New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-10
FIGHTING AGAINST TIE LICENSE
DETERMINED EFFORTS TO KEEP A DARKROOM
FROM THE NElGHBoRIoOD or
GRAMMAR SCHOOL

GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Efforts made By Thomas McGrath to obtain a
license from the Board of Excise preparatory 10
opening a new lquor-store at Seventh-ave. and
Twenteth-st.. have stirred up 10 vigorous opposi-
ton many citizens who are Interested In Grammar
School No S. which is in Twenticth-st.. between
Sixth and Seventh AYES McGrath made an APP
plicaton for license on September ,. ana the iact
was soon known T.. T. Pitcher the principal Of
the school who Immediately set about the work OF
obtaining signatures to a protest The Rev Dr
Wilson of the Eighteenth Street Methodist Epis-
conal Church. also Interested himself In the oppOs
ton and the five trustees OF the school joined with
the minister and school principal In formal pro-
test to the Excise Board.
The school trustees are William NJ Abbott, G.
T. Sprlngstead George W. Skellen. Henry Fincker
and w j. Stewart. They had no sooner sent the
protest than Tammany pressure was exerted to
have them withdraw It, but for "A time they stood
firm, and their protest was made more effective by
a petition signed by many parents whose children
attend the grammar school. The Board or Excise
on September q rejected McGraths application.
But McGrath made "A new application on OCTOBER
& and additional pressure brought to bear on
the school trustees 10 induce them TO withdraw
their protest II was asserted by friends OF the
school that the Pequod club. OF which Police Com
missioner John G. Sheehan is the president. was
using its influence In behalf OF McCrath' ana mat
Jim" Lawlor the clubs mouthpiece The
pressure on the trustees so strong that meet
ing OF the trustees was called on the evening Of
October 81 and Trustee Springfield moved reso-
luton to withdraw the protest. After discus
sion however only Trustee Stewart would vote
with him. Later, more Tammany pressure was
brought to bear. and last week four OF the trus-
tees sent word to the Board Of Excise that they
wished to withdraw their protest. Mr.. Abbott
alone stood firm Mr.. Pitcher ana Ir. WllSoH
went before the Board of Excise on Thursday OF
This week and asked for hearing, wh!cn was set
down for next Tuesday -,
Excise Commissioner Murphy had already lnaI-
Gated his willingness to grant license 10 MI
Grath IL said yesterday. Comm ssloner lCdl
nrotest would remove the objections to the liquor
store and while Commissioner Bushe was not Will
ING 10 state what his action might be. II appeared
10 be reasonably certain that the Board OF Excise
would again refuse TO grant a license for the liquor
store ,,s H.. -
The law forbids the granting Of a license for a
Iiouor- store which Is within 200 feet or schOol
NV a church but it is stipulated that the measure
ment Is O be taken between the centres or the
nearest entrances to the places. McGrath's place
ia only 100 feet removed from the school building
hut a. the entrance the liquors store is In Sew
measuring around the corner. There Is. however
an entrance the cellar on the Twcnticth-st. side.
within 200 feet of the school entrance As the
cellar would be used also in connection with the
uouor-store, 1t is open question II the Excise
Hoard would violate the letter OF the law In
granting license, as they Wouid surely pre"h '"c
spirit OF the law - ,-
''pnce Commissioner Sheehan denied yesterday
that McCirath member of the Pequod cub
ard declared that the influence Of the club, If eX
arted at all would be in the interest OF the school
as against the liquor dealer