The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-05-27
TO SUPPRESS DIVES
The Board of Aldermen Will
License no More Concert
Hall Dens of Vice
BACK ROOMS MUST GO, TOO
A Vigorous Inspection Of Saloons
Will Be Made Before New
Licenses Are Issued.
BACK ROOMS MUST GO, TOO

For the last week or two delegations
of clergy1men Of all denominations nave
waited upon the Democratic Aldermen
and asked them to suppress concert halls,
and more particularly saloons, which are
dependent upon the trade of men and
women who resort to back rooms, :"
booths and compartments. Several cler-
gymen have made personal inspections.
while others have acquired information
from friends or others interested in the
suppression of immortality. Instances
have been cited to the Aldermen by these
gentlemen where saloons have been run
in such a reckless manner under the
very nose OF the police. that they have
become in effect houses of designation.
One of this class. it is alleged by the
law and order people, is within a stones
throw of Police Headquarters.
Last night at the meeting of the Board
Of Aldermen the following resolution,
offered by Alderman Moran, was unani-
mously Adopted
Resolved. That the Chief of Police be
requested to inform this Board, by the
9th day of June next. of the location of
each and every building in Jersey City
malt liquors is carried on, with the name
of the proprietor thereof, and also the
number of private compartments, booths
or rooms used in each of said buildings,
in connection with said business
The time for renewing licenses is APP
preaching and 1T is probable tina saloons
having berths or compartments will have
a hard time procuring a license. There
are some respectfully conducted saloons
where there are side rooms for the ac-
commodation of men patrons. These will
~ NJ +,,lz Tt1 --1o---
the Aldermen are after are those of the
den type, which law and order people
a been eager to nave suppressed. AS
soon as Chief Murphy furnishes the Al
dermen with the information asked for
in the resolution the work of having
booths and berths removed will be begun.
Saloons of the den type will not be Ii
censed until the proprietors have removed
the booths and pledged themselves to
conduct their places in a respectable and
orderly manner. Any violation OF the
agreement under which license is grant
ed will result in the saloonkeeper having
his license revoked The Aldermen are
in earnest, they say, and intend putting
the screws on the dives which are now
fourishing.
halls are to be stamped out There are
only three in the city, one on the Hill.
recently opened, and two in the lower
section of the city. One of the down
town halls, near the ferry, has developed
into a he'll hole recently. Without regard
TO orders from the police back rooms
have been operated in this particular den,
where men were allowed to mingle with
the women performers. Property own
ers living near the den did not object to
the yelling. intended for singing, until
midnight, but they did demonstrate
against being disturbed by fights and the
free use of vile language. The sidewalks
around the place have been converted into
a dumping ground for the filth of the
den until the locality has become a men
ace to health.
The Committee on Exhibitions, of which
Alderman Samuel Warrin is Chairman,
will grant no more licenses of this kind.
TIT licenses of the down town halls ex-
pre- today, and 1t will doubtless please
law and order people to know that there
win be no more disgusting exhibitions in
them.
1t has been known that the halls were
TO be closed, and unusual pressure was
brought upon the Aldermen to change
their minds. They stoutly refused, how
ever. and as a consequence have won for
themselves much praise.
When Chief Murphy heard of the ac-
Tion of the Aldermen this morning he
pleasure to suppress some of the ques-
tionable resorts that exist. So far as
the concert halls are concerned they are
being conducted in an orderly manner
SO far as 1 can learn. I d. not know.
however, that their presence is in any
men will. however, refuse to give licenses
to those men who nave stalls in their
saloons a great good will be accom-
plighed. If the Aldermen viii grant
the stalls and booths must go 1 will see
to it that their orders are obeyed. Stalls
in saloons are a disgracs and should be
going to institute such a reform"