The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-09-28
Is THERE POLITICS IN 1T?
Senator Lexbtv' q Query on Byrnes's
saloon Crusade.

Chairman Clarence Lexow, of the Sem
ate Investigating Committee. thinks he
sees politics in the sudden resolution Of
Supt. Byrnes to enforce the Excise law.
Has 1t ever struck you that In max
ing arrests for violations OF the Excise
law the police might be discriminating
against saloon-keepers who are OF the
same political party as majority of the
members Of the Senate Committee?'
asked Mr.. Lexow of an Evening World
reporter this morning.
1T certainly does seem strange that
the Superintendent of Police should sud
denly determine to break one of the rules
laid down by the, Police Board for the
collection Of evidence against saloon
keepers. and to me it Is very Significant
that such course should be decided
upon on the eve of the election.
II do not object to the enforcement OF
tho law: but | have an idea that when
the head of the Department openly de-
clares his intention to disregard the
rules laid down by the Commissioners,
ana when Commissioners Martin and
might be something behind it."
You refer to the rule prohibiting
policemen in plain clothing getting evi-
dence?" asked the reporter.
A Pertinent Question.
Yes. II the rule is not a good one.
why don't the Police Board rescind 1t?
SyrIEeis is PLACED In The the P0s1n
and l hardly think he would do SC
without some powerful incentive.
1T may be that fear of public criti.
Martin and Sheehan. don't know
that Republican saloon-keepers are be-
ing discriminated against. But. then
ON the eve OF an, important election"
The unfavorable criticisms of city of
fcials and some police justices upon the
methods employed by supt, Byrnes the
self terms II, "a more rigid Observance
of the Excise law" will not suffice IL
deter him from continuing the work;
He has declared that he will continue
to arrest all persons found violating the
law, and will use his best endeavors &c
see that commensurate punishment IL
OF the creatures of Tammany Hall &c
defeat his purpose. He has promised
that there viii be no cessation of tbs
work nor even relaxation OF energy anC
vigilance until the persons who have
been doing business in open violation OF
the law, have been made to desist
Acting upon The Evening Worlds
suggestion. the scope OF the work begun
Tuesday night has been widened. No
only the saloons found open were raided
ne bartenders arrested and the places
houses were raided and numbers OF thu
inmates made prisoners.
... 4G7 Arrests Last Night.
The total number of arrests for al
causes during the twenty-four hour!
ending at . O'Clock this morning wal
t67. OF this number twenty-five wer,
for violation OF the Excise law; ninety
were Migrants, and most of the re
mainder disorderly women and personi
found drunk in the streets. In tn,
.. Eldridge street station alone there wer,
1884 prisoners. Five dsorderly houses
In the precinct We're raided and forty
one of the inmates locked up. Only tw,
arrests, however. We're made for viola
ton of the Excise law. The disorderl
houses were all near the Bowery, on
OF them being James Manniss place, a
Grand and Chrystie streets.
This morning the commandments OF tn
downtown precincts were summoned I
Headquarters and given some sort OF in
about neither the Superintendent no
any OF the suboriinates would even in
innate. but II was limited that they wer
In reference to disorderly houses.
Yesterday the Superintendent wa
summoned before the Grand Jury, an
the fact being published In the news
poners this morning, together vita a
alleged interview with one Of the Gran
Jurors, purporting to state what Ok
CURED, annoyed him considerably
was before the Grand jury" h
said, but what for i refuse TO stat
because 7 would be Bnswerabie TO tn
law. The story published In the news
papers this morning that II was In rS
lsuon 10 excise mettcra Ia untrue.
WAS not interrogalea on any such mat