed, they will be pointed to
as proof Of the 'damnablo nature Of MI a.
looms" It would Seem that the atrauger
sboyo referred to is not tho only one
who came away from one OF these places poorer
thnn he entered it By more than the price Of q
glass OF beer or vino. A1r. Ha1tke knew man
from New York who had lost $500 in = "pretty
waiter-gi1l saloon.
We hare baen Informed that Mayor Colvin
has declined to revoke the licenses. OF these
dens. though frequently importuned to do 50.
Il this is true he may well be suspected OF ~
obuquity in the matter Of public morals. They
are, in thoir very nature disreputable and
dlsordcrly houses. They daunt their rica
in tho face OF the public, aud mako
it loud with the music Of cracked horns and
banged-up pianos. They are q stencil in the nos
trils, aad eore to the eyes OF all decent peo-
ple who are compelled to pass by thsm at night
when they are in full blast. precedent for
sumnarily breskiag them up is found in Nuv
York City, where the Mayor revoked their licen-
ees, and tho police arrested thoir innates. Thia
is WHIT Mayor Colvin and his police ought to
do; aud. failing to do it, they betray = sorzy
indifference to the decency OF the city, which
viii react upon them rs the nuisanccs
increase IN number and as the disreputable
Glasses grow bolder, Il the Mayor will not in
terfere, it il to be hoped that the Council will
take these vile places under sdrisernsnt, and in-
strues the police Of ths city u supp1ssa the1a. |