The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-04-29
THE DIVE EVIL.
Both Sides Argue Before
the Supervisors.
ALL ARE OF ONE OPINION.
Attorney Bahrs Says the Underground
fiatcheries Are a Stain on Re-
spectacle Liquor Men.

I The Health and Police Committee of the
Board of Supervisors was compelled to
meet in the chambers of the board yesterday
morning. the committee-ronms being en-
tirely too small to accommodate the large
! crowd in attendance.
The occasion of the gathering was the
! consideration of the amendments proposed
| by the Citizens League to the dive ordi-
nance. There were not only grocerynen
and saioon-keepers present, but sandwiched
| in the crowd were many representatives
| from the Sums and lowest dives in the city.
Chairman Kennedy opened the meeting
! by asking If the proposed conference had
been held between the members of the
/ GrOcers' Union and the officers of the Citi-
zens' League.
Michael Flood, president of the Citizens
! League, stated that at the request Of the
GroceEs' Union consideration of the measure
had been postponed, in order that n confer
ence could be had regarding the dive oidi-
nance. He had waited during the week to
hear from some of Them. and as they had
not called he presumed that they had come
to the conclusion that the amendments as
presented by the Citizens League were
entirely satisfactory.
Attorney Gear, also representing the Cit
| liens League, said If any objections were
raised regarding the legality or consttu-
tl0nality of the proposed amendments lie
wa S ready to argue them.
George Ii. Babrs arose and said he repre-
scented the Brewers Protective Association,
the GrOcers' Union. the German Saloon
keepers Association and the California
Lquor-dealers' Protective Association,
winch included the wholesale dealers, and
| desired 10 protest against the proposed
amendments.
Chairman K1nnedy-How is it that the
liquor men DID not hold the proposed con-
ference?
Because We did not receive notice of it."
replied ATTORNEY BahrS. ''NOw, | have
| arguments to advance why you should not
adopt these amendments"
Chairman ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS yourself to
showing how The closing of the dives will
affect the respectable liquor element.
The closing OF the dives VIII not affect
the respectable liquor element" said the
speaker. I'VE have no sympathy or kindred
with Them No greater boon could happen
to us than to have the dives closed. They
are the stain upon the city. and their iuflu-
ence reaches out and casts brand upon the
respectable liquor men,
But these amendments are so broad and
comprehensive that they seriously affect
the interests OF the respectable liquor men,"
HE speaker quoted from the platform OF
the Democratic party and reminded the
board that they had pledged themselves not
to pass any laws which would in lure those
interests. He held that under the amend
mrnts no gr0cerS wife could help him 10
his store without coming within the proyis-
ions Of the law. He also argued that the
amendments lodged too much power in the
hands of the Police Commissioners, which,
he claimed. was un-Amercan and unjust
He SAID The new law would make a little
autOcrat out OF every policeman iD the city.
lie sad 1t was wrong Tor such power to be
in the hands of three Commissioners 1t
would lnaugurate tribunal for tho dispeu-
sation of special privileges and virtually
amount to cOnliscatOn OF private prop
erty.
Speaking of the efforts OF the Citizens
League to close the dives, he said the re-
spectaOle liquor men were with them on
that proposition, and il called upon would
assist the league with money and with
counsel.
In conclusion he said that the Citizens
League could find enough laws on the
siatute-books, which, II properly enforced
by the police ana tie courts, would eradi-
cafe the evils complained Of and remove
stain from our fair city,
Attorney Gear replied, stating that he was
glad that the respectable linuur-dealsrs
we're with the Citizens League on the
proposition To close up the dives. He said
that Attorney Bahrs misunderstood the
amendments, and that they did not at all
concentrate more power in the Police Com
mission. The effect of the new ordinance was
10 take away power from the Commission
ers, because 1t declared that they should
have voice in the matter Of dives al all.
Under the proposed ordinance the re-
spectacle hquor-dealer has nothing to fear
at all. and it would not prevent L grocer's
wife OF daughter from waiting on custom
eTs, for the reason that il only applied to
cases where theatrical representations were
held.
Attorney Bahrs still insisted that the
ordinance would close such places as the
TiYoli, the Peoples Palace and the Temple
Joseph G. Eastland said he was tired of
hearing the liquor-deaers pirate of what
assistance they would give to close up the
dives. He would like TO see more tangible
signs of their goodwill, and had always
noticed that when any step was taken in
the right direction they always came before
the board and threw obstacles in the way.
Billy White, n variety actor, also claimed
the ear OF the board and began IL stage
speech with tie following senterce, YES,
gentlemen, this IS the most prOudest mo-
ment OF my life"
White told rather hard story, but he was
received with frost, ana wound up by
quoting piece OF poetry, the motto Of the
Eiks, about buryng ones faults in sand
and imprintng their virtues on the tablets
OF love and memory.
The committee then took the subject
under advisement.