The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-07-08
TO SUPPRESS THE DIVES.
Some Objections tn the Ordinances Ffo
uosed bv the License Committee.

Some Objections to the Ordinances Ffo-
posed bv the License committee
Edito, Call. In view OF the action taken
by the License Committee OF the Board OF
Supervisors yesterday afternoon, relatiVe
10 The suppression of the dives, it is impor-
tant that the general public should be thor
oughly informed as to the true situation
of affairs and should know what the ordi-
nance is which the License Committee pro-
poses TO amend and be able to compare 1t
with the amendment advocated by the off,
GERS of the executive committee OF tie
Citizens League The action originally
requested of the Board of Supervisors by
the Citizens League was the repeal OF that
paragraph of the ordinance which permits
IL property owners in block t. override
the refusal of the Police Commissioners to
grant a license. But with the understand
ing that the Supervisors would not consent
TO such repeal another Amendment was
formulated for the committee, which VIII,
am confident, in the event OF It's adoption
and enforcement, effeciually suppress every
dive In San Francisco.
The ordinance as the License Committee
proposed to amend ii would be as follows:
Fifth. Provided, that any danee-eeliar or
dane house where spiIiiuonS or malt or Ter
mented liquors wines are sold. as aforesaid,
or In any place where siiriiuouS or malt or Ter
mented liquors or wines are sold, as aforesaid,
ana Wherein are caus. d. procured. suffered or
employed any female 10 waii, or In any manner
attend on any person, or IN any place where spir-
ituous on malt OF fetmented liquors or wines are
sold. as Aforesaid. and wherein there Is dancing
or singing, or playing on musical instruments.
or any the atricai performance whatever, the said
Police Commissioners may refuse their consent
10 carry on or conduct said business. uotwlh-
standing The written recommendation oil citizens
This fifth paragraph shall not be construed so as
10 apply to grOceIy-stOIeS hotels or resta III ants
The ordinance, in the event of the adop
ton of the amendment proposed in the IN
terest of our executive committee, would
be as follows:
Second-ProYided that the same shall not be
granted IN case a written remOnstrance Is pre-
scented 10 tile Board OF Police Commissioners by
q majority of cinZens of san Francisco owning
real estate in sUch block or square, aud provided
further thai Notwithstanding the written recon-
mendatiOn of = citizens as aforesaid, and IN the
absence OF such written remOnstTance the Board
OF Police Commissioners may stun withhold heir
consent 10 The Issuance OF 4 license 10 carry on
or conduct The business of retail llqu0r-deaer 10
any one who has kept or is keeping disreputa-
bic or disordetly house or who bas carried ON or
is carving on such business In or 10 connection
with any dance.cellar. or daDcehouse, or dancing
room. or any place wherein any lewd, immoral
or indecent exhibition or performance is eX-
hibiied or PEI formed, or any place OF resort for
any leWd Immoral on unlawful purpose.
The amendment proposed by the License
Committee of the Board OF Supervisors is
open TO numerous and grave objections,
both on the ground of its demonstrations
atty and lack Of uniformity OF operation.
The clause referring to the employment OF
females appears 10 me TO come within the
inhibition of section Is, article Xxx of the
constitution of California, which is as fol-
lows:
"No person shall on account of sex be
disqualified from entering upon or pursuing
any lawful business, vocation or profess
sion."
Assuming for the moment that the amend
meDt proposed by the License Committee is
perfectly constitutional. and that it pro-
vldes for the suppression of that which the
existing law fails TO prohibit, il is open
TO the objection that it could not
be enforced, for the reason that the
clause excepting grocery stores hotels
| and restaurants from its operation would
admit OF its easy evasion, and thus
| render it completely nugatory. Under this
| exception every dive in town could be con-
| Quoted with impunity by simply adding to
! Itself grocery, hotel or restaurant attach
| ment, and the combination Of dive and
| grocery. dive and restaurant. or dive aud
| hotel would be far more Injurious 10 ublc
morals ana far more difficult to Zeal with
| than the dives which are now maintained.
The amendment prepared and advocated
| by the officers OF the citizens committee
makes no effort to do that which the cen
| sttutlon has forbidden. IL also Omits all
| reference TO musical and theatrical enter
| tainments, for the reasons that these are
| amply provided for in the Penal Code and
| that the citizens league has no desire to
| procure municipal legislation which may
cause needless annoyance to reputable and
| decent places of theatrical aud oI cratic
entertainment where liquors are sold.
| 1t viii be strange, indeed. if. in spite Of
| the palpable defects in the amendment pro-
! posed by the License Committee, and the
| manifest strength and efficiency of that
prepared and approved by members Of the
| citizens committee, the former should be
adopted by the Board of Supervisors. to the
exclusion of the latter. E. A. GIRvIN,
Secretary Committee of Fifty of Citizens
League
San Francisco july z