The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-02
THE LAW SHALL BE ENFORCED,
Commissioner Morrison Says the Board Will
Adopt Heroic Measures Great Scheme.

'The Police Commissioners are aware that the
order directing the saloons to close at IL
o'clock and on Sundays is being disregarded in
some quarters" said Commissioner Morrison to a
Journal reporter yesterday, "but we think
that there has been very marked improvement
over the old order of things. Many of the sa-
loon-keepers-in fact nearly all of the better
class of thenn-have accepted the situation and
obey the order. 1t has been very difficult
matter to make cases against those who
have disregarded it, because they have thrown
every possible obstacle in the way of the officers
and sell only on the sly, instead of openly and
above board. For instance. know of case on
East Washington street, where the saloon keeper
has resorted to very elaborate system for de-
feating the patrelmens efforts to detect him.
At IL o'clock he closes his DOORS lowers his
curtains so that view of the interior of the
place is disclosed from the street. Then he
sends a barkeeper down cellar with keg of
beer and bottle of whisky, and takes seat in
the rear of the saloon beside hole
cut through the floor He has two
bottles on string, one of them syphon
seltzer bottle, and the other of the ordinary de-
scription If suspicious looking person applies
for admittance he carelessly lowers the syphon
bottle, which ID signal to the man below that
there is danger ahead, and to keep still and cover
things up, and then informs the applicant for
admission that the place is closed. But if the
face at the door is recognized or that of friend
the fair weather signal is lowered and the thirsty
man ushered into the cellar policeman
might watch a regiment of men trooping down
stairs without being able to swear that there was
one actual transgression of the law. That is
fair sample of some of the subterfuges
resorted to to thwart the purpose of the com
missioners. Mr.. Murphy and myself have been
very much averse to resorting to heroic methods,
but both of us are determined that the law shall
be obeyed, not conditionaly or partly, but abso
lutely and entirely. Therefore, if some Of the
saloon men refuse to obey without having some
body constantly standing over them with a club,
the man and club will be provided. If it is nee
essary, we shall adopt method very distasteful
to both OF us and appoint spies to resort to the
same underhanded way of doing business prac-
ticed by the law breakers The Legislature has
now been in session nearly two months, and has
had this very matter before it for con-
alteration during almost the entire time.
If the present law was Objectionable it should be
repealed We have no objection to its being re-
pealed, but if it is not you can rest assured that
the law as it stands is going to be enforced to
the letter. We agree perfectly on that point,
and will stand together"
A wellknown saloon-keeper who has the good
sense to obey the law, said to the reporter: ut
seems to nle that there is class of saloon men
here who haven't sense enough to know their
own interests. There is a scheme being dis.
cussed among some of them to bring pressure
to bear upon the Police Commissioners to let up
on their recent order by filing warrants against
street-car drivers, milk-wagon drivers and
all Others even to the newspapers
who pursue their usual vocation
OH Sunday, in the hope of making a general
howl against Sunday laws They don't stop to
consider that the law they are called upon to
obey is the whisky law, and not the Sunday law
at all. am one of the aloor-keepers who are
satisfied to let we'll enough alone. The present
law is just exactly what asked for when the
Baxter law was repealed. For one, ! am willing
to stand by it,