New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-06
HOTEL MEN AND THE SUNDAY LAW.

A CONFERENCE WITH ACTING CHIEF CONLIN-
WHAT CONSTITUTES MEAL
committee OF the Hotel Mems Association,
consisting OF Lawrence Mccormick. Of the Waldorf;
T. l.. Merrifeld OF the Continental Simeon Ford
OF the Grand Union; James II. Breslin OF the Gisey
House; Horace II. Brockway. OF the Ashland
House; George c. Green. OF the Metropole; Mr..
Blakely OF the Windsor and Gustav Bauman. OF
the Holland House. called at Police Headquarters
yesterday afternoon and had talk with Acting
Chief Conln about the enforcement OF the Excise
Law on Sunday. The determination OF President
Roosevelt to compel hotel proprietors as well as
saloon-keepers TO obey the law to the letter has
aroused the hotel-keepers, who want TO know next
what their rights are. AT meeting OF the associa
ton the committee named was appointed TO walt
upon the Acting Chief. to express views regarding
the law as 1t stands. and to get his opinion on
the subject The committee was accompanied by
the associations counsel. William J. Tanning. Be
fore being admitted into the Acting Chiefs once
they asked to see Mr. Roosevelt. but ne was moi
In the building at the time. The committee had
half hours conference with Mr. Conlin after which
Mr. Tanning made the following statement;
The committee called to express 10 the Acting
Chief OF Police the views held by the ho'el men
OF the duties imposed upon them under the law
relative serving liquid refreshments 10 their
guests on Sunday We are required by law TO serve
our guests with any liquid refreshments ,ney may
desire with their meals and We are In du,y Do1na
to obey the law in this respect The 9uestion INA INA,
arises is. what constitutes a meal we hoid thai
the CUES, must be the Judge OF the SIZE OF hea
he requires. Anything ordered from the p,'' @ ol
fare we regard a meal. One man may ta' ,sss
than another. We cannot account FOR tnat. ~ d
guest desires a light lunch and asks for nauIo re-
freshments. must serve him. But any thi,s 'nat M
is the bill OF fare and an order Is gwen LOT We
regard meal. and we feel In duty pounu -. 20
supply that guest with whatever ne WISHES ~
drink We laid views before Mr. Connn a,,. ~.
asked him what he thought. but he was ie."c ,
to express opinion before he consulted the Oo"
mssioners." -, 49,,
Mr.. Tanning was asked whether cracker anu
a piece OF cheese 10 be considered a nne". =.
He said: "If II s ordered from the bill o.! rare IL
Is meal. That may be all the guest desires u cat
That Is the way look at it ,,..
After the committee had gone away. fresiuem' e, t
Roosevelt came back. and Acting Chief conn" 'H
mediately consulted him. Co.,,
The Acting Chief spoke for publication as io
lows
The views expressed by the committee peHsre =. s
are all right The whole question rests on the rae,
whether meal Is a legitimate one. or wneth ~
is simply to evade the law with. believe ma ma
the legitimate hotel-keepers serve their gue,s,hs
with legitimate meals. whether II Is sandw'cns ~
or big dinner. The guest must be the oudse ol
what kind Of a meal he wants. What ccnsttutss
a meal must be left with the guest. IL IL an en-,
treiy different situation, however where ma
crosses his bar and fills his restaurant win peoPie
20 whom he sells drinks. and serves one sandw dwicn
70 !hree or four subterfuge or places crackeIs
ana cheese on the tables. and asserts that these
OF the law"