The herald., 1895-09-09
A Reporters Experience Among
Downtown Saloons
THE COMMISSIONERS UKASE
Seems to Be Anything But a Deter
rent in the City
The Scribe Didn't Half Try, But Discovered
That Intoxicants Can Easily Be
Had on Sunday

LcI RU anu AIAiSapob OAHU man
about town to a Herald reporter yesterday
afternoon. "Y-e-s," assented the party
addressed, "but where shall we go?'
"Oh, give me hard one" laughed the
sport. and in less than five minutes both
listened to the gleeful gurgle of dose
of Los Angeles frewater as 1t glided
down their necks.
This conversation took place on the
main promenade OF the city, and one
would at first think that it was somewhat
OF an almless one. Not so. however, for
even though the austere police commits
sloners have deicdeo to enforce the Sun
day closing ordinance, it is just possible
that the thirsty traveller who is "on''
sometimes finds the wherewithal to
cool his interior. Perhaps the explana-
ton that should bs appended to this
statement should be in the form of
phsyician's certificate, affirming the re-
port Of Chief Glass spinal trouble or per-
chance he. poor thing. cannot help it.
BE that as it may, the reporter was en-
abled to buy and dispose of no less than
nine drinks, all within the radius Of less
than half mile of the city hall.
Starting from First and Spring streets,
the reporter journeyed toward one of the
best-known bars in town. AS might be
expected, the front entrance was tightly
closed and barred. but this was only true
OF the front entrance. Passing to the
rear through several rooms attached to
another establishment, the visitor found
room III which several gentlemen were
seated. Following suit the reporter took
CHAIR and a white-garbed waiter soon
put in his appearance and furnished
foaming lager, by special request. Drink
ing it. the scribe paid the REGULATE On fee
and then meandered out upon the street.
Along on Spring street the saloons were
mainly closed and nothing could be
ELECTED either by softly rapping on side
entrances or piteously pleading through
the key-holes of the rear doors. Such
houses as he'd restaurant licenses sold
liquor freely, with the usual cracker or
sandwich accompaniment, and small
cold bottles We're obtainable at number
OF the first-class dining rooms.
South on Spring street but one recog-
nized saloon had the temerity to do bust
ness with open doors in defiance of the
commissions ukase. Here a number
were found at the bar INDUCING in a reg
ulation carouse and apparently careless
OF Chief Glass or his squad of remarkably
able law-enforcers. None of them even
entered, and the 'barkeep" served the
rations of Jersey lightning as per
usual. One rather inebriated individual
ordered whisky straight, and, after i'm
bedding it in the ample recesses of his
front elevation, said to his neighbor:
wash Clash goin' do about it?''
dressed. der Chiefs onter his joT and
don't cher fergit it, ''HuIray FIR
Glash'' responded his auditor, and the
rest of the drinkers seemed to be highly
in favor of echoing the sentiment. In
response to the bartender's invitation to
nominate his poison, the newspaper man
whisky without regard to the tender con-
dltion of his internal mechanism, and
then sought fresh fields.
On Main street, not a thousand miles
from the postoffice, another saloon was
found running in full blast, and drink
was called for and obtained with as much
ease as though Sunday and Sunday laws
we're exclusively foreign institutions.
Eight men in ali stages of drunkenness
from mild bat to a 'blind jag" were
found in this house, and no indication
was shown of on intention to hide the
fragrant violation of the ordinance.
From Third street to the city plaza
number of persons were met who were
under the influence of liquor-slightly or
otherwise. and on one corner an oppor-
tunity was revealed IN a swinging door
that bore the legend. Entrance and
walk in" In obedience to the request
the scribe pushed into the room and found
that it was simply an ordinary saloon
back room. All kinds of drinks were on
tap and after partaking of one, The
Herald man made rather hurried exit
for fresh air.
Jaw, tsay, let's have annoder one,''
remarked q tough-looking individual,
who was busily engaged in holding up
a lamp post ut the corner of First and
Los Angeles streets. "I'll 90 yer" came
spontaneously from the throats of several
friends. tougher, if possible, than the
speaker. The crowd struck off down
First street at no uncertain pace and the
reporter followed. A brawny policeman
stoud on the other side OF the thorough
fare and daintily twirled, his club. as it
depended from. one fnger.'@ The crowd
saw him but did not even slow up and on
turning q corner proceeded to file in a
side door that led to a rear room of one
OF the largest saloons on the street.
Here the beer was served and then the
reporter left, almost running into the
policeman as he came down First street.
Coming back to Main street several
poolrooms were visited in the rear of
which were CLUBS and CLUB rooms"
these apparently being the polite farms
for the groggeries that their doors con-
cealed. Two more drinks were obtained
here and then the Investigator returned
heart OF the city.
After q hard elm over piles OF brick
and mortar that are soon to be formed
into a new business block. an entrance
was obtained to one of the nandsomest
bars in the city. Several well-known
bloods were to be found at this place
and glance at the pile of cracked ice
and other utensils behind the bar assured
the visitor that every preparation had
been made for quenching their Sunday
thirst. During the reporters stav sew
eral snew corners made their appearance
via the same route and all OF them were
allowed to wash down the accumulated
lime and brickdust in their Threats with
"some of the same.'
Nine drinks in less than three hours in
a city that is presumably dry" on Sun
day. Such is the record of an actual ex-
perlence and in all probability it was by
no means an unparalleled case.