New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-11
WEDNESDAY,
SEPT. II, 1895.
KEEN AFTER THE CLUBS.
THE POLICE BOARD HAS MADE UP I'D
aunn no FOLLOW THEM UP SHARPLY.

,rrr,n smRvrso or LIQUORS ON wEKxDATs -
WE'LL AZ SUNDAYS DECLARED no BIB HLDoA&
-oluEF coNr.rN HAS STRONG OPINIONS or
THE grBJEcr-wHAT cLUBMEN rHrNK
There are likely to be troublesome days snesS
for the various clubs In this city on the exc'ss
question. unless all signs are wrong. and unless
the members Of the Police Board ana AcunS
Chief Coni,n are, In the language Of the street.
,srov "talk,ne through their hats" It IL now
pretty we'll assured that the Police Board has a.
c,ded that the clubs In selling and serving liaues
N their members and guests either on WEEK.
davs or Sundays occupy the same positions -
the saloone 30 far as the excise law fs concerned
II Is held that the internal revenue tax wnicn tne
clubs nay does not entitle them to any more oehs'
fits than It does the saloons. which have 70 pay
this tax as we'll secure license from the Guy
10 retail liquors The Police Board Is wa'''ns
only to obtain the necessary evidence oeiois
swooping down officers OF clubs ana co"pe'
ling them 10 show cause why they should not b
nIeced In durance vile for the evasion or the ~
else laws
That the members OF the Police Board ana
Acting Chief Conlin ere all OF the opinion tnas
tho clubs have been evading the excise law -
now an established fact. But while the ponce
hs,eve that the clubs are breaking the law they
they are prevented lIoHi Jamie avn" ~" -
because OF the lack OF evidence which woule
Justify taking the matter into the courts Ana
IL may also be said that the clubs are fully aware
~ the opinions and feelings OF the police OFF,
c,a,s In the matter and taking extra precau-
,ons TO prevent strangers or detectives from en-
ter,ns the sacred precincts OF their domains. Inc
club members are considerably worked up over
the situation. and many OF them feel that sooner
or later a climax will be reached, and then souae-
thing will drop.
SUNDAYS NOT ALONE IN QUESTION.
In the statement given out by President Roose-
Welt published In yesterdays Tribune he ~
ferred mainly to the selling Of liquor by the CLUBS
on Sundays He said nothing about the retaiiinS
OF liauor by the clubs on weekdays Mr. Hoose-
welt, like 80 many other patriotic citizens VINO
could do 80. attended the great yacht race yes
terday. and could not be seen.
Commissioner Andrews however. was In hiS
Office at Police Headquarters. and talked Freely
on excise matters. He said that the Police Board
was OF the opinion that the clubs had no hight -
sell lquor to their members on Sundays
But the Board has been Of that opinion an
along" ne continued The difficulty has been
and now is to get the necessary evidence against
the clubs While some OF the members OF the
Police Board may be members OF some OF the
clubs II can hardly be expected that they wouio
spy upon their ow-members"
Asked to whether he considered the cIuos
were violating the excise law on weekdays a.
we'll as Sundays by selling liquor without II.
cense Commissioner Andrews candidly admitted
that he did not know.
NO DOUBT IN HIS MIND
Acting Chief Conlin did not hesitate. when
seen yesterday, 10 give in strong and vigorous
language just what he thought Of the clubs ana
the excise question: and the intentions OF the po-
| lice In the matter
There has never been any doubt In my mind'
said he that the selling or giving away OK liquor
| in clubs either on Sundays Or weekdays was IL
| legal have contended so all along Clubs navs
no riRht TO sell or give away liquor on weekdays
without an excise license. None Of the CLUBS
| have licenses The Commissioners are OF tne
same opinion as myself. and have peen I'sn.
along OF course 1t Is extremely dincuit 20 set
| evidence against the clubs. We cannot 90 Win
| them as we do with the saloons. We cannot Dreak
into them nor insist upon admttance II II Is re.
fused The only way is to get somebody IN as
member or guest.
OPINIONS AT THE CLUBS.
Tribune reporter called at several OF the
prominent clubs including the Union League, the
| New-York and the Manhattan. but none CT the
officials and few of the members could be found
| The members were rather chary OF expressing an
opinion as TO me rights Of clubs to sell liquor
| without an excise license. They gave as an ex-
cuse that they were not up In the law bearing
| on the subject One member however, did say
| that he didn't think the clubs had any more
rights than the saloons TO sell liquor on sundays.
| He said he thought the saloons were the poor
| me MS clubs Some OF the cubmen were inci,neo
to treat the matter jokngiy. They laughed az
the idea of any being able TO get evidence OF
| liquor selling in the clubs. No money was ever
| passed over the club bars for drinks. they said.
| but accounts were kept Of everything consumed
| bv the members and they settled up when they
! got ready Strangers In clubhouses did not see
LIQUOR sold They could not buy II themselves a.
| none but members had this privilege