The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-08
Saloons Near tho Public Schools.

Tho Evening xOSt IS puOllSnlnG series OF
diagrams purporting to show that the pres
ent Board OF Excise has been shame!ully
remiss in tho matter OF issuing licenses for
the sale OF liquor in the immediate neigh
borhood OF the public schools. Both the
motive and the method OF this enterprise
are characteristic Of the newspaper In ques-
ton. Both are disingenuous and deceptive.
: as we shall make plain. ...
While protesting u sudden solIcitude for
. the protection Of tho school children against
the communicating influence OF the liquor
traffic, the Evening Post exhibits its animus
in the attempt to create the impression that
the present municipal administration IL
responsible for the condition OF things
which it pretends to deplore. It's charges
and inslnuations are deliberately vague
and therefore dishonest. It began on No
vember "a by mentioning Commissioner
KOCH and Commissioner FITZPATRICK by
name. and promising to "give,in day or
two some fresh and startling evidence OF
their criminal neglect OF duty in regard to
the licensing OF saloons near school build
ings. u neglect which for brutal indifference
to the moral welfare OF the community has
no parallel. even In Tammany annals"
Four days later it remarked that Its
diagrams and accompanying articles
throw more light upon Tammany morals
e and methods in government than have
been cast in any previous revelations" 1t
had. meanwhile printed two or three maps
OF sections Of the town where public
school appeared in the middle. surrounded
by black spots indicating saloon or hotel
licenses. mo officials" remarked the
Evening Post. save those Of the dullest.
even brutalized moral perceptions. would
take upon themselves the responsibility of
placing them there. That two Of these
Excise Commissioners are men Of this char
acter was pretty we'll known fact before
these disclosures were made. The city
owes their presence to Mayor GRANT. who
appointed them during his first term.
Koch and FITZPATRICK always vote to-
gether in favor Of the liquor dealers
Thus far in the editorial columns OF the
Post. In the text Of the disclosures " &C.
= companying the maps appears the same
g dishonest intention to make. sMugwump
capital against Tammany Hall by creating
the impression that Mr.. FITzPATRIcK and
Mr.. Koch have been industriously engaged
in establishing saloons in the immediate
neighborhood Of the schools. On Nov. IS
the Post spoke Of the two Commissioners
who are responsible for the degrading at
mosphere that now surrounds a majority
of the educational institutions OF the city,"
On Nov. ~ the Post announces that the
further it pursues It's inquiry. 1.-THE more
evident 1t becomes that the Excise Commits
sioners. KOCH and FITZPATRICK. have appar-
emily selected schoolhouses as centres for
saloons" The next day the Post asserts
that instead Of observing the rule that no
license shall be issued. for liquor shop in
the Immediate vicinity OF a school. the
dominating Commissioners. KOCH and FITz-
PATRICK. it might be thought. have made a
special effort to ascertain how frequently
attractions Of this rule could be brought
about Two days later. the same invest-
gator denounces the shameless manner in
y which the two controlling members Of the
Excise Board, KOCH anu FITZPATRICK. have
permitted the liquor traffic to establish cor
dons of saloons around the public schools in
this CITY," so much for tho motive actuat-
ing this chronic maligncr of New York's city
A.. Government. ..r ps .a5
Now rs to its methods. In order to exag-
gerate to tho careless eye the effect Of these
disclosures " and F" revelations" the Posts
map nakerin every case takes In section Of
the town covering many blocks. He wants
to show as many block spots us possible
around his school. knowing that few read
ers Of his disclosures will take tho trouble
to ascertein or measure or estimate the ac-
tual remoteness OF tho outlying saloons.
3 hotels. or groceries from the school sup
posed to BIO contaminated by their presence.
The map. FOR example, that shows the sur
roundipgs of the Wooster street school In
cludes the whole or parts OF not less
thun twenty-four city blocks. The map
devoted to the Greenwich street Grammar
School No. 90. takes in the river front sa-
looms on West street from away below Nor
ris to above Albany street. 1t Is very much
rs II some ingenious photographer should
prepare a diagram of the lower end OF Man
haitian Island showing the Office OF the
Epenia0 Post amid thousands Of black
saloon spots. and present 1t as evidence that
GODKIN ought to be sent at once to an
inebriate asylum. tr..
But this little trick Of map making Is not
the worst of the Posts characteristic per-
formRnce. It's chief offence against the
principles OF honorable journalism consists
In the wholesale suppression OF the dates OF
the licenses which 1t would persuade its
Eeaders were originally granted by the
present Commissioners. We have taken the
trouble to ascertain the dates which the
Post suppressss in order to make it appear
that the Board OF Excise is now engaged in
planting saloons thick wherever 1t finds
schoolhouse. The result OF this inquiry is
here subjoined.
In the case Of the Wooster street school.
the Post exhibits ON Its map sixty-seven
licensed places. and alleges that twenty
three Of these are within O radius OF two
hundred yards Of tho school building" Two
hundred yards Is six hundred feet. but 1t
sounds less. AS matter of fact. an in
spsctlon of the map by any fair-minded
person will show him that only thirteen OF
the twenty-three licensed places In question
can be considered rs coming within the
range Of possible criticism as TO proximity
to tho school building. Two Of these are In
LII thxa aahool Tho