New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-19
ROOSEVELT ON THE BOWERY
HE SEES HOW THE EXCISE LAW IS EN-
FORCED.
TAKES HIS PLACE IN LINE FOR GLASS Oh
STEVE BRoDIEs HTTERMILK-LIT-

TAKES HIS PLACE IN LINE FOR GLASS OF
STEVE BRopIE's RuTTERMILK-LIT-
TIE LIQUOR SOLD.
Commissioner Roosevelt yesterday made a per-
sonal tour Of the city to that the Excise law
was being enforced properly. week ago Mr.
roosevelt delegated this work to Commissioner
Andrews and Mr.. Abbott. OF the City Vigilance
league Last Monday many persons said that the
law had not been enforced as rightly II had been
,,non previous Sundays. Commissioner Roosevelt
vigorously denied this but evidently he was pat
on his mette by these assertions. and yesterday
he decided to for himself
7, was about o'clock in the afternoon when the
President OF the Board Of Police Commissioners was
t,und eating a meal in Bowery restaurant. He
was accompanied by friend and by Acting
Roundsman Tierney his special officer. Commits
s,oner Roosevelt said he decided that he would
depend on hearsay evidence no longer and that he
would go out and see Just how efficient the police
force WAS and II 1t enforcing the law rigid
10 He said that ne had been travelling around the
city since 10 O'clock and that his sole idea 10
see how the Excise law was being enforced He ex-
pected to keep 1t all the afternoon and. perhaps.
a part of the evening. Commissioner Roosevelt
was unusually re:icent when asked about where he
had BEEN where he was going. and his experiences
through the day. His reply to all questions was
simply;
Il will tell you all about 1t tomorrow.
1T WAS A DRY SUNDAY.
Everywhere Commissioner Roosevelt found the
Excise law enforced with unusual rigor. Yester-
day was perhaps the dryest Sunday since the pres
ont crusade begun. Perhaps Recorder COTS
action in excise had something TO do with
the determination of the saloon men TO keep their
doors closed They did not care TO run the risk
OF being brought up In the Court Of Special Ses-
sions or In General Sessions. Therefore doors
tightly barred and saloons that have never. In the
memory OF their patrons. been closed were tightly
bolted yesterday
CLOSE WATCH ON A TROUBLESOME SALOON.
one odd incident was noted in the Tenderloin
district yesterday. There Is saloon on one OF the
prominent OF Broadway which has defied
the law ever since It has been in force. The Trib-
une explained the system as worked by the pro-
prictor OF this saloon last Monday morning IL
was briefly this: storm door leads TO second
door a runner" would meet patrons coming down
the street and II they were known 10 him he would
pass them inside the storm door. once inside ths
nclosed space ne would lock the outer door to
prevent an interruption. Then he would unlock the
inner door and the patron would pass along a long
hallway into rear room. where he couid se' an
he wanted to drink All the time this saloon looked
innocent. with blinds rolled away up and the bar
deserted. ,
From midngh, Saturday night until the electric
nsuceman stood M this door negligently leaning
against the doorjamb lie said nothing but looked
came up only TO turn away In disgust.
HOTELS OBSERVE THE LAW.
The hotels and restaurants have observed the law
with great faithfulness during Commissioner Roose-
ve;s crusade. and yesterday there was no varia-
ton from the set rule. Drinks were served win
meals or in rooms but the bars were deserted. the
cafes and leather rooms had no walters on mana
and no drinks were TO be had.
At one of the big uptown hotels yesterday where
calooys are summoned by an electric bell some OF
the guests got idea that the house was on fre
during the day An irritable clerk was on duty. iis
1.-The bell and no boy responded he rang anu
rang again. and still no answer. Then he started
a fusade of rings Guests came running 10 know
what was the matter. Finally hailboy, weighted
down with a heavy tray which were used glasses
and bottles came down the nall me snswereS
IAN busy serving drinks in rooms
MR. ROOSEVELT IN BRODIE's PLACE.
One conceded legal right OF the saloonkeepers was
to open their places and dispense ice-water and
soft drinks. such saltwater. sarsaparlia anu
lemonade. saloonkeepers did not take advantase
of this concession TO any extent. Steve Brode
did big business in this line at his saloon on the
About o'clock in the afternoon wei-dr ore sse
man. with cleaning teeth and wearing eyeglasses
Fail II line mister an take yer turn wild de
The man took his place at the end OF the long
line slowly moving up 10 the can Of +, ute na
In IT and drank. and handed the glass to the next
one.
soy swpes. who's de mug wild de blinkers?
He's like de dude bloke from de Tende loin wot had
his gold timer pinched' whispered one OF the free
drinkers 10 his companion
Nav OATS a jay from Chicago dom de Bow
cry. OATS a real diamond in de blokes shirt"
Ii finally 10 the turn Of the man with the
glasses TO dip up his glass Of buttermk. He took
the glass used by the others and. without any sign
OF repugnance raised the buttermilk and drank ii
with apparent gusto. He going out when
Steve" Brodie stepped up and said:
lido. Mr.. Roosevelt
Up TO 1870 O'Clock last night. there sixty
arrests for violation of the Excise law. In pre-
cinct did the number Of arrests reach ten. The
West Forty-seventh-st. station reached the top
notch with nine.